Resource Stage Blog

How to Properly Set Mic Gain.

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:22:57 GMT

If you’ve ever ran sound for a live event, you’ve probably experienced a less-than-perfect mic check. The performer gives the mic a tap and a quiet “test 1-2". Signal level is low so you turn up the gain — still quiet. A little higher and suddenly the performer gives you something closer to performance level and ... feedback.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

Setting mic gain doesn’t need to be overly complicated, but it can often be one of the most misunderstood steps in getting a good mix. Whether you’re mixing a theatre production, a live band, or a Sunday service, proper gain structure can set the foundation for professional sound.

Let’s walk through how to get it right — every time.

Step 1: Start with the Fader Down

Before adjusting anything, pull your channel fader for the channel your setting all the way down, or engage the MUTE button for that channel. This simple step can protect your speakers and your ears (and those who may be listening in the monitors!) while you find the correct input gain level.

Now invite your performer to speak, sing, or play as they will during the actual performance— not quietly, not exaggerated, but at a true performance level. This can’t be overstated and is key to getting your gain set right: You’re looking for a real-world signal, not a timid mic check.

Step 2: Bring Up the Gain

As the performer gives you true performance level, slowly raise the input gain. Engage the PAFL button to ensure this channel is showing on your meters, and watch the meters at this point — your goal is for the loudest moments to land mostly in the green, maybe nudging into yellow, but never hitting red.

Those colours aren’t just for show — they tell you how strong your signal is. Green means you’ve got a healthy level; red means you’re risking clipping and possibly distortion.

You’re looking for your “sweet spot” — strong signal with some headroom.

Step 3: Then Raise the Fader

Once the input gain is set so your meters are showing mostly in the green, bring your fader slowly up to blend that channel into your overall mix. The beauty of this process is that it’s repeatable: you can apply it to vocal mics, instruments, and even direct input sources. Consistent and proper gain staging across all inputs sources is the perfect foundation from which to build a great mix.

Why It Matters

When your input gain is dialed in correctly, everything else in your mix behaves better. You’ll have:

Lower signal–to-noise
Less risk of clipping, distortion or feedback
More control over your overall mix level

In other words, good gain staging isn’t about just making things louder — its about making everything sound better.

The Takeaway

Proper gain setup might not be flashy, but it’s one of the best skills a sound tech can master. The few seconds you spend setting it right at sound check can save you hours of frustration once the show starts.

At Horizon, our focus is helping teams find real-world solutions to these kinds of challenges. Whether it’s through hands-on training in your space on your gear, system optimization, or complete audio system design, we’re here to help you build confidence and achieve your live event and production goals.

If you are interested in on-site, hands on training for you or your team to practice and learn skills like gain staging — let’s talk.

Balancing Best Price and Best Service in AV Procurement: Is It Possible?

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 21:14:23 GMT

When it comes to procurement for professional audio, lighting, and video services, is it possible to balance the “best price” and “best service”? We think it is! Below are some insights that may help you navigate this challenge.

The Challenge of Price-Driven Procurement

Many municipalities and organizations are required to purchase from the vendor offering the lowest price. But is this approach always the best?

As taxpayers, we want assurance that public money is being spent appropriately, and that there’s no room for favouritism or backdoor deals. The intent is good, but in practice, this system often results in a “bare bones” solution. The theory behind it is to guard against preferential treatment or collusion, ensuring that public funds are used responsibly. However, focusing solely on the lowest price can often result in solutions that are less than ideal.

The Problems with Choosing the Lowest Price

The most common scenario is when an RFQ (Request for Quotation) or RFP (Request for Proposal) is posted publicly, allowing various companies to bid. If the RFQ or RFP is not tightly written, there’s often room for companies to offer lower-cost equipment that just meets the minimum requirements.

For example, imagine a school requesting a 500W 12” speaker. This could mean a speaker priced at $200 or one that costs $5000. Without specifying a brand, model, or additional details, a purchasing department might not know the difference, and they may purchase the cheapest option. The results will vary significantly depending on the choice. If the users expected a $4000 professional speaker and end up with a $200 unit, they will be disappointed. On the other hand, if they were hoping for a $150 speaker, they might be pleasantly surprised. But if they needed something like the $5000 model, then the money spent on the $200 speaker was wasted, and they may need to start the process over when the equipment fails.

This situation may sound extreme, but it’s one we encounter regularly.

