SOUND REINFORCEMENT

All,

A report for March 4, 2014

Minstrel sound system:

Nothing major to report this month. We may have a requisition for some new stuff for next month if I can finish some research.

Sound at the door

The new wireless speaker and microphone has been in service, installed by the sound crew du jour for each show. The position of the speaker seems to be best just behind the glass door entrance to the sanctuary. We're finding that the life of a single 9V Duracell battery in the microphone is about a show-and-a-half, so a supply of batteries should be kept on the list with basic door-supply purchases, figuring a battery per week. I've been giving thought to purchasing two rechargeable 9V batteries and a charger, using one in the mic for each show, and charging the other during each show. The downside is that Ni-Cad batteries produce about ten-percent less potential (voltage) than a typical alkaline battery. In anything that transmits or receives, supplying the designed voltage is important. With a rechargeable battery, the performance may not be as good.

While it appears that all of the door people aren't enthusiastic about the use of the speaker, we'll always have the option and it will be handy for festival and workshop use.

One-day Nerfa

The sound-side of the One-Day Nerfa event is moving along as planned. The ten main stage showcase performers have been selected, and soon Joe Pasonek from the Montclair State radio station will submit his list of 20 "DJ Showcase" performers. We'll later get lists of tech needs for them, but they should all be pretty straight forward. All 30 performers will be using the main stage.

There will be three rooms needing sound, and a potential fourth: The main stage, the lunch room, one work shop room and potentially a second work shop room. We're planning to set up the sound systems Friday afternoon-evening as much as possible considering it's a Minstrel night.

We have a soundie list building, and others wishing to help out or learn from it should contact me. I'll be tapping some shoulders as well. Those on board so far include, Greg More, John Mahon and Bob Safranek, in addition to the Sanctuary's modest team.

We've been pledged enough sound equipment to cover everything so far, and we'll address any additional equipment needs should they arrive. The Sanctuary system will fill the main stage. John Mahon's and my personal system will handle the other two. Christine has a portable system that will fill the workshop space should a keyboard show up. All we'll need from the Folk Project's Minstrel collection are the box of microphones, mic and speaker cables, for added "just in case" capacity, and possibly the speakers. The Minstrel and Sanctuary equipment are all marked.

Respectfully submitted, with copy to the sound committee,

Mike Del Vecchio