Paging/Background Music Systems How to Design and Sell Paging and Background Music Systems from EV & Dynacord
DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT The material and instructions covered in the document are subject to change without notice. Telex Communications, Inc. does not guarantee the suitability of the material contained herein for your particular application. Copyright © 2003 Telex Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Table Of Contents Table Of Contents............................................................................................................................ 3 The Business Audio “Business”....................................................................................................... 5 EV HAS ALL THE PERFECTLY POSITIONED PRODUCTS! ............................................... 5 EV Business Audio Product Guide .......................................................................................
Analyzing the Application...................................................................................................... 21 When To Specify Mixer/Amplifiers ........................................................................................ 22 When the Job Calls For ProAnnounce!..................................................................................... 23 The DRM4000 vs. the DPM4000 ..............................................................................................
The Business Audio “Business” Business audio or “background music” has come a long way since the days of Muzak and “elevator music” systems of the 50’s – 80’s. Countless retail establishments such as clothing stores restaurants, department stores and even “drug stores” are spending money on better quality audio. Many contractors and BGM integrators are rapidly discovering this fast growing source of business and several manufacturers have introduced products to meet these new demands.
We have to approach each design analytically. The first step is to determine what the customer wants and expects. The questions you ask up front help you decide what kind of sound system to propose. As you start thinking about the design, you need to translate the client's requirements into terms of coverage, adequate sound levels and bandwidth. Once these requirements are identified, you can start thinking about loudspeaker and component selection, speaker layout patterns and speaker density.
EV Business Audio Product Guide EVID Surface Mount Speaker Systems The “ID” in EVID is for Innovative Design of high quality foreground/background speaker systems. EVID is not just another box, or trapezoidal system, EVID is different. It’s unique design concept combines style with acoustics for several benefits. Innovation in Design EVID is an aesthetic design using organic curves to fit into many decors and themes, it does not look like a traditional loudspeaker.
Dual L.F. elements extend bandwidth and increase power handling. A sophisticated network uses 2nd order filters for smooth, low distortion response, and overload protection for all transducers. “Outdoor Ready” Construction All EVID models except the 12.1 subwoofer are weather resistant. EVID 3.2, 4.2, and 6.2 meet IEC529 rating IP-x4 and MilSpec 810 for water and dust resistance. The attention to detail even includes weep holes to evacuate condensation.
The real solution to the problem requires that directionality must exist for the critical mid frequencies as well as the upper end of the spectrum. For this to happen a new approach is needed. An effective answer to this problem is the EVID C8.2HC The EVID C8.2HC is designed to provide directionality through the critical voice spectrum by employing a unique (patent pending) ported waveguide to the entire 8” driver.
solution. Situations where cost, tight physical spaces, audio response, local building or fire codes, etc… come into play may require a unique EV component speaker solution.
Primary Features • • • • • • • • 10 balanced mic or line inputs – All available with 24v phantom power! 2 Auxiliary stereo summing inputs with 4 level sensitivity adjustment. 60 or 120 watt models available Balanced line level output for adding additional power amplifiers. 24 volt powered operation available for emergency power requirements Adjustable level telephone paging input. Independently adjustable low power monitor output.
Key CPS Amplifier Product Features Feature Protection and Over-temperature Safety protection Audio Performance Reliability Benefit Ensures that the amplifier will never reach a critical operating temperature thus preventing any thermal damage.
Basic System Components Shown below is a typical basic ProAnnounce equipment list of the ProAnnounce components for a 4 zone BGM installation. This list includes a basic paging station and the ability to connect any number of remote volume controls on the system. The design can accept up to 3 different BGM sources to assign to any zone. The total power amplification of this design example is 400 watts.
Basic Business Audio System Design Guide The Basic System Components Microphones EV has a complete line of microphones for paging and announcing. The models range from simple single zone gooseneck paging models to microprocessor controlled stations designed to route announcements to one or more areas simultaneously. Signal Routing and Processing ProAnnounce Signal processing and routing components are extremely flexible to meet any business audio need.
preference? Getting this kind of information at the beginning will help to avoid confusion and delays at the installation stage. Just as important as the human factors are the construction details of the site.
