Mackie SRM350 2-WAY Speaker User Manual


 
11
Here are some useful placement tips:
Avoid placing loudspeakers in the
corners of a room. This increases the
low-frequency output and can cause the
sound to be muddy and indistinct.
Avoid placing loudspeakers against a wall.
This, too, increases the low-frequency
output, though not as much as corner
placement. However, if you do need to
reinforce the low frequencies, this is a
good way to do it.
Avoid placing the active speakers directly
on a hollow stage floor. A hollow stage can
resonate at certain frequencies, causing
peaks and dips in the frequency response
of the room. It’s better to place the active
speakers on a sturdy table or tripod stands.
Position the active speakers so the high-
frequency drivers are 2 to 4 feet above ear
level for the audience (make allowances for
a standing/dancing in the aisles audience).
High frequencies are highly directional and
tend to be absorbed much easier than
lower frequencies. By providing direct line-
of-sight from the active speakers to the
audience, you increase the overall bright-
ness and intelligibility of the sound system.
Highly reverberant rooms, like many
gymnasiums and auditoriums, are a
nightmare for sound system intelligibility.
Multiple reflections off the hard walls,
ceiling, and floor play havoc with the
sound. Depending on the situation, you
may be able to take some steps to mini-
mize the reflections, such as putting
carpeting on the floors, closing draperies
to cover large glass windows, or hanging
tapestries or other materials on the walls
to absorb some of the sound.
However, in most cases, these remedies are
not possible or practical. So what do you
do? Making the sound system louder
generally doesn’t work because the reflec-
tions become louder, too. The best approach
is to provide as much direct sound coverage
to the audience as possible. The farther
away you are from the speaker, the more
prominent will be the reflected sound.
Use more speakers strategically placed so
they are closer to the back of the audience.
If the distance between the front and back
speakers is more than about 100 feet, you
should use a delay processor to time-align
the sound. (Since sound travels about 1
foot per millisecond, it takes about 1/10 of
a second to travel 100 feet).
RIGGING
The SRM350 cabinets are fitted with
four M5 insert points on the top and bot-
tom for installing an optional hanging
bracket that allows the speaker to be flown.
SRM350 Bracket Kit: Part No. 0016404
WARNING: Never at-
tempt to suspend the
SRM350 active speakers
by their handles. If you
want to suspend them,
use the hanging brackets only.
M5 inserts for mounting
optional hanging bracket
Bottom
Pole
Mount
Top
If you are hanging them
in an inaccessable place,
such as over a lion’s cage,
make sure that you first
complete the sound check
and set the SRM350 LEVEL correctly.