Prosound is currently involved in an interesting project at the University of Cape Town. The institution has decided to make audio/video recordings of certain lectures so that students who are nursing a hangover or have gone surfing can download the missed lecture for later perusal.
Current lectern and lapel microphones in some venues become problematic when batteries are not replaced or lecturers move away from the microphones. The solution implemented was to install Galaxy Audio boundary microphones and Rane Dragnet DSP units. The Rane DSP units allow a variety of audio processing devices to be selected and wired together as required using software. These are configured to automatically switch to the boundary microphone inputs and adjust the level if the lapel or lectern microphones are not in use.
Multiple microphones were installed in larger presentation areas where lapel microphones are not used. These were installed with Rane DSP units set up to automatically switch between the Galaxy Audio boundary microphones.
Prosound was asked to install a new PA system in Kramer Lecture Theatre 1 to replace the existing, dismal PA system. Our solution was to install a centre cluster of 3 Electro-Voice ZX1 speakers using 2 of the existing speakers as fills and using 12 Electro-Voice Evid 3.2T as delay speakers. The Electro-Voice ZX1 is a compact but high-powered loudspeaker with excellent acoustic control. These speakers are driven by Electro-Voice PA2450L and PA2250T Installation amplifiers. All speakers were supplied in white to suit the environment. A Rane RPM88 was installed to provide auto-mixing inputs for 2 Galaxy Audio boundary microphones, 2 rifle microphones, 2 Electro-Voice radio receivers, and an audio-visual input and auxiliary input. The Rane provides equalisation and delay for the speaker outputs. It also provides control inputs from a panel in the venue that allows for the selection of 4 presets and a level control for a DVD player. An Electro-Voice PolarChoice microphone was also supplied for when the venue is used for inaugural lectures. This microphone provides 4 polar patterns selectable via a switch on the microphone.
Separate outputs with a different processing path are provided for recording purposes. The recording output always has a feed present from the boundary microphones if no other microphones are in use. The Electro-Voice WTU-2 belt packs that have been installed fit into a recharging unit so that they may be used with rechargeable batteries. This eliminates the need to replace batteries or remove them for recharging and the problems that that causes.
The overall coverage and clarity of the sound in the venue has improved dramatically and with the new installs students will be able to get high quality recordings of relevant lecture material.
