NIGHTCLUB

SOUND SYSTEMS

NIGHTCLUB
SOUND SYSTEMS
Sound is critical to a success of a nightclub. Contrary to the popular belief Loudspeaker
quality is just one factor, although an important one, in what it takes for a nightclub to
sound good. Other factors being the acoustics of the venue, sound management
systems, ampliers, speaker placement, venue capacity, external noises etc.
Our experience shows that the owner/ manager of the nightclub needs to be proactive in
dealing with the Architects, Acoustic Consultants and AV Consultants/Integrators so as
to get the best nightclub sound system design for their venue. And it makes sense too, as
investment in good sound systems alone can range anywhere between INR 50 lacs-1.5
crores depending on the size of the venue. Huge investment costs coupled with the time
investment makes it very important to do it right the rst time.
Below we have compiled a list of questions that you as nightclub owner need to ask your
consultant so that every factor that aects sound in your nightclub, is taken care of.
Answer to these questions will not only make you better understand the dynamics of
nightclub sound system design but will also give you an idea about the competency of the
consultant. Send these questions across to three to four consultants and then choose the
one who provides the best answers or satises you. We have tried our best to avoid
technical terms wherever possible. Ask your consultant to explain some basic technical
terms like Frequency Response, SPL, Dispersion, Throw, Phase Delay, Frequency
Cancellation, DSP, Amplier, Absorption, Reection etc.
The Questions
1. How sound interacts with the enclosed space of your venue? Which material inside the
venue is acoustically opaque or transparent and how does it aect the low, mid and high
frequencies? Is your venue supressing some frequencies? How will the acoustic material
used inside the venue age with time and how it will aect sound?
2.Why he is using a particular speaker, in terms of frequency response, SPL level,
dispersion etc.?
3. Why speakers are placed in a particular place? Are they covering the entire venue?
Where are the acoustically sweet and dead spots located inside your venue? How he has
dened dierent zones for your venue? Areas with loud music, peppy music, background
music.
4. How do dierent speakers interact with each other? Are they strengthening or
subduing the sound? What is phase delay, will he be using the same for best results?
5. How does the number of people inside the venue aect the sound quality and output?
Is your sound system ready to deliver on crowded days?
6. How does the ampliers interact with the speakers? Is the system capable of running
on full capacity for long durations?
7. How your sound management system distributes frequencies to tops and subs placed
inside your venue?

NIGHTCLUB
SOUND SYSTEMS
8. How does the air temperature, pressure and humidity aects sound in your venue?
9. How will the sound in the venue change over time as the speaker age over time and
what needs to be done to take care of it?
10. Is your sound system safe from a novice handling it? Are enough protection measure
sprovided so that the system does not blow-o if someone accidently pulls of a lead from
a speaker or amplier or presses a wrong button?
11. Is your AV Integrator providing you in writing the procedure of handling the sound
systems?
12. What all is covered in warranty and are you signing an annual maintenance contract?
13. Who is authorised to touch sound systems for repairs and what service level is your AV
Integrator providing?
Seek answers to the above questions from your Architect/AV Consultant/AV Integrator
to get the best out of your Nightclub Sound Systems.
Harness Overseas Pvt. Ltd. has been providing Pro Sound Systems to Nightclubs for over
25 years. For more information please write us on info@harnessasia.com or call us on +91172-2236154.