Higher Learning: Designing an SR System for Schools
Today, virtually no educational institution in Florida doesn’t have some sort of sound system. Schools, colleges, and universities use them on a regular basis for lectures, announcements, musical events, and other purposes that enhance the learning experience.
However, as education evolves, basic systems lose their effectiveness and must be upgraded to provide adequate performance conducive to learning. One of the best solutions is to design and integrate sound reinforcement systems for schools, specifically. Let’s explore what this entails.
How do you design a sound reinforcement system for a school auditorium?
Auditoriums can best be described as “multi-purpose venues.” It’s where announcements are made, plays and concerts are held, and graduations and assemblies happen – and each of those events has very different sound requirements.
Therefore, an SR system must be multifaceted to support both speech and performance, while remaining intuitive and easy to use by non-professional personnel. This can be accomplished using an iterative approach to cover all the bases.
1. Primary use case
This is the defining block of every SR system. For schools specifically, it typically revolves around speech intelligibility first, as announcements and assemblies must be clearly heard and understood by all listeners.
Music and theatrical performances, while still important, should be pushed down on the priority list – unless they’re essential for the institution’s educational mission, such as in music schools, performing art academies, or schools with dedicated music programs (e.g., choirs, bands, etc.)
2. Coverage > volume
Actual system design should always start with speaker coverage – not volume. Two principles to follow here:
- There should be enough speakers to evenly cover the seating area. Note that “enough” does not mean “more” – choosing the right type of speakers cuts the quantity, without lowering the sound quality.
- The main speakers (“mains”) should be strategically positioned to minimize the excess sound hitting the walls and ceilings. This helps reduce echoing and reverberation, thereby enhancing the overall sound quality.
3. Fanning out – intentionally
We already mentioned that the SR system in schools must fulfil different requirements, which means it must support multiple configurations. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean sinking more resources into expensive equipment. A good-quality digital mixing console (“mixer”) provides more than an adequate level of control, with the additional perk of saving presets and recalling them with the push of a button.
4. Enhancing the acoustics
Auditoriums are often large, open spaces built of hard, reflective materials. Needless to say, this is a “hostile environment” for sound quality – but it can be made more accommodating by using:
- Quality directional speakers;
- Proper speaker positioning;
- Acoustic treatment (even basic panels help).
These components help mitigate “rogue noises”, such as echo and reverberation, thereby improving the overall sound quality and clarity.
5. Ease of use
Finally, since the system will most likely be used by students, teachers, and other non-professional personnel, it is imperative that the entire configuration is intuitive and easy to use. Note that reputable installers offer end-user training, which can be invaluable to preventing misuse and ensuring equipment integrity.
Do schools need subwoofers for assemblies and performances, or are mains enough?
For assemblies (e.g., announcements, graduations, lectures), subwoofers are generally not required. In fact, they may even be undesirable, as too many low frequencies can actually “muddy” the sound and reduce speech intelligibility.
However, when it comes to performances, the situation is different. For band plays, concerts, and other musical events, subwoofers are crucial for enhancing performance impact, as they provide depth and fullness of sound that mains alone cannot achieve.
With this in mind, the best approach is to opt for subwoofers, but have the system configured in a way that allows the users to mute/bypass them. This way, you can have the best of both worlds – speech clarity for assemblies and fullness for performances.
Who can design a custom sound reinforcement system for schools near me in Florida?
For 25+ years, Pro Audio Services has been delivering purposefully designed sound reinforcement systems to schools across the country, from Gainesville to Miami. We partner with some of the leading manufacturers in the industry, sourcing best-in-class components characterized by long-term durability and functionality.
In addition, we offer custom configurations for a diverse range of industries, including high-end SR systems for retail centers, powerful SR systems for clubs and bars, discreet SR systems for houses of worship, and many more. Connect with us today, and discover how our expertise can help your message be heard!
