A rational approach to sound system planning

The importance of basic planning for sound amplification and reinforcement systems is discussed. The first step in basic planning is to determine the functions of the sound system by a study of the building and use requirements for the system. A list of objectives or "functional requirements" will serve as the basis for sound system planning and can be interpreted by signal flow diagrams. These can then serve as the basis for the more detailed functional diagrams or wiring diagrams of the sound system. After determining the functional requirements of the system, the designer proceeds with the acoustical and architectural planning. A basic decision is the choice of either a central or a distributed loudspeaker system. This is followed by a determination of the location and orientation of microphones and loudspeakers and the selection of the actual transducers required for the job. Finally, control and amplification equipment are selected. Basic planning is presented as a portion of the overall effort that includes the detailed electronic design of the system, a specification if one is required, careful installation, and final adjustments.