Avoiding Vendor Interaction: A Common Misstep

Another challenge arises when technicians or instructors avoid interacting with vendors. They may be reluctant to ask questions or seek help from dealers when preparing their RFP or RFQ documents. The reason? They don’t want to waste the vendor’s time if they end up not winning the contract.

We’ve had many conversations with technicians and venue managers who have shared these stories. They often spend a great deal of time putting together specifications based on their knowledge or internet searches. Sometimes this works out well. Technicians who are familiar with the systems they need can be very specific, and they might get what they need at the best price.

But more often than not, technicians and venue managers have other responsibilities. They may not have the time to research the latest technologies, nor the experience that comes with regularly installing systems across various applications. This can lead to systems being designed and installed without proper consultation, often based on outdated or incomplete knowledge.

The Consultant’s Role in Large Projects

When a project reaches a certain size, many municipalities and organizations will bring in a consultant as an unbiased third party. This is often the right move for large, complex projects that require coordination between multiple consultants, engineers, and contractors. In these cases, the consultant takes responsibility for creating a specification that addresses everyone’s needs.

This can be an ideal scenario, especially for larger, more involved projects.

Smaller Projects: Is There Another Solution?

But what happens when the project is smaller, or when the budget doesn’t justify the fees of a consultant? Is there another solution?

Yes, there is.

The Role of Professional AV Contractors

First, it’s important to recognize that not all AV vendors or contractors are the same. Some are transactional, simply focused on completing the sale. Others are professional AV contractors who work to build long-term relationships, looking at both past projects and future goals.

When a municipality or organization is looking to purchase a new system, they can contact a professional AV contractor and discuss their project in detail. The contractor can provide valuable input without any contract or obligation. This might include equipment demonstrations, examples from previous projects, or budgetary pricing that reflects street value rather than MSRP or online prices.

The Competitive Edge of Professional AV Contractors

A professional AV contractor brings more to the table than just a quote. Here’s what sets them apart:

Collaboration with Manufacturers: The contractor will work with manufacturers’ representatives and design teams to ensure the right solution for your needs.
Thorough Needs Assessment: They will review your current system and specific requirements to ensure proper integration and maximum value.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: They will weigh the pros and cons of different products and solutions to ensure you get the best possible value from your investment.

By doing this due diligence, a professional AV contractor gains a competitive advantage when the bidding process begins. The result? You, the client, receive a solution that meets your needs while knowing the purchase was properly designed.

Building Strong Relationships for Long-Term Success

This approach may not work in every situation, but more often than not, building a strong relationship with a trusted AV contractor is the best way to get both the system you need and the best price.

Horizon Solutions: Balancing Value and Quality

At Horizon Solutions, we exist to balance value and quality, bringing innovative solutions to our clients. If you’re looking for a professional contractor committed to helping you achieve your audio, lighting, and video goals, we’d love to talk to you.

We’ve built strong relationships with institutions, municipalities, and organizations across the country. Reach out to us to discuss how we can help with your next system design or equipment purchase.

5 Ways to Improve Your Audio Quality in 2025

jordan@horizonsolutions.net (Jordan Elgie) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 21:14:21 GMT

Essential Tips to Enhance Your Audio Experience – From Training to Equipment Upgrades

The beginning of a new year often feels like the right time to make some kind of commitment to improvement. Many of us set resolutions that focus on personal growth, but what if we expanded that mindset to our professional environments? If that environment happens to be a School or Church or any other organization that makes use of Pro Audio Equipment, perhaps enhancing your audio quality could make your list of resolutions for 2025! With a few tips, clean and clear sound can be within reach and can transform the experience of your audience or congregation. Here are five ways to improve your audio quality in 2025.

1. Training

When it comes to audio and PA systems, many organizations underutilize their equipment. The result is often less-than-ideal sound quality for the audience or congregation. Training ranks as #1 on our list because it's one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve the quality of your audio. With training from an experienced professional, you and your team can learn how to maximize the capabilities of the equipment you already have. This not only enhances the experience for your audience but also ensures that the investment in your audio system pays off!

How can Horizon help? We’re glad you asked. Horizon offers a variety of training options that are tailored to your needs. From free seminars with a range of industry professionals at Resource Stage, to customized on-site training session for your whole team, Horizon is here to help you get the most out of your system.

