General note on this blog: This is all open to comments/additions/changes, yet to be approved. Thus, please DO post your ideas, yet I will edit these and add/change things as I deem needed, so this blog is simple, utilitarian and helpful, rather than a discussion forum or an open blog. It is intended to be informative, helpful and to help Guides provide their very best sound delivery. It is my hope this will be achieved.....
Overall: The sound system at AYS (Dancing Together) is a HIGH FIDELITY sound system, for clarity, transparency, accuracy and to provide ample VOLUME to hold the dancers while maintaining less LOUDNESS.It is very UNLIKE typical "point and blast" P.A. systems like we hear in clubs, outdoor venues and many dance studios.
This is accomplished by using BOSE 901 speakers hung from the ceiling around the room, alternating stereo left/right as you move around the room from one speaker location to the next. Each speaker is designed as a REFLECTIVE sound source, which is most suitable in a reflective space such as ours.This reflective alternating stereo experience creates a spacious effect almost anywhere in the room.
Sound from each speaker reflects off the wall from the internal 8 speaker elements facing the wall (at a 45 degree angle), radiating sound energy into the room to cover that "zone" or "section" of the room. There is also one internal speaker element facing directly into the room to cover the area directly in front of the speaker (since the others are bouncing AROUND the speaker -thus, each speaker cabinet has 9 matched internal drivers). These have smooth, full fidelity imaging, with ample "punch" as needed. Subwoofers are located in two corners sending low frequency "punch" and coverage around the room via a "criss-cross" coverage pattern. This is why the subs are NOT pointed toward each other - that is on purpose. Please notice to insure nobody has redirected the subs otherwise - they should be pointed toward the middle of the opposing wall. If not, it will get very "boomy" in the room, as bass frequencies push hard against each other!
The ears and body can FEEL the sound image in the various places in the room as pretty uniform, yet fluctuating as each speaker zone is entered/exited....please move about the room and notice this effect. Nowhere do you get "blasted" by a speaker, yet everywhere there is ample sound. Whether it is "left" or "right' information from the stereo image depends on where you are - and this creates a nice spacial effect for the dancers as the sound dances with us!!
When I say "ample sound", this VOLUME is controlled by the GUIDE during their movement event. It is best to closely monitor how it sounds and FEELS in various parts of the room during an event, as MANY things affect how the sound in the room HOLDS the participant. Too much volume and the sound can seem to overwhelm, smother or take over. Too little volume and it does not HOLD the participant or give them the energy needed, thus sort of "abandoning" them in a sense. Too THIN....too THICK....too HEAVY....too LIGHT....these are important variables to monitor constantly. Here are some suggestions/guidelines.....
An empty room needs little volume, as the sound moves largely unobstructed from surface to surface. As people enter the room and begin to absorb sound, more volume is needed because it's being absorbed by each body.
The subs are intended to deliver the low end and deep punch - thus, if you want MORE of that PLEASE do NOT turn up the bass control on the mixer (or on your laptop or iPod)</strong>. Instead, please turn down the highs and mids slightly and turn UP the VOLUME. This is because the subs will deliver more lows as you turn up the volume and those are the speakers we WANT to deliver that extra bass, rather than blowing the BOSE speakers apart expecting them to do this!
WARNING: You may damage the BOSE speakers by turning up the bass at the mixer or on your laptop EQ controls, so please use this other technique if you feel the need for more low end. I know I'm saying this twice, but it will be a HUGE issue if we blow any of the BOSE speakers (and if you damage ONE, you probably damage MANY or ALL). If you hear distortion from the BOSE speakers, this is what's happening, so back off the bass. Also, some songs have heavy bass, so might want to CUT the bass a little at the mixer/laptop for those tunes...this is part of tuning each song played. Note also that our ears first lose "sight" of lower frequencies when they become "fatigued" and sometimes later in the dance we might THINK we need more bass when we don't. Therefore....if the lows sounded "normal" and "good" earlier on (and you know that song has good bass), they it's probably fine now also, yet maybe your ears are tired and this is affecting judgement.
Now to really confuse the issue!.... Every TUNE is different...every CD; every producer/musician who created the music; every recording studio....they're all different; different CD mastering, etc. Thus, naturally, each piece of music is LIKELY to need some adjustment from the Guide when played in the room!! So many aspects of being the Guide are important.....which piece to play next; how does the room FEEL? What do the dancers want next? Is the VOLUME right in THIS moment with this many dancers in the room? Highs? Lows? Bright? Dull? Boomy? All this AND checking various places in the room (NOT just back at the mixer in that lonely part of the room). Please move about the room as much as possible during the dance to note what the room sounds like and if the speakers are being overdriven, etc.
Please consult with other Guides. Oscar is a Master at how he handles the sound system, for example. Everyone has things to offer and help to give.
I am very open to collective "training sessions"....so, if some guides want to meet in the space when it's available to put all our heads together about sound in the space and how to use the system, that seems like a great idea to me. Just let me know and I'll be there. Also - call me anytime to discuss or answer any questions.
I will add/amend this posting based on your comments and other information, as needed....thanks for reading it and working together as community!! - Love, Tomaji
PHONE: (512) 762-6279