News

What Sound Equipment Is Needed For a Concert?

May 31, 2018

The Elements Of Concert Sound

Audio plays a vital role in any live concert performance. Onstage Systems offers the technology and expertise for superior execution of this type of event.

In order to understand what goes into such an event, we offer an introduction to these elements.

Input Sources

In order to present any audio source, we need to be able to capture it. There are several ways to accomplish this task. We will go over a few of the most common applications:

Microphones are designed to capture sounds and send them electronically to a controllable solution, typically a preamplifier
Direct Interface is another way to modify an electronic source of audio and prepare it to send electronically to a controllable solution, typically a preamplifier
Line Source feeds come directly from sources like professional grade video players, digital media servers, wireless microphones, etc

Onstage Systems has an inventory of several types of microphones, direct interfaces and line source equipment from several providers. Feel free to discuss with us the appropriate equipment and its application.

Amplifiers

Amplifiers are overlooked in many cases. When selecting an amplifier, power efficiency and output are strong considerations.

Flexibility with speaker settings is also extremely important. Speakers need signal processing before this stage in order to maximize the effective output of any speaker enclosure.

DSP’s or Digital Signal Processors integrated within the amplifier is the most efficient way of handling these two tasks.

Onstage Systems uses the L’Acoustics line of DSP inclusive amplifiers exclusively. This allows us the flexibility to utilize virtually every amplifier for every speaker enclosure we have in inventory.

Speakers

We host a large inventory of a variety of speaker enclosures to provide the best coverage for the audience.

The largest portion of our industry comes from L’Acoustics speakers. L’Acoustics technology continues to outperform the competition with the amazing sound quality that is sought after by many audio system designers and audio engineers.

Audio Consoles

Audio consoles, or mixing consoles, are the central hub of signal flow.

They are used to receive all inputs. This equipment also has the pre-amplification that is needed for microphones, Direct Interfaces and other sources of live and pre-recorded sources.

Each source is represented by an input. Each input can then shape the source to the desired sound for presentation.

The audio console then routes the sound through varying paths to include amplifiers and speakers.

Monitors and IEM

Monitoring systems provide artists with a custom mix of some or all of the audio sources.

Traditionally, monitors were custom designed loudspeakers placed on stage directed toward the performer.

This practice has its flaws in the sense that those around the monitor would be impacted by what came from the monitor.

Monitors have the ability to provide anyone in the area with a ready reference of audible sources and are constantly evolving.

With the ever-growing demand for more audible sources, the invent of IEM systems (in-ear monitors) created a way to provide clear, concise and discrete monitoring while reducing the necessity for increases in stage volume.

This also afforded the audience a clear representation of the show with better control. Learn more about what Onstage Systems offers for sound and audio equipment rental and take a look at our AV Checklist.

Audio goes hand in hand with visual equipment, so don’t forget about screens and projectors! Learn more about how Onstage Systems can help you make your next concert sound perfect with our equipment rental service. Call us or fill out this form.

What Is Stage Lighting and When Should You Use It

May 31, 2018

Stage lighting is lighting that is needed to light up a stage, and it’s a powerful tool for all events.

It’s a way to increase attention at your event and used to highlight people, stage backdrops and props, and more!

Taking a deeper dive, we find that we can direct someone's focus with light drawing their eyes around the stage.

Lighting can communicate emotion using color, texture and different amounts of light.

An experienced lighting designer can transform a simple event into an exciting experience. From conferences to concerts, or sales meetings to church services, stage lighting can be used for any type of event.

Providing More Than Light

Stage lighting provides four main functions at events: Visibility, Motivation, Composition, and Mood.

Visibility:

Staging lighting provides visibility and direction for where the audience should direct their attention.

Motivation:

For most events, lighting designers strive to make the light look natural for the environment and setting.

Composition:

For events like plays, the lighting director will work closely with the scene designer to make sure the background and important props or people are visible to the audience.

Mood:

Lighting has the ability to change the mood of a crowd, whether it’s slow and mellow or colorful and upbeat.

Stage Lighting Positions

Most stage lighting designers focus on five main positions of stage lighting.

