Sport Hall Sound System

We worship in a large sports hall, and need a sound system for the worship group. Can you help, and what advice can you give?

Large sports halls such as this are notoriously difficult accoustic environment - echoes can be really bad, and it is quite hard to avoid introducing feedback (howling) sounds when introducing a sound system. With a hall like this, there are a couple of important points to bear in mind:

1. ALL microphones must be behind speakers or pointing away from them
2. Use directional microphones rather than "omni" microphones
3. Get the mic as close to the source as humanly possible, this greatly helps to reduce feedback as the gain on your mixer can be lower
4. If you can have an operator at the mixer, get them to "mute" unused channels such as the band when they are not playing. This will improve sound clarity in quiet sections
5. Get as much soft material into the room as possible. Can you run a carpet down the centre aisle? Can you put banners onto the walls?

You will also want to make sure that any equipment you select can be quickly and simply put up and taken down again. This might mean that you should spend a little more to make sure that everything is flight cased - it will pay off in the long term.

The other important consideration is to choose the right speakers for a sports hall. I actually feel that the ideal solution for the hall is to use the Carlsbro NlightN speakers. These use a completely different technology to conventional speakers, and are much less of a "point source". They really do help in reducing feedback problems - they look great too!

NlightN Flat Panel Speakers - Click Here

Since you are also trying to reproduce your band through the speakers, you should also consider the Slammer Bass Bin which is designed to run with the NlightN Speakers, and has all the internal amplification needed.

Slammer Bass Speaker - Click Here

With the NlightN/Slammer combination, you will be able to get a higher sound level without feedback.

Hope this helps!

Tim Ridgway.