2. Microphone Selection

The right microphone can make all the difference in audio quality. Evaluate your current microphones: are they suitable for your environment and your application? Different uses call for different types of microphones. Perhaps it’s time to retire that microphone you got at that garage sale. Or perhaps that old road-worn workhouse just isn’t cutting it on the piano anymore. Or maybe it’s time to upgrade from a podium mic, to a wireless system with a discrete and low-profile head-set mic for your presenter or speaker?

Here at Horizon, we know there isn’t always a one-mic-fits-all solution. We work with top manufacturers of microphones at all price-points so we can offer our clients solutions that work. From industry standard microphones like the Shure Beta 58A to the capable Shure QLXD wireless microphone system, to the high-fidelity and super versatile 4099 instrument microphones from DPA, we will work with you to evaluate and meet your microphone needs!

3. Connectivity

One simple way to improve the function of any audio system is to expand its connectivity. Today, with more devices than ever, adding BlueTooth® just makes sense. The addition of BlueTooth® connectivity to an audio systems not only helps alleviate the need for a tangle of cables, but can also take the confusion out of connecting a tablet or smartphone.

For this task, we recommend the BT-Pro V2 from Radial Engineering. A Canadian manufacture, Radial is one of the most trusted and recognizable names in the Audio world. Their products are synonymous with good design, great quality and innovation. With a device from Radial you cant go wrong.

4. Acoustic Treatment

Acoustic treatment is often overlooked, yet it can profoundly impact your sound quality. Ever thought your venue or auditorium might sound a bit ‘echo-y’? Or have you ever had an attendee mention that they struggled to hear a presenter clearly? Room acoustics are the likely culprit. Acoustic treatment is far more than slapping a roll of foam egg-carton the back wall and hoping for the best. Modern solutions often consists of precise measurements and computer-modelled room evaluations. While it may seem really complicated, it helps by taking out the guess work in knowing if your room needs absorption, diffusion or bass control. By creating a more controlled acoustic environment, you can ensure that your audio is clearer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Let us help in taking the mystery and intrigue out of finding the right acoustic solutions for your space. Give us a call to arrange a consult with one of in-house professionals.

5. PA Adjustments and/or Upgrades

As technology evolves, so do the capabilities of PA systems. Take a moment to consider your current system: Is it performing as it should? Is it currently serving the needs of your organization? It’s not always the case, but there may come a time when your system’s age really begins to affect it’s performance, and an upgrade may be required. Like all technology, advancement is always taking place and manufacturers of pro audio equipment are constantly innovating and releasing great products at a variety of price points to stay current in a competitive market. New products often showcase cutting-edge features like better DSP (digital signal processing) and better energy-efficiency making upgrades an attractive option.

If you think your audio system might be showing it’s age, or is no longer serving the needs of your organization, we can help. At Horizon, we pride ourselves on focussing on the needs of our clients, and we’d love to work with you toward a solution that meets your needs.

Bonus: More Training

Training not only deserves the #1 spot, but also the bonus spot! Everyone knows, you can have a beautiful new car, but if don’t know how to drive properly, you’re likely to have a bumpy ride to work. Training can look like one-on-one or group sessions with a qualified professional, or it can look like workshops or free seminars. But whatever form it takes, training and education for you and your team is not only the most cost effective way to help achieve your audio quality goals, but it will also better equip you and your team to know when it is time to replace a microphone, upgrade an entire system or invest in acoustic treatment.

By applying some of these strategies, we’re confident that you can significantly enhance your audio quality in 2025 and beyond. The goal is to create an excellent experience for your audience or congregation and Horizon Solutions is here to help! Our focus is solutions and with services ranging from free training workshops and seminars to complete system design and installation, Horizon can be your partner in achieving your audio quality goals.

School Audio System Upgrades

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:55:11 GMT

Upgrade Your School's Audio and Stage Systems for a Superior Experience

Another school year is upon us. If you are looking into audio system upgrades, stage lighting, or rental packages, we have you covered.

Many school audio systems are often lacking something. They tend to be outdated, antiquated and not very user friendly. These days having features like Bluetooth connectivity, some quality wireless microphones and audio inputs for projectors or other video sources is essential. This makes the system flexible and should result in a better experience for all.