Front Lights

– These lights are the primary source of lighting for the event.

Side Lighting

– Primarily used to highlight the sides of the performer’s body.

High Side Lighting

– These shine the light on the top of the performer’s head, neck and shoulders so you can see their facial expressions.

Back Lighting

– These lights create depth and separate the performer with the background.

Down Lights

– This lighting is used to wash an area of the stage with soft or harsh light.

Types of Stage Lighting

Automated Lighting

Automated lighting can be a flexible and economical alternative to stationary lighting. It’s perfect for events in a theater, nightclub, concert hall or church.

Conventional Fixtures and Spotlights

Unlike automated lighting, conventional lighting fixtures provide only one function, and that's illumination. We recommend conventional lighting for conferences, company events or large seminars where there’s only one person speaking at a time.

LED Lighting

LED lighting is the most energy-efficient way of lighting an event. On-stage performers appreciate the comfort of LEDs, as they emit very little heat and they rarely need replacing.

Equipment You May Need

Mixing Console
Decor Lighting
Dimmers
Motors & Lifts
Backdrops
Trusses
Atmosphere & Special Effects, such as: Fog Machines, Confetti Cannons, and Strobe Lights

Learn more about our Stage Lighting Equipment Rentals »

Need to rent equipment to light your next event? Contact Onstage Systems today!

Audio Visual Solutions for Corporate Event Staging

March 19, 2018

The purpose of a corporate event production is to create an avenue to showcase your brand, products, and services in the best light possible. If done right, you could end up expanding visions of existing clients, attracting some new ones, and creating a vehicle for the introduction to a broader market.

With corporate event staging, there are many things to consider with all of the technology that's available today to make your event memorable and positive for your bottom line and image. At any budget, the ability to make a good first impression and achieve an impactful result is key. Take a moment to consider the following AV solutions for corporate events as you make your decisions about what's right for your needs and budget.

Corporate Event Staging Solutions

Top-Quality Sound

An essential part of corporate event staging is the sound. After all, what's the point of preparing an amazing presentation if all attendees can't hear it? Before getting into specifics, first, consider the size of the venue where your event will be held. No matter how big or small your event location is, your main focus should start with audio equipment.

Audience size is also worth considering. A smaller venue that's going to be crowded will need sound reinforcement differently than the same venue with a smaller group of attendees. Size also matters when figuring out how you will select your sound equipment. But there are some tricks you can use to work around limitations with space. For example, angling speakers down from a higher height to reduce reflection off of the back wall (echo) can help improve clarity.

As for the quality of your sound system, the L'Acoustics Syva is an excellent choice for many corporate events. Syva is a co-linear system known for producing the top-notch sound that's expected at corporate events. Ideal for medium throw stealth applications, Syva has a sleek design that can work well for events where you want the sound system to be more discrete. It also has a convenient enclosure that contains everything, with a plug and play design making it easy to set-up where it will work best. For events where you might need to address a larger or even smaller audience, Onstage Systems and L’acoustics offer a full line of speakers designed to deliver pristine clarity to any environment.

Effective Lighting

Whether it's decorative, functional, or a combination of both, lighting is what sets the tone for corporate events. The right approach to lighting can even help establish your identity as a business if you're a newer company or a start-up owner trying to catch the eye of investors. Stage lighting is particularly important for corporate event staging. You want everyone in the audience to be able to clearly see the presenters regardless of where they're seated. Consider the following options with lighting:

Up-lighting to create textured shadows
Pin spot lighting with focused beams to make the venue feel cozier
Outdoor lighting and projection mapping to project your brand's logo on venue walls

One way to enhance overall ambiance for your event is to go with a quality solution like the Chauvet Ovation E-260 WW IP rated LED Leko. Amazingly bright, it's an LED light that produces uniform lighting that's easy on the eyes. This is a smart choice because it can provide the right lighting for both indoor and outdoor events. Additionally, the power efficiency of the LED Lekos can be utilized in ballrooms and other venues where minimal power is available. Extremely flexible, in the hands of the right designer, an impactful first impression is made. Tailor your delivery to match the approach to the message because it’s everything to the presentation. Another good product for either drape lighting or eye candy to line your trussing is the Elation Color Chorus 48, A tremendously power efficient solution.