Step 4 – Assemble the Equipment List At this point an equipment list needs to be assembled and the hardware portion of the job can be estimated. Also labor estimates can be done as well after a site inspection has been conducted and physical layouts to scale have been constructed. Upon completion of a thorough site survey, the system may be specified and quoted. The sales engineer may also generate the design and quote, often at the same time as the site survey.
Standardizing for Profitability One of the best strategies that we can recommend for success in contracting is to standardize your operations wherever possible. Settle on a few basic system designs that can be modified to cover a wide variety of circumstances and then educate your sales staff about them. Develop standard pricing calculations, in cost per hour, for all of the basic labor items — putting in a can, pulling a cable pair, installing a plenum run, and so on.
constraints tend to favor sacrificing density, so the optimum center-to-center configuration is, in practice, the least common of the three.
Converting Coverage Specs to A Layout How do you convert polar coverage to listening-plane coverage as you design sound systems? There are two ways. One is to use the EV ceiling speaker layout program that does the conversion for you. For more elaborate analysis you can use EASE. Ease can determine intelligibility and map the SPL output of your entire installation.
The EVID C4.2 is just such a 4” speaker. The effect of the C4.2’s wider dispersion is indicated in the figure at the right. In applications where reverberation is not an issue, the C4.2 (shown with coverage pattern “A”) offers greater overlap and, thus, more uniform coverage than an 8-inch unit (coverage pattern “B”). When specifying a new system, you can take advantage of the C4.2’s wider dispersion to decrease the number of speakers required to cover a given area. This will result in even greater savings.
such as speaker placement, boundary loading (are speakers placed close to a wall or in a corner?), size of the room, coupling of multiple speakers/subwoofers, reverberance of the room, the type of music, the type of activity and the expectations of the listeners all come into play. Positioning Subwoofer Components Hanging a subwoofer in the middle of a room results in the lowest possible output from the subwoofer. Placing a subwoofer at the ceiling, wall or floor increases its output.
originate, and from what type of interface? The answers to questions such as these will help to determine the input configurations of the unit. Similarly, take a look at the expected load requirements. For example, how many loudspeakers will be needed to adequately cover the space and assure good intelligibility? What type of loudspeakers will best serve the application: ceiling speakers, wall speakers, paging projectors, or a combination of different elements? Will 25V or 70.
systems and outdoor installations, a utility model will serve the client’s needs just as well, and decrease the equipment costs. Approached methodically and logically, the choosing of a mixer/ amplifier for a distributed sound system can be a painless and efficient process. Don’t select a “pro spec” unit when all you need is a utility amp; you’ll be wasting money and it won’t do the job any better.
XLR mic/line inputs, eight GPI control inputs, two XLR outputs capable of either independent or stereo operation, and two VCA level inputs. In addition, two of the XLR mic/line inputs can be configured for paging with adjustable ducking. The DRM 4000 can be programmed to change its configuration through presets assigned to the GPI inputs, PC control (RS-232), or DPM 4000 control (RS-485). A good example of using the DRM 4000 stand-alone is in a typical restaurant/bar application.
The control outputs allow switching external devices ON or OFF, trigger signals and events, switch monitor sources, remote control doors, gates or shutters, generate analog signals for the control of multimedia systems, etc. A total of 130 control inputs for logic levels, 128 control inputs for analog levels, 16 inputs for rotary encoders, 127 logic-control outputs, and 128 analog-control outputs are usable.
Power amplifiers and the DCS 400 controller are connected to another independent RS-485 port, which allows direct management of up to 64 power amplifiers and 8 DCS 401. Connecting a PC is established via serial RS-232 port on the rear panel of the DPM 4000. It is not necessary for the PC to be permanently connected to the DPM 4000. An additional RS 485-interface offers the possibility to operate several DPM 4000 in a network.
The DCS 400 Expansion Chassis The DCS 400 expansion chassis uses essentially the same techniques for installing the cards/modules as is used when installing cards in the DPM 4000. The left-most card (as viewed from the rear) is always either a DCS 401R controller card, or a DCS 405R extension card. The DCS 405R cards are used to expand from one DCS 400 chassis to another.
