backstage communications
Sun, 9 Oct 2005, 02:39 pmCorinne5 posts in thread
backstage communications
Sun, 9 Oct 2005, 02:39 pmHi, I haven't posted here before, but I'm with a local community theatre group in the Whitsundays.
I've been given the job of finding new headset/communications equipment for the stage crew (can you tell I'm not really a tech person?)
Currently we have fm radio transmitters (apparently from Tandy a few years ago?) with headsets, but the only thing we can find around here now are the mobile phone handsfree type things, which aren't much good to us.
Does anyone know of any companies who do those sorts of things, or could give me a better idea of what I might be looking for and where to start with them?
Any help greatfully recieved.
Cheers
Corinne
I've been given the job of finding new headset/communications equipment for the stage crew (can you tell I'm not really a tech person?)
Currently we have fm radio transmitters (apparently from Tandy a few years ago?) with headsets, but the only thing we can find around here now are the mobile phone handsfree type things, which aren't much good to us.
Does anyone know of any companies who do those sorts of things, or could give me a better idea of what I might be looking for and where to start with them?
Any help greatfully recieved.
Cheers
Corinne
Re: backstage communications
Mon, 10 Oct 2005, 03:42 pmHello Corinne
The Tandy's fm units are no longer available and the closest equivilants are the uhf handhelds that are available from a lot of outlets. there are options such as rechargeable batteries, VOX (voice operated transmission) which your Tandy units have. Costs keep coming down but with a limited number of unlicensed channels available you may find you units unusable due to other users on the channel you want to use.
The commercial talk back units are expensive because they work work and are robust (but not bulletproof). You can get wired so they are linked with microphone cables or there are wireless which are VERY expensive. If you go to the ALIA website that Na mentioned and look under companies, Jands sell Clearcom and their own in house brand, Pro Design Lighting sell Production Intercom systems.
You can buy kits and build your own units that are compatible with the commercial units but are not as robust and you need a reasonable standard of soldering. Go to the Altronics website and look at the Headset Intercom Station kit http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=K5250.
The need for reliable communications during live concerts is why the radio talkback units costing thousands of dollars have been developed and is one reason why concert ticket prices have increased as you cannot afford to lose comms during a show if you want to have a high standard of production and have people come back again.
Hope that helps
Don
The Tandy's fm units are no longer available and the closest equivilants are the uhf handhelds that are available from a lot of outlets. there are options such as rechargeable batteries, VOX (voice operated transmission) which your Tandy units have. Costs keep coming down but with a limited number of unlicensed channels available you may find you units unusable due to other users on the channel you want to use.
The commercial talk back units are expensive because they work work and are robust (but not bulletproof). You can get wired so they are linked with microphone cables or there are wireless which are VERY expensive. If you go to the ALIA website that Na mentioned and look under companies, Jands sell Clearcom and their own in house brand, Pro Design Lighting sell Production Intercom systems.
You can buy kits and build your own units that are compatible with the commercial units but are not as robust and you need a reasonable standard of soldering. Go to the Altronics website and look at the Headset Intercom Station kit http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=K5250.
The need for reliable communications during live concerts is why the radio talkback units costing thousands of dollars have been developed and is one reason why concert ticket prices have increased as you cannot afford to lose comms during a show if you want to have a high standard of production and have people come back again.
Hope that helps
Don