When hiring sound equipment for a public event, it is essential that you choose the right equipment and get speakers that fill the room with sound. If you book a sound system that's too big for your room then you will find that the power makes the room vibrate, it can produce unwanted feedback and could even become dangerously loud. Conversely, if you choose a system that's too small, the sound could become distorted and it also may not fill the room properly.

How to Choose the Right Room
The size and type of room depends completely on the type of event you are holding. However, in order to maximise the sound quality, there are certain features you should look for. Never choose a square room or one with similar dimensions. If the walls and ceiling are similar in dimension, the sound waves all bounce off the room boundaries and meet in the centre of the room, causing some frequencies to be favoured; normally the bass. This is why large sound systems resonate loudly if used at house parties. Choose a room with a high ceiling, a hard floor and a lack of soft furnishings; as this will improve the acoustics. You should position your main speakers at least 1.5 meters apart and have them facing into the listening area.

How to Choose the Right Sound System
The sound system you choose depends on the nature of the event. If you are holding an awards ceremony, presentation or conference, then you will require a simple PA package from our range of PA hire options. If you're hosting a party you will require speakers, an iPod dock, leads and possibly lights too. For larger events, the wattage of our products increases so that you have more power to deliver a louder, higher quality sound into a larger space. We currently have special offers where we've carefully selected products for specific events. For example, we've put together packages for different sized parties.

The following table demonstrates how much space is required for set numbers of people, and from this you can pick both a suitable venue and a speaker or PA package.

Basically, when it comes to choosing the most appropriate speakers and sound equipment for an event you should first decide upon either the capacity or size of the event space, and work from there. Generally speaking, the smaller the venue the less equipment you'll need. However, it depends entirely on the nature of the event, because a small gig with live bands will require plenty of extras such as mics, mixing decks and distortion peddles. The wattage of the speakers is very important to get the right sound level and power in relation to your event size: as a rough guide, choose speakers with a wattage that is 6 times more than your total capacity.

Ensuring you hire the right equipment to suit the room size and style of your event is essential as these factors will affect the quality of the sounds you're trying to produce. If you have any further questions about the equipment you require don't hesitate to contact us.

Achieving good quality live sound is an art in itself. Frequently, a poorly received performance is blamed solely upon the artists in question, however more often than not the blame should actually lie with the sound engineer. When you're planning an event, it is the job of the sound engineer to make the sound run smoothly and without any issues. Successful live sound at an event depends upon numerous factors, and whilst this subject is far too detailed to cover in a single post, here are a few common concerns you should certainly look out for:

The Room

The room, or lack of a room, that your event takes place in plays a huge part in the amplification of sound, as well as its qualities of resonance and reflection. The generally accepted way to overcome problems with a location is to find optimum positions for the speakers. Minimising mid and high frequency is a must, and subs should also be placed to avoid any unwanted low frequency too. Spending an hour or two rearranging the speaker setup before an event is the key to making a real difference to the overall sound quality.

Sound Paths and Microphones

Multiple sound paths should be avoided at all costs during an event, as should multiple microphones all serving the same purpose (i.e. centred upon one instrument). You'll also need to pay careful attention to the unamplified quality of your sound. If a particular sound seems to struggle when it isn't being assisted, then the best a sound engineer can usually do is to limit the damage. Whilst obviously unpleasant elements can be cut at the sound desk, don't assume that every discrepancy can be easily obscured.

The Entertainment

Huge sound problems can be created by the sheer amount of noise a band creates on stage, and controlling that sound to benefit the audience, rather than the band themselves, is often a challenge. Usually, you need to work at the lowest level you can, turning down the strident elements in the sound, rather than cranking up the weakest noises until they become distorted. Setting the volume of the event at a modest level is a practice that is all too often neglected.

With a practical mind and an attentive ear, a good sound engineer can ensure a fantastic atmosphere at an event every time. If trying to manage your own sound seems like an insurmountable task, look no further than London Speaker Hire to meet your needs. Not only can we provide a reliable service for speaker hire in London, but our superb sound technicians have an extensive degree of experience from a variety of projects too, so they can give you all the assistance that you might need. For more information, contact us now and we'll be pleased to help.

Here at London Speaker Hire we are proud to introduce Martin Audio's new MLA Mini ultra compact multi-cellular loudspeaker array. We are the first company in the UK to stock this speaker on a hire basis. The MLA Mini uses the same technology as other MLA ranges, however the big advantage with the MLA Mini is the fact that it has a number of set up options. For example, in smaller venues the use of flown line array is impractical because they are so large, whereas the MLA Mini can be floor stacked as opposed to hanging.

The multi-award winning MLA Mini delivers a consistent sound across the audience, putting an end to trial and error tuning sessions and reducing sound spill. After we purchased four MLA Mini enclosures and a MSX mini sub power plant we debuted this system at Le Book (a creative trade show at London's County Hall). Two bands performed in front of an audience of 500, with everyone in attendance enjoying the show. Their experience was enhanced by the flawless sound from the speakers.

We are renowned for our speaker hire, which is why we invest in quality systems such as the MLA Mini. We understand the importance a sound system has on your event, so you can call us on 020 3333 4444 to arrange a demo ensuring make sure that the equipment is right for you. If you would like to find out more about our Martin Audio products then follow this link, you won't be disappointed with the choice we have available.

In addition to speakers, we can provide you with lights and microphones, to make sure that every aspect of your sound is in good hands. Investing in sound is not a decision to take, and helping you make the right choice is something we pride ourselves on. Whatever you need, we will have the right product for you and we will work with you for the best possible outcome. Feel free to contact us to discuss your individual requirements.