[SML] Assisted Listening Systems

[Riter, Andrew]

Hi Dick.

We replaced our IR hearing assist system years ago with a RF system.  (Listen (LT-800))

3 venues (concert hall, flexible black box, and cinema).  No more line of sight issues with the IR (depending on where the audience was positioned in the flexible space).  No more IR bursts with the camera flashes for grad season.

As far as I know, we're happy with the RF system.  

The headsets can work in all three venues.  
	(3 base stations, 3 antenna, 1 set of headsets)
We have a dozen of the headsets and they charge in their carrying case.
They are multi-channel, so they could be used for Simultaneous Translation for a few people (or we rent a whack more of the head sets).

As for your mic placement, can't really help you.  A shoot gun under the FOH catwalk or balcony doesn't work for you (excludes enough of the audience)?
Our mic that feeds program sound also feeds the Hearing assist.  Most of our spoken word shows are mic'd so program sound (and HA) gets a boost of near mic into the system.

We recently had a stenographer (C.A.R.T.) come in for a graduation, to live type a ceremony.  Her client would read her captioning via WiFi on an iPad or similar.  And of course this was the day that the WiFi crashed.  So WiFi isn't always stable.  Or it could get trampled with too many users trying to connect, tweet, Live Facebook (or whatever they do on their devices).

I would think that our usage of the system is similar to yours (once or twice a year).

Andrew M. Riter 
Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

604-822-2372
andrew.riter at ubc.ca

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net] On Behalf Of
> Richard John Archer via Stagecraft
> Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 1:35 PM
> To: stagecraft at theatrical.net
> Cc: Richard John Archer
> Subject: [SML] Assisted Listening Systems
> 
> After 30 tears of so our ALS  is on it’s last legs…so….what’s up with these
> now?  Anybody using the ALS over WiFi via smart phones?  …our spaces  all
> have WiFi
> 
> Our biggest problems have been:  essentially in trying to mic the spaces…..  In
> the proscenium, putting mics where they won’t pick up the audience but
> aren’t all  PZMs getting stepped on or mopped by over zealous students and
> dealing with a movable orchestra pit/apron.
> In our Flexible space dealing with  the “flexible”   Audience/stage relationship
> changes….lighting gets rehung.   ALS mics in wrong place or picking up too
> much audience or getting whacked about during changeovers
> 
> We also have a smaller flexible space, a dance performance space and a 99
> seat film showing/ lecture hall space. All which legally likely need ALS.
> Anything  that allows some sharing of equipment might  hlp on costs.
> 
> Just the usual problems I suppose.  We’d like to put something up and more
> or less leave it and not have to fiddle with it on every show.(or have anyone
> riding the input levels)
> 
>  Mostly we do straight plays without  actors being amplified.  Sound effects
> and music are all  through the sound system.   I think in 30 some years here
> we might have used the system a dozen times.
> 
> Also…I know the laws have changed ….maybe last implemented in  2012??
> Anything on the horizon  besides the population rapidly aging….What did he
> say????
> 
> A decent article about this might be helpful as well.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> DickA
> TD, Cornell U ( NY)
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