Sound and conference systems

Sound reinforcement and conference systems for council chambers and ceremonies

Sound reinforcement is the whole of the amplification that makes sure everyone in the room or on the square understands what is being said. A conference system goes a step further: it gives every participant at the table their own microphone, controls who has the floor and keeps a meeting orderly and audible. For council chambers and ceremonies that is not a luxury but a basic condition.

For this we work mainly with municipalities and public services, and with organisations fitting out meeting rooms, lecture halls and multi-purpose spaces. The question often comes together with a lectern, a ceremonial carpet and flags.

Where you use it

• Council chambers and committee rooms where debate and voting take place
• Commemorations, ceremonies and formal occasions, indoors and outdoors
• Academic sessions, conferences and press conferences

Versions

For a straightforward speech, a compact set is enough: a microphone, an amplifier and one or two loudspeakers. For larger rooms you work with several loudspeakers and a mixer, so that the sound is distributed evenly instead of booming at the front and fading away at the back.

A conference system consists of a central unit and a series of delegate posts with a microphone and loudspeaker. Wired versions are stable and low-maintenance and lend themselves to a fixed installation; wireless ones are quick to set up and quick to remove again in a room with several functions. Some systems offer a voting function, speaking-time management or a link to streaming.

Outdoors you choose weather-resistant loudspeakers and take the wind into account: it blows sound away and causes noise on the microphone.

Equipment and set-up

Microphones come in various forms: a gooseneck on the table or on the lectern, a handheld for changing speakers, a lapel microphone or headset for anyone who wants their hands free. For ceremonies a discreet gooseneck is usually the best choice; for questions from the floor a wireless handheld works more smoothly.

The placing of the loudspeakers determines intelligibility more than the power does. Point them towards the audience and not towards the microphones, otherwise you get feedback. In rooms with a lot of glass and hard surfaces, acoustic damping helps more than extra volume.

In practice: testing, protocol and maintenance

Always test in the room itself, with the set-up as it will stand on the day. An empty room sounds different from a full one. Run through the scenarios: who speaks from the lectern, who from the table, who asks questions from the floor, and what happens if a microphone fails. Provide a spare microphone and batteries.

Coordinate the whole with the person responsible for protocol. The sound system has to support the official picture, not cut across it: no cables over the walking route or the carpet, no loudspeaker stand right in front of the flags, and the controls in a place where someone can adjust things discreetly.

Finally, think about accessibility. A well-adjusted installation helps everyone who hears less well; an induction loop helps visitors with a hearing aid further still. For maintenance: store microphones dry and in their case, take the batteries out between two events, and have a fixed installation inspected periodically.

What determines the price?

The price of sound reinforcement and conference systems depends on the size and acoustics of the room, the number of speakers and delegate posts, the choice between wired and wireless, extra functions such as voting, speaking-time management or streaming, and whether it is used indoors or outdoors. Hire or purchase, fixed installation or mobile set-up, cabling, set-up and operation on site, and maintenance also play a part. We draw up a tailored proposal.

Have your room assessed

Send us the dimensions of your room and the type of gatherings you hold, and we will propose a suitable set-up. Feel free to get in touch for a quotation.