With the digital mixer options available, you get a lot of functionality in a single unit, ideal for both live and recording applications. The very definition of bang for your buck. While analog mixers are still in high demand, ease of use and the portability of smaller digital mixers is changing the marketplace. Some digital mixers also feature app support, giving you the freedom to mix from anywhere in the venue, set up monitor mixes from the stage and more.

Another important aspect to take into consideration is ensuring your system is optimized for your space. We tune each system as a complete system. These adjustments include routing, equalization, delay, limiting, and volume levels. Similarly, we fine-tune video settings for optimal image quality, ensuring proper resolution, colour balance, brightness, and contrast to deliver the best visual experience. All these things add up to ensuring you are getting the most out of your system and your audience is being treated to the best experience possible.

We factor many things into the system design, considering the size of the space, is there a stage, do you have a permanently mounted projector or is it on a portable cart, do you need Bluetooth connectivity and so forth.

If you are not getting all that you need from your current system, or it is time to seriously consider upgrading to something that will give you all the features or function you are missing, let us help guide you through the process. You can complete the School Sound System Form below or email us at info@horizonsolutions.net . Call us toll free 1-800-698-8796 , local calls 519-453-3368 .

Dance at Home Floor Kit

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:33:00 GMT

It certainly has been different times dancing on Zoom for over 2 months. Now we are coming up on a new dance season. Everybody has different levels of confidence in returning to activities and that is perfectly fine. Some kids can not wait to get back in the studio. Some want to continue but would like to do so from home. Of course, depending on class size there may be a rotation where you spend two weeks in the studio and one week at home. Maybe you will dance in the studio like normal (with new physical distancing guidelines) but want to practice at home.

With these new situations Rosco has made a kit version of their popular dance floor called the Marley Mat . The floor that is used in the Rosco Marley Mat is a lighter weight version of Adagio floor that we use in our studios. That makes it perfect for dancing at home for all types of dance including ballet, jazz, acro, lyrical and even tap . It will have the same feel and “speed” of the studio floor. Being a lighter weight material allows the floor to be rolled up when not in use and unrolled and used immediately.

The Marley Mat kit can be purchased for $ 149.00 (price current as of July 2020) plus shipping and tax. The package comes with a 5’ 3” by 6’ section of black or grey floor, and a roll of tape that would allow you to lay down and tape the floor 5 times. Additional tape can be purchased.

You can find and purchase the kit from StageStore at the following link. StageStore is a great supplier in Ontario of theatrical type products.

https://www.stagestore.ca/product/rosco-marley-mat-kit/

This post was originally published by David Brown at www.candanceacademy.com

Can Dance Academy has been teaching dancers in the Clarkson-Lorne Park area in Mississauga, Ontario since 1993.

Used by permission.

Science Fiction in the Meeting Space

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 10:36:50 GMT

Redefining the microphone for the meeting space

Captain Kirk had his handheld communicator. Captain Picard wore his communicator on his chest. But neither captain could call back to the ship without having a mic close at hand. The ability to be clearly heard on a call or video conference without a mic being close to the "talker" has been far fetched sci-fi for years. But not now.

With a building requirement for video conferencing and the quest to remove all cables and distractions from the meeting space, microphone manufacturers have been applying science and engineering to meet sci-fi requirements. A handful of innovators like Shure have developed mics that don't look like traditional mics or act like traditional mics.

These microphones are hidden, looking like ceiling tiles or mounted on the wall looking almost like sound bars under a TV (they're not sound bars!) But everything we know about microphone technology would suggest that having a mic far away from the source is a recipe for disaster.

Mounting a microphone far away from any source raises all kinds of issues.

If you mount a "normal" mic, dynamic or condenser, at a distance from the source you need to turn up the mic to get a good volume input. But the byproduct is an increased noise floor. This means you'll hear other people in the room, the air conditioner, the fan on the projector, rustling of paper, and countless other distractions. This can sound like low frequency rumble, a background hiss and often increased echo.

Sure, you can try to EQ out this frequency and that frequency and maybe throw in a piece of gear or two to try to control the issues but often the resulting sound is thin and it doesn't sound right. We've all been on phone calls with people on speaker phone and it sounds terrible. Like they're stuck in that tube TV Buck Rogers premiered on in the 70's.

If only we could steer the microphone directly to a person, ignoring all the other sound in the room. And then, have it point at another person when they speak.

The MXA910 from Shure allows for one 2'x2' microphone array to cover a room with up to eight programmable, distinct areas of coverage. Through internal processing the microphone sends a Dante or AES67 signal to your video conferencing or teleconferencing system.

