[il-talk] NFBI Audio Meeting Notes
Byron J. Lee
byron at byronlee.com
Fri Sep 25 13:00:37 UTC 2015
People in attendance:
Byron
Bill Rief
Debbie Pittman
Marco
People who have confirmed they can help out:
Byron
Bill Rief
Debbie Pittman
Marco
Steve Hastalis
Patti Chang
Francisco Chang
Denise Avant
Debbie Stein
Dave Meyer (if he comes)
Other potential volunteers:
Julia Chang
Glenn Moore
Cathy Randall
Robert Gardner
Jamal Powell
Linda Hendle
Katie Leinum
Debbie Birmingham
Edward Birmingham
Cathy Stepp
