PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM
What is Public Address?
A public address system is an electronic sound amplification and distribution system with a microphone, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to allow a person to address a large public, for example for announcements of movements at large and noisy air and rail terminals. The term is also used for systems which may additionally have a mixing console, and amplifiers and loudspeakers suitable for music as well as speech, used to reinforce a sound source, such as recorded music or a person giving a speech or distributing the sound throughout a venue or building. Simple PA systems are often used in small venues such as school auditoriums, churches, and small bars. PA systems with many speakers are widely used to make announcements in public, institutional and commercial buildings and locations. Intercom systems, installed in many
Different Categories of Public Address Systems
Indoor PA Systems
You may be hosting a small event such as an art exhibition to show your work. Here, the volume occupied by the space is key in determining the power you need when setting up PA systems. This will call for a less powerful system than that of a building with an extensive ceiling. In some cases, sound can be absorbed instead of being reflected by things such as thick carpets and this calls for PA systems as well. The same case applies when it comes to very large crowds as the sound is absorbed.
Fixed PA Systems
Some locations may prefer having fixed PA systems as they are used every now and then, for example, a movie theatre. Here, you will need to adhere to the layout of the location. This will help in determining whether more hardware is necessary to cover the sound needs at hand. Fixed PA systems also offer the chance to alter the design of a specific location to look professional and allows for extras such as lighting. Designing is also key in ensuring the place is tidied up such as hiding exposed wires.
Portable PA Systems
There are PA systems that can be moved from one place to another easily, for example, is a school where the same PA system is used for various functions. These are mostly systems that have simple and light equipment that you can transport using your own vehicle. The advantage of small portable systems is that they can be easily stored as they do not occupy a lot of space. They also do not take up a lot of time to set up. However, you may need extra help moving some PA systems that are heavy and have a lot of equipment and this may lead to extra costs that you had not budgeted for such as hiring a scissor lift to help move the equipment.