The MXA310 works as a simpler desktop model with predetermined coverage patterns and the new MXA710 can be wall mounted or suspended above an area with flexible coverage patterns for different room applications.

These mics cancel out the background noise and reflections allowing for only the intended sounds to be picked up. There's a lot of technology behind the scenes but the simplicity of operation is the true genius.

Today, when it comes to microphones 'science fiction' is now 'science fact'.

For a demonstration on how Shure's MX Advance series of steerable microphones may work for your meeting space or teaching environment contact Horizon Solutions sales. sales@horizonsolutions.net

5 Tech Tips to help you return to church after Covid-19

info@horizonsolutions.net (Carl Lukings) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 17:34:09 GMT

Tech tips that can help your congregation make the transition back to church successfully

Canadian churches have been away from their church buildings for months throughout the Covid-19 epidemic. Now that churches are starting to get back into the physical worship space there is a lot of questions as to how this is going to happen.

Here are some technology tips that can help your church make the transition successfully.

1 - STREAM WITHIN THE BUILDING

With reduced numbers of people allowed in one room you can use the church’s streaming system to stream your service online and then, using a computer or smart TV in a separate space, you can stream the service to others in the building. This can be done a few ways including on your existing building network or using the Internet.

2 - MAXIMIZE YOUR PROJECTION SYSTEM

As contact with physical hymnals and paper bulletins is being questioned by many, your church may want to consider using your projection system for more content than in the past. If you don’t use a projector regularly this may be a good time to look into that.

3 - TWEAK THE LITTLE THINGS TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE

As you may be required to spread out your congregation throughout the room allowing for more space, many people may be required to sit further away from the stage and any video projection screens. Increasing the size of font on your slides and using less lines of text can always help make it easier to read. It’s a quick and easy fix that can have a big impact.

4 - TREAT THE CAVERNOUS SPACE

Less people in a large room may expose acoustic issues in the space. That might seem like a weird thing but people absorb sound and are part of the acoustics of a room. With less bodies there is less absorption. Considering acoustic treatment may be wise to help with controlling the sound and improve intelligibility. The catalyst for this change may be less people in the room but the long-term addition to the room will be appreciated for years to come.

5 - USE UV-C TECHNOLOGY TO CLEAN YOUR SPACES

We all know that keeping public spaces clean is super important right now but it’s not always easy. Technology like UVC Light has been proven to break down bacteria and viruses on surfaces. Using this sort of technology as part of your cleaning cycle can not only provide a deeper clean but can also provide patrons and parishioners with peace of mind. There are limitations and safety protocols to consider but, when implemented properly, UVC is a good tool for disinfecting spaces.

Need help with navigating how to use technology for your worship space or gathering area?

Horizon Solutions has been working non-stop throughout the Covid-19 epidemic with churches across the country. Contact us and we will work with you find solutions for you to have a successful return to church.

For close to 40 years Horizon Solutions has provided clients with solutions to their technical needs. We have been working with churches since the beginning and we understand how churches work better than most. We understand this is a tough time for churches and we're here to help.

How much wire goes into the audio video system of a world class theatre?

carl@horizonsolutions.net (Carl Lukings) — Mon, 25 May 2020 16:57:25 GMT

Even with the proliferation of wireless systems, our entire industry runs on wire.

Miles, or should I say kilometers of wire. But the truth is that we use a lot less than we used to. Back in the 1980’s we didn’t have digital audio snakes or DMX cables for lighting. And every video line was a coax cable or multiple coax bound together. A simple audio snake could be an inch in diameter for just a couple dozen channels. But that was then. We’ve come a long way in the last 30-40 years, but we still run a lot of wire. It’s just different now.

So, how much wire does go into a world class theatre?

For the last six months Horizon Solutions’ crew has been pulling wire into the new Tom Patterson Theatre in Stratford, Ontario to support the new Audio and Video systems. There is a lot of wire there. To be clear this wire does not include the lighting systems, nor does it include the cables that plug from plates into the pieces of equipment. Those are a completely different story.

Over 65 KM of wire!