BGM Installations - System Examples Retail Store – Single Zone This basic retail example illustrates a simple installation to control 3 sources within a single zone of audio in a 2,500 sq ft space. The system has one paging microphone at the cashiers desk and telephone paging can be implemented if necessary through the phone system. There is a background music source consisting of a CD player. The C4.2’s are tapped at 7.5 watts and the C10.1 is tapped at 30 watts. System Layout C4.
Office Building - 5 Zone - Simplified system Layout Overview This very basic office building example illustrates the interconnectivity and flexibility of these components. Here we take a stand-alone ProAnnounce DCS408 card and have it do the zone switching for a basic paging only system. The 408 card routes the signals to one of the 5 amplifier channels. The zone selection is controlled via the MP756 11 zone desk microphone. A combination of C4.2’s and PA430t’s are used in this installation.
Bar-Restaurant - 2 Zone Layout Overview This basic bar/restaurant example illustrates a simple installation to control 3 sources and 2 zones of audio within a 7,500 sq ft building. It demonstrates the effective use of the DRM4000 router for a basic 2 zone BGM system. The two zones consist of one for the bar area and the other for the main dining room. The system also has one paging station at the hostess stand. The three sources are for a music server, tuner and television audio. The C4.2’s are tapped at 7.
Health Club - 4 Zone Layout Overview This example is a small to medium size health club with four separate listening zones and 6 sources. Also present are 3 separate paging areas. The zones are laid out with 4 zones including a Snack Shop/Retail/Lobby Area, Pool Area, Exercise room and Spin Room. The paging stations are located at the main front desk, the exercise room main desk, and the managers office. The six sources consist of television audio, CD player, digital satellite feed and 2 paging consoles.
Retail Clothing Store -2 Zone Layout Overview This is an example of a typical retail clothing storefront with two separate merchandising areas for customers. One is the young women’s clothing section tailored more for high school and college age customers and the other would serve the older 25 to 35 year old women’s segment. Each of these groups shop differently and have different tastes in clothing, music, and personal interests.
Retail Book/Record Store -3 Zone Layout Overview To best illustrate a more complex retail BGM installation you a typical large bookstore is a good example. This system has 5 sources laid out over 3 zones. The zones are for the record shop, main bookstore and the coffee shop. Each requires distinctly different sound sources. 2 paging consoles are also used with one located at the main cashiers desk and one in the managers office. In this configuration the 3.2t’s and C10.
Large Department Store - 6 Zone Layout Overview To extend the power of the ProAnnounce routing system the DCS control system can be used to page to different zones. This system shown here uses such an expansion. In a large department store many independent programs and zones are needed. This system can accommodate these requirements. This system has 3 music sources and 4 paging stations laid out over 6 zones. Each requires distinctly different paging needs.
Basic Warehouse - 5 Zone Layout Overview The ProAnnounce system can be extremely cost effective as illustrated in this example. This system allows for flexible paging into 5 different zones with a single dual channel amplifier. This maximizes flexibility while minimizing cost. This system has 1 BGM feed and 2 paging feeds laid out over 5 zones. Each requires distinctly different paging needs.
Multi-Use Warehouse, Factory & Office Facility - 15 Zone Layout Overview This example shows how ProAnnounce can be used to control the audio routing for BGM and paging over a very large facility. The combination of 4 channels of amplification and DCS expansion components allow for this flexibility.
Appendix A: Distributed Audio Systems – A Primer The technique of constant-voltage (CV) loudspeaker distribution has been a standard audio practice since the earliest days of sound contracting. Why Is It Called “Constant Voltage”? You may have heard a distributed speaker system referred to as a “70-volt constant voltage system.” Does this mean that there is a constant AC or DC voltage of 70 volts always going through the speaker line? No, it doesn't.
One relic of the tube days, though, is the relatively common misconception that you must use an output transformer on any amplifier that drives a CV line. In fact, given the state of modem power amplifier technology, a transformer is not necessarily required. In this article, we will explore a number of alternative methods for driving constant-voltage distribution systems.
The use of a 75 watt-per-channel amplifier can also bring added benefits in certain Installations. For instance, there is often a need to drive one or two full-range high-quality loudspeakers — say, for foreground music — in addition to a CV paging line. (One could imagine such a situation in a small airport terminal that included a restaurant or bar, for example.) In such situations, combining music and paging on a single branch may impose a compromise in sound quality that will frustrate the client.
