Green PA Hire

Environmental concerns have risen in profile in the last few years, and few companies or individuals can choose to ignore these completely.  I've read people suggesting that hiring the most efficient speakers (i.e. those that produce the most sound for a given power input) is the most environmentally friendly approach.  This suggestion does not however take into account that efficient boxes (often point source) can sometimes be the heaviest and largest.  Transportation is surely a massive factor if green concerns are paramount.
Line array system can offer a greener option as less equipment is typically required to cover the same number of people.  Of course a lot depends on the exact set-up in question - from an environmental perceptive, less is more, but from a rock'n'roll perspective, MORE is more!

Void Stasys3 Point souce speaker - fantastic sound, but heavy

A 10KW PA system will only use an average of around 2000W, with odd peaks above this.  This of course depends on how hard the system is driven.  But moving this equipment on a 200 mile round trip does have an environmental impact.
The solution, at least in some instances, may be to use firms local to the event where possible.

If you're looking to hire a line array or point source speaker system, have a look at my website, www.soundtruth.co.uk

Sound System for Sean Lock

If you're looking to hire a sound system for a corporate event or a band, have a look at my website here.

A few days ago I did the sound for the comedian Sean Lock at a corporate awards function, which took place at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London.  A Sennheiser EW300 series microphone was set up, but most of the talking was done from the lectern, equipped with a pair of Audio Technica ES915 mics. Front of house speaker system consisted of 6 HK Audio IL12.1 speakers flown in three way clusters.  An additional 2 boxes where flown over the dance floor.  6 HK Audio Elias subs were positioned under the stage, in order to preserve sight lines.  Front of house mixing was accomplished with a Soundcraft GB4 desk, with Mackie digital outboard.

Sean Lock on stage

The positioning of the subs made for a very clean looking stage area, also with no speaker stands in sight as all the mid / high tops where flown from a 12m truss, parallel with the front of the stage.  There was a certain amount of power alley noticeable during the DJ set, but this was a price worth paying to hide all the subs.

In order to provide maximum gain before feedback, only one of the Audio Technica ES915's was used, the other serving as a hot spare.

Sean Lock proved to be a very entertaining host, although the official photographer might disagree, being the butt of several jokes!