Guides
The short answer
It comes down to three things: speech or music, how many people, and how far away the back row is. Speeches for 50 people need two speakers on stands and a wireless mic. A DJ or a band for a few hundred needs bigger speakers, subwoofers and an engineer. A big crowd or an outdoor site needs a line-array PA.
Speech or music?
Speech needs clarity, not volume. The aim is for the back row to hear every word without the front row being blasted. Music, especially a DJ or a live band, needs low end from subwoofers and more power. If the night has both, size the system for the music.
A rough guide
| The event | What usually works |
|---|---|
| Speeches for up to about 100 people | Two speakers on stands, a small mixer and wireless mics |
| A conference for a few hundred | More speakers or column speakers through the room, a digital desk and an engineer |
| A gala with a DJ or a band | Full-range speakers plus subwoofers, monitors for the band and an engineer |
| A concert or festival | A line-array PA, subwoofers, stage monitors and a front-of-house desk with engineers |
Every room is different, so treat this as a starting point. We size the system to your room and your crowd when we quote.
What a line array is
A line array is a column of speakers hung in a gentle curve, often flown from truss on chain motors. It sends sound evenly from the front of the crowd to the back, so it isn't deafening up front and faint at the back. It's what big rooms, concerts and festivals use.
Outdoors needs more
Indoors, walls and ceilings carry some of the sound. Outdoors there's nothing to help, so the same crowd needs more speakers and more power. Plan the power early: tell us what the site has, and we'll plan the rest. See the outdoor event checklist.
How many microphones?
- One wireless mic for each person who speaks at the same time, so a panel of four needs four
- One or two handhelds for questions from the floor
- A spare, in case a battery or a mic gives trouble
- Lapel or headset mics for presenters who walk around, and handhelds for MCs
Who runs it
Anything bigger than a few speeches needs a sound engineer. They set the levels, stop feedback, bring each mic up on cue and keep the music under the speeches. Every Sound Ninja sound booking includes one.
Planning an event? Tell us the date, the venue and the guest count, and we'll quote with the full kit list.
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