P.A. Guarantee

Stability And Fail-safe

Can we commit to the client with near certainty, that the system will stay on for the duration of the event? Considering that even the highest price bracket components can fail, there’s one main point here: backup equipment!

Frankly, if we need to ensure sound all night, then bringing as many back up components for as many aspects of the system as possible,  is the ultimate fail-safe.

Loudspeakers With Active amplification

But there’s possibly going to be a trade off somewhere with what we can fit into the car or van: or even with what we’re happy to have being carted around with us. For this reason a strong argument can be made for loudspeakers with active, (on board / built in), amplification. Using a pair of loudspeakers which are actively amplified, if one fails the other may get us through the event, as has happened in my case on a few occasions. At least because sound stayed on, the dance floor didn’t empty: indeed many patrons probably didn’t even realise.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

In a bid to guarantee sound, as part of the approach to professional P.A., I operate an uninterruptible power supply, (U.P.S) at most events. Inserted straight after the 13A wall outlet and before the amplifier, if the venue’s electrical power is cut, this particular U.P.S. has sufficient capacity to continue running a 2kW (peak power consumption) amplifier for between 10 and 15 minutes, at a reasonable level. Oftentimes, I find that power being cut to the stage’s 13A outlet is due to the threshold of a venues noise regulation limiter being surpassed. Section 4.2 looked at how professional P.A. includes consideration towards noise regulation. U.P.S’s should not be used to abuse those regulations. However if a short term straying of level causes the stage power to be cut by a noise regulation limiter, at least by using a U.P.S, we can maintain our commitment to the client of uninterrupted sound. But this guide would like to emphasise, that appropriate level is an important part of professional P.A.. Performer / operators should therefore continue to keep an eye out for red warning lights on a venue’s noise regulation limiter, (which should be positioned on a wall in clear line of sight from the stage).