Awesome Visuals

Never underestimate the importance of the quality of the audio-visual equipment for your corporate event. Your amazing audio system isn't going to be all that impactful if the visuals aren't equally awesome. With visuals, consider the tone of your event and the overall image of your brand. Your visuals should be in line with what makes sense for the image you want to project. Remember, the visual memory of the event is paramount to a lasting impression of the presentation and must not be overlooked.

With a corporate event that's somewhat casual, for instance, you'll generally have more freedom to get creative with your visual elements. If the tone is more refined and elegant, however, you don't want visuals that are too overpowering or completely out of place. A perfect canvas to these visuals should be presented on Absen X5 LED screens. Absen X5 LED Screens are also appealing because there are one of few screens that can be safely used for outdoor corporate events and ideal for indoor settings. The amazing clarity, contrast, and brightness of this high resolution display gives the presentation the perfect platform for an impactful display. The flexibility of its size and multiple set-up options allow for broader presentation solutions as well as increased viewing angles.

Expert Corporate Event Staging Assistance

Sure, some events can be do-it-yourself jobs with the right rental equipment. But there are times when you’ll want to consider a company that offers full production services that include equipment, set-up, and operational support. Plus, there's something to be said for working with a team that knows the ins and outs of recommending AV solutions for corporate events and getting everything set up quickly and correctly. Hiring experienced technicians to do the work also means:

More time to focus on the smaller details of your event that can be equally important
Instant access to technical and creative advice on sound, lighting, and visuals
An extensive inventory of equipment and accessories from trusted manufacturers that includes some of the newest technology

Get that "wow" factor you want from a reliable, full-service event AV solutions and event production company like Onstage Systems. Contact us today to learn more about our conference equipment hire services and solutions.

LED Screens and Panels For Any Event

February 8, 2018

LED screens and panels are a must for almost any kind of event, from concerts and tour production, through trade shows to corporate events.

The advancement from LCD to LED has allowed many innovations in the industry. There are a few different types of LED screens that each have unique qualities.

In this article, we will cover a few of the types and their availability as far as LED wall rentals and screen rentals go.

OUTDOOR LED SCREENS

The first aspect that should be covered is the outdoor LED screen. The main difference that will come with outdoor LED displays is the resolution quality.

Outdoor LED displays will likely be brighter than indoor. Because they are used in sunlight, they have to be bright enough to ensure that they are still visible.

Finally, outdoor LED screens will be more durable due to their need to withstand the weather.LED screen rentals are available for outdoor screens at Onstage Systems.

INDOOR LED DISPLAY

The next type of screen that should be covered is the indoor LED display. Indoor LED video walls often have a very high resolution. This simply means that there will be a bunch of the diodes in a small area of the screen.

This allows for a better color contrast and sharper pictures. The light emitting diodes on indoor screens are also much less durable.

They are not capable of withstanding many of the things that an outdoor screen could. For that reason, it is very important to handle these screens carefully.

THE BEST LED SCREEN - FLEXIBLE ABSEN X5

Absen X5 is a popular producer of both indoor and outdoor LED displays. They provide LED video walls with high quality and durable screens of all sorts. Their technology has allowed them to create some of the clearest and vivid screens on the market. Absen X5 screens and panels are available for rent right here at Onstage Systems.

Absen X5 is a flexible LED screen. This allows the screen to draw the watchers into the picture more. Overall, the advancements of flexible LED screens are quite an amazing technology. If you are looking for a video equipment rental for your indoor or outdoor event anywhere in the US, get in touch with us!

Southwest Regional Winner for Hometown Hero Audio Company of the Year!!

October 12, 2017

Onstage Systems named as the Southwest Regional Winner for Hometown Hero Audio Company of the Year!! We are honored to have received this designation for the third time and look forward to the Parnelli Awards where we will (hopefully) be named as the National Recipient of this esteemed award.