The infrastructure at the Tom Patterson Theatre will allow the directors and technicians ultimate flexibility in how they use their system.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Horizon Solutions can help you utilize the latest digital technologies for audio, video and lighting transport and control we can help. We can help you cut down on the wires you’ve got running throughout your building and help you build a stronger more robust system that can serve you for years to come.

sales@horizonsolutions.net

519-453-3368

A better acoustic environment to better your mental health

carl@horizonsolutions.net (Carl Lukings) — Fri, 15 May 2020 22:08:19 GMT

New Acoustic treatment in Chatham-based CMHA

When the Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent (CMHA) contacted Horizon they knew they had a problem because it was hard to hear in their spaces. But what the best solution was, well that wasn't exactly clear.

It didn't take long for Don Klassen (Horizon Solutions System Designer) to ascertain that the room acoustics was a significant problem. High levels of reflections was the biggest issue.

But a traditional answer with panels on the walls wasn't going to work for the centre as they had spent significant money on the design of the space with interesting walls and a new wood treatment on the ceiling.

Back in the office, Don was able to take the onsite measurements and findings to develop a plan utilizing two different treatment types and sizes. The resulting design became a solution that would both meet the needs of the CMHA staff and clients while also fitting into their budget.

"Everything looks great! We're excited to experience the difference..."

Our Horizon install team got the panels installed in good time leaving the space looking and sounding fantastic.

Now the CMHA First Response Team can talk on the phone with clients in a quiet environment. They can better focus on the client's call rather than being distracted by others in the room.

And the activity room can be used without the distraction of a noisy space.

If your room's acoustics are making it hard for your team to work or your group to be together, contact Horizon Solutions and we can help you find an acoustic solution to your problem.

This project utilizes Primacoustic Broadway Panels and Saturna Hanging Baffles in Grey.

Acoustic Treatment - From bath towels to glass wool

info@horizonsolutions.net (Carl Lukings) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 02:10:03 GMT

As a kid we moved around a lot.

My parents liked the change and my father was often looking for a new challenge with his work in IT. One of the things I have always remembered whenever we moved into a new home was how the house felt so hollow with no furniture, just

blank walls and floors. It was even more noticeable in an empty bathroom. I remember my brothers and I standing in an empty bathroom hollering at the top of our lungs, listening to the echo. Although I had very little interest in sound or audio at 12 years old, I understood something about acoustics. When the shower curtain and bath towels were hung, the bathroom quickly went from being a cavern to a small room.

The principals haven't really changed much over the years. The fact is, some rooms, for numerous reasons, have acoustic characteristics that make them much more reverberant than others. Sometimes it's the hard uncovered surfaces. Or it could be a tin-pan ceiling. More often than not it's the physical dimensions of the room, allowing for some frequencies to reflect for a long period of time before diminishing.

One way to determine and quantify the "issue frequencies" is to play a frequency sweep within the space and then record the playback with a microphone in the room. What this does is provide us the ability to "hear" and analyse how the different frequencies are responding in the space. Using a measurement referred to as the

RT60 we are able to determine which frequencies and to what extent each frequency is a problem.

From there, we're able to take that information and determine how much acoustic treatment is required to bring the RT60 reverberation time down to a reasonable level.

RT60 is the time required for reflections of a direct sound to decay by 60 dB below the level of the direct sound.
Wikipedia.org

This is where I should make it clear that not every classroom, theatre, church or office should sound like a dead recording studio space. In

fact, very few of them should. Like with any of the design work we do at Horizon Solutions, we take the time to look at and consider the application of the space when determining the final recommendation. The differences in construction materials, thickness, spacing from the hard surfaces, quantity of the treatment and of course cost, all play into how the treatments are selected.

Over the year we've made all kinds of recommendations for acoustic treatment in various different spaces; brand new church facilities , a livestock arena close to Chatham, church basements, community theatres, movie theatres, home recording spaces and many others.

Each room is completely different and each one has acoustic issues, and of course each treatment has it's differences based upon the findings and facility use.

Whether you have a gymnasium, classroom, auditorium, home studio, home theatre or church sanctuary, we can help you determine what acoustic treatments will best help you to "take control of your room". For more information, contact Horizon Solutions and we'd be happy to discuss your room and a solution to your acoustic issues.

Designing an audio system - should have nothing to do with yelling over some kid playing 'Stairway to Heaven'

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 01:42:52 GMT

Oh the world is a funny place these days.

It seems that every business out there wants to be everything to everyone. You can buy a bar-b-q at the grocery store, clothes at a car dealership and scented candles at the hardware store. It's very confusing.

