Sunday, February 27, 2011

Tech Tip #1: Wireless Microphones

Wireless mics are an essential part of any event. They give the presenter the ability to move around the room while still being heard by the audience. There are also many other ways a wireless microphone system can be used as a part of your next event.
As a producer, having a hand held wireless mic can make it easier for you to bring the show together during rehearsals. Having the ability to call cues and discuss the details of each session to everyone at one time can greatly reduce confusion and lost time.


Wireless microphones can be used in different applications other than a standard microphone. Wireless belt packs can be used to transmit audio from almost any device.

We have the ability to use the wireless microphone connection (where the lavaliere mic plugs in the belt pack does not) as an input to many other audio sources. Guitars, laptop audio, MP3 players, and CD Players are only some of many options that can be used as inputs into a wireless system.

To save time (and cable wire) on setup for large events, an audio engineer can use the output of the sound console, connect it to the wireless belt pack, and transmit the signal to the amplifiers. This application is good if the amplifiers are in a hard-to-reach place.

Keep in mind, wireless microphones are a great convenience, but even the greatest audio engineers can run into problems with any wireless systems.

Please follow these tips to ensure a great event:

  1. Contact the venue and find the local televisions' frequencies that are being transmitted in the local city. It is illegal to broadcast wireless microphones on the same frequencies and it will cause interference.
  2. Contact the venue and find out if there are any other events happening. If there are, coordinate with the other producers on what wireless frequencies are being used.
  3. Wireless interference can happen. Using two lavaliere mics on different frequencies for one presenter can give you peace of mind.
Please keep all of these tips on mind and contact Warner AV with any questions regarding wireless microphones.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Friday Distraction: A Fashionable Mattress

An oldie but a goodie! Last year, we helped create a fashion show for the big reveal of a new mattress model. Who knew a mattress itself could be so exciting.


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

NACR Broadway-themed Sales Meeting

NACR hosted a Broadway-themed annual sales meeting in Orlando, FL at the Royal Pacific Resort last week. Approximately 220 sales people attended the meeting. 

Technicians Cory Wetzell and Dave Ruke helped to create a Broadway-themed meeting by creating a circle front projection screen. Presenters had fun entering the stage by making dramatic moves as a backlit sillouette.


NACR Sales Meeting - free slideshow

For more information on this event, call 815.469.1422 or email info@warnerav.com.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

American Academy of Dermatology Tradeshow

Project Manager, David Ripp, set up and ran booths at the American Academy of Dermatology Trade Show for three pharmaceutical companies - two under Johnson and Johnson and one under Bayer.


The total square footage of the booths for this humongous gig was 9,500.  The big technology features were large video walls and synched videos. David Ripp also set up iPad App integration. Warner AV oversaw the lighting and rigging for all of the booths.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

1980's Party for Allos Theraputics

On the last night of Allos Theraputics' annual meeting, Warner AV helped take 100 attendees back to a time when Prince was a hit, MTV was in its infancy and Ray-Ban's were all the rage.

Crew-chief, Cory Wetzell, used a Screen Pro 2 Switcher and Controller to control the screens. A Hog 3 was used for the colorful lighting design, and a Midas Venice was used to mix sound during the meeting.


Produced by Robert Bieber of Northstar (NSCI).  Decorations designed by Pink Monkey.