Speakers don’t fail me now: Preventative maintenance for sound systems

Speakers don’t fail me now

Preventative maintenance for sound systems

The school band has been practicing for months. Students, teachers, and parents are seated in the gym. The band teacher approaches the front of the stage and turns her microphone on to welcome the audience and POOF! the sound system crackles, pops, and dies. It’s every event organizer’s worst nightmare and is something that could have been avoided with a bit of sound system preventative maintenance.

Every school has multiple sound systems, from the paging/PA system to numerous independent sound systems in the cafeteria, music room, gym, and theatre, along with a portable sound system or two.

We’ll cover some common AV issues and their solutions, as well as basic maintenance

We supply, install and service sound and video systems for educational, commercial, and institutional clients across B.C. to integrated audio and video systems for an entire complex, work, on time and on budget. GET IN TOUCH 604-514-1751 The inadequate or underpowered system

That small battery-operated sound system just won’t work for a crowd of 500 people in a gym. Neither will turning an underpowered system to 11, which results in severely distorted sound and “clipping” the amplifier (that red peak light tells you you’re pushing the system too far and can result in overheating and system failure).

The solution: Get the right equipment. This usually starts with a call to a reputable audio and video installer, such as Sound Solutions, to recommend a system that properly meets your needs.

Microphones to keep your system operating smoothly. sound lousy if the microphone isn’t working 2016-03 OPS Talk Sound Solutions ad copy.pdf 1 2016-03-18 3:55 PM

By Curt Palme

A typical school sound system.

From single room audio systems Sound Solutions delivers quality

See us at EFMABC in Penticton June 1 & 2

THE LEADER IN AUDIO & VIDEO EXCELLENCE FOR OVER 30 YEARS

The best system in the world will still

toll free 1-855-846-0066 info@soundsolutionscanada.com WWW.SOUNDSOLUTIONSCANADA.COM

A good-quality microphone uses a three-pin XLR connector.

properly. Professional grade microphones use an XLR (three-pin) connector at the end of the microphone, not a headphone (1/4 phone) connector.

You get what you pay for and cheap knockoffs fail quickly. Wear-and-tear also play a role, and if a mic has been dropped too often, the element inside the case can become loose and impact sound quality.

The solution: If your mic looks like it’s been through a war, it’s time to replace it. We’ve seen stashes of used and abused microphones in boxes and bags with the explanation that they may come in handy some day. They won’t. Save some space and take them to your local electronics recycler. A good wired vocal/speech microphone is surprisingly affordable and can be had for under $100.

Check your cables

Cables connect the microphones and speakers to the amplifier and other power equipment. They can be three-pin XLR cables, quarter headphone, or Speakon ends.

Inspect your cables regularly for frayed ends. A shorting speaker cable can easily destroy an amplifier, which is an expensive repair compared to replacing a cable.

A quarter-inch phone/headphone connector.

The solution: If the cable is frayed, cuts in and out, or is stiff, replace it.

Thin, inexpensive audio cables used to connect MP3 players or smartphones to a mixer or sound system are one of the most common cables that fail.

The solution: Keep a spare or three MP3 connectors handy, or go wireless and get a Bluetooth-enabled device.

Coil your cables like a roadie

There is a right way to store cables and cords, and it’s likely not the way you’re doing it. Wrapping cables around your arm or between your hand and elbow twists the cable and puts stress on connectors. Instead, wrap your cables just like pro music roadies and use the ‘over/under’ method. Use tape or Velcro ties to tie them for storage. A properly wrapped and coiled cable will uncoil completely and easily with the flick of a wrist and not become twisted or knotted.

Dust bunnies be gone

One of the main failures of sound equipment is the build up of dust and dirt around the sound equipment. Dust prevents air circulation and can seize the fans.

The solution: Get rid of dust with a vacu-

A wireless Bluetooth system eliminates audio cable failures and is simple to set up. A Speakon connector.

um or air compressor (keep the pressure to under 50 PSI). Remove and clean filters that can be found on the front, back, or sides of amps. If your amplifier does not have a filter, remove dust and dirt through the vent holes or slots.

Don’t touch the controls!

Most modern sound systems use programming to set sensitive controls, but older sound systems may have these settings under a tamperproof cover. Don’t try to fiddle with controls under protective covers. Misadjustment of volume limiters and equalizers can damage amplifiers and speakers, and can allow clipping of the amplifiers to occur prematurely, even at lower volume levels.

Order of operation isn’t just for math

Turn the amplifier on last, and turn it off first. This prevents nasty popping sounds.

Sound check: • Use the right extension power cord. Fourteen-gauge, often black in colour, is preferred. The orange hardware store extension cords are great for your lawnmower, but aren’t designed to run high-power sound systems.

Coil cables like a roadie using the “under/over” method: Hold one end of the cable in one hand and un-twist the cable with each loop. It’s easier to watch than describe, so search YouTube for “over/under cable coiling”.

• Keep drinks and food away from the sound system. • Check your mic stands and other hardware for worn bolts and missing pieces. • Do not turn sound systems on and off multiple times a day. If you’re going to use a sound system several times a day, leave it powered on for the day, and turn it off once at night. Most sound systems are designed to stay on 24/7, without affecting the life of the equipment. • Use gaff tape (never duct tape!) to tape down mic and speaker cables. • AV equipment can last anywhere from five to 20+ years, depending on the brand and how it is used and installed. If a piece of equipment is acting up, call your sound company to check it out before your big assembly or musical.

Please recycle this publication after you have read and shared it.

Above: Gaff tape is designed to come easily off cables, unlike duct tape that leaves a sticky mess. Far left: To prevent overheating, vacuum dusty electronic equipment twice a year -- more often in dusty environments. Left: Don’t plug other items in with your sound system, and never overload sockets.

Curt Palme is owner of Sound Solutions Inc., an audio and video installation and service company serving commercial and institutional clients across B.C.

For more information, visit www.soundsolutionscanada.com or email info@soundsolutionscanada.com. Sound Solutions Inc. can also be found on Facebook at facebook.com/SoundSolutions2002Inc, or Twitter, @soundbc. p

One Choice. One Zurn.

Evacuates waste nearly twice as far.

Zurn offers a high efficiency carrier and a 4.2 Lpf wall bowl system, providing a complete solution with labor savings and added performance from rough-in through finish trim installation. This high efficiency restroom solution achieves industry leading line carry that no other manufacturer can provide.

High Efficiency Toilet and Carrier System

EcoVantage® 4.2 Lpf [1.1 gpf] and EZCarry®