Do you remember when clothing stores sold clothes and computer stores sold computers? And record stores sold more music than they did movies! Oh those were the days, when things made sense.

I suppose some of these make sense. I mean the guy at the car dealership should know something about what to wear so you look good when you're driving a new car.

And the grocer probably knows something about using a bar-b-q, right?

This all brings us to the "closer to home" discussion, what does a guy who is a good guitar player know about sound systems? And is the musical instrument shop the best place to buy sound equipment?

I could fill this page with all the reasons why buying a sound system from a musician is a bad idea and I could give you all kinds of examples of customers who've come in voicing regrets of purchases they've made because they bought the wrong thing or an inferior piece of gear because "it was a good deal and they had it in stock." But that seems like the wrong

approach. Instead I'm hoping that between this post and our next we will be able to give you some

insight into what it is that we do at Horizon and what makes our audio system designs different.

A logical place to start.

Every design begins with the client's needs. That might be surprising to some, but we never start with equipment, we start with a needs analysis. In some instances this begins on paper with a complete survey we go through with the client. In other cases it's simply a discussion around what your goals are, who the users are, how you need to use the system and what your expectations are regarding quality, longevity and value.

So once we have a clear understanding of what it is that the client is looking for we then sit down and begin to design the system. We typically will start with the speakers and work our way from there into the rest of the equipment.

The Speaker Selection Process

Speaker selection is a very important process. We begin by using a calculator that takes the measurements of the room and the desired speaker location information. The results of the calculation allow us to determine a starting point for what speaker dispersion pattern we are looking for. Some audio contractors stop there and use those numbers to pick a speaker for the job. We like to take this process one large step further by then building a 3D model of the room and placing virtual speaker boxes in the room.

With the 3D model we are able to see the speaker's output as it is graphed in a topographic style mapping of sound pressure levels at specific frequencies. We can also use this model to help determine the impact of the reflective surfaces within the room. By accumulating this data we are able to select a speaker or set of speakers that will properly deliver an even coverage of sound throughout the audience area(s).

As we work through this process we keep in mind other variables important to the client; size and weight of the speaker, availability of the product, warranty, rigging options, cost, and amplification and processing requirements. Each of these variables (and others) will have an impact on which models we recommend to the client. In many cases we will provide clients with a "Good and Great" scenario and sometimes even a "Good, Better, Best", depending on different factors.

The speaker selection process is done without ever considering what speaker is collecting dust in the

corner, or with the distraction of someone in the back noodling away on a guitar they can't afford. Next issue we will pick up this discussion with the next steps in the process. In the mean time I need to go buy a new bar-b-q... I’m not going to the grocery store.

Fixin' up old faithful to be your dream machine once again

info@horizonsolutions.net (Carl Lukings) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 01:25:06 GMT

There’s a danger in having a long lived business like Horizon.

With close to 40 years of work designing, installing and servicing audio systems we have seen a number of things change. The fact is that over the last four decades a lot has changed in technology and style of use for the systems we have installed. Even though we’ve implemented hundreds of systems, sometimes people think we can only do one style of install.

We are proud to tell you that in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's many of the systems Horizon installed were designed and implemented specifically for spoken word, choir, organ and piano. Horizon designed and installed systems that did exactly what our clients asked for. These systems were designed to cut out some of the unwanted, unneeded frequencies to help extenuate the sound of the human voice and few choice instruments.

But we don’t live in 1992 any more. Today the systems we install are full sounding systems designed to meet the needs of the client as best possible. What that means differs depending on the client, but it usually means something much different than it did back in the early 90's.

Today, more than ever, the systems we design are thumping loud when they need to be loud, and crystal clear when they need to be so. The technology is better, the prices are better and the input devices are better.

So what does that mean for our clients who had a system installed in the past and are now wanting to push the system to do new things?

Well, first of all, some of what we did in the past was EQ based. In some case we may be able to make some changes to your system with the EQ to make your system more suitable for a contemporary style. Frankly, some of the systems we installed can go from “speech only” systems to “rock 'n roll" with some EQ changes and the addition of a

subwoofer.

Of course not all systems are like that, but before you start looking for a new audio system contact us and we can help you assess what you have and where you want to go. We want to know that every Horizon installation out there is doing what the owner needs it to do. Whether installed last week or 25 years ago.