Public venues are often used for public events, which involve either performances or live events. Now, the very term public implies something that’s done in front of a crowd. Where’s crows? There’s noise, and a lot of people have trouble hearing in a crowded environment. Also, not everyone can be in the front row. This means that the screen sizes need to be a bit bigger.
Just from this brief introduction, it becomes clear that setting up the right AV system for a public venue is a challenge. So, here’s a brief guide to help you with this process.
What’s the difference?
The first thing you need to understand is the difference between public and private venues. Sure, public venues are larger, and that makes all the difference in the world, but there’s also a difference in the way these spaces are used.
You see, public venues are often used for public events. This means that it’s not just a larger space that has to be covered; it’s also the fact that more people will attend these events. This means that the sound system needs to be potent enough to capture everyone.
Even more importantly, you understand that you’re hosting the events that are supposed to captivate the masses. This means that the music or the words of the speaker need to be easy to discern.
It’s also worth mentioning that you cannot pigeonhole yourself for just one type of event. Instead, you need to understand that you’ll have presentations, corporate events, rallies, panels, concerts, and even public screening events here.
If you’re expecting to make a profit, you will rely on the marketability of the place, and what people in the reviews say about the acoustics is going to matter, and it’s going to matter quite a bit. A good PA sound system can drastically improve the marketability of the space.
This is why versatility and quality of audio are so important.
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What are the challenges?
The next thing you need to understand is the challenges of setting this kind of system up.
First, there’s the size of the venue. You’ll need more speakers, but you also want to have the sound equally distributed everywhere. This means that you have to distribute the speakers strategically around the place.
Next, you need to consider the potential acoustic treatment of the area. Sometimes, just doing the electronics and setting the speakers isn’t enough. Sometimes, you might have to deal with the surfaces and even change the layout of the area a bit.
Then, there’s the issue of compatibility and scalability. You want a system that you can scale up. If need be, you should be able to add more technology or just add more speakers without ruining anything.
You also need something that the speaker will be able to connect to a laptop, a mobile device, or a tablet. Multimedia display optimization is so important, especially since the pixelation between a massive screen (that goes along your sound system) and the device in question will be quite massive.
Still, one of the biggest challenges is the fact that some of these public venues have massive outdoor sections, which further complicates the acoustics situation.
Managing costs and ROI
We’ve already mentioned that the public venue in question may depend on the audio system for profitability. The same goes for commercial spaces; only with commercial spaces is it easier to calculate the ROI.
Now, you can’t go too much over the top. What you’re aiming for is the best sound system with the smallest possible investment. However, you can’t afford to be cheap either. You have a lot of ground to cover, and if the sound quality is not good, you’ve literally wasted your money (regardless of how cheap you got it).
One more thing that makes this equation difficult is the fact that you can’t quantify experience. After all, if one system is $1,000 and the other system is $10,000, the first one is described as great, and the second one is described as amazing, and the cost difference is justified. Is amazing ten times more valuable than great, or is great good enough?
Well, the equation is offset by one simple fact – you don’t do this every day. The ROI goes in perpetuity. Sure, the system will eventually get broken, but not as easily and as often as you think. The maintenance and even repairs are nowhere as expensive as the installation. This means that since you’re doing it just once, you might as well do it right.
Thinking about the future
Now, when we say scalability, the first thing that probably popped to mind was the number of speakers and the hardware. In reality, you need to think about future development and future industry standards.
Just think about it: a while back, 4K displays seemed like a gimmick; however, today, any reputable venue will have 4K or even 8K displays. The thing is that the industry standards go up, as well as the expectations of your audience.
Truth be told, gamers are spearheading this revolution, not just because they prefer to have the cleanest possible image. They also need a sharp sound, or they just want to listen to music while gaming. This drastically boosts immersion.
You need to make sure that immersive audio systems and high-enough resolution displays are available.
One of the ways to get there is to do the same thing as cinemas – projectors and sheets instead of screens. This is a method that gives you a far superior inch-to-cost value. Also, getting a new projector is far cheaper than getting a new screen. This means that when bigger resolutions arrive, you’ll have an easier time adjusting.
It’s all about creating more immersive visuals and engaging soundscapes.
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Wrap up
Ultimately, the success of an event is often determined during the preparation stage. Sending the right invites, organizing the schedule, and rehearsing. Well, if the AV system is right, the success of the event is even easier to guarantee. This is why the majority of organizers will look for a venue with a great AV system, and it’s why installing one for the venue that you’re in charge of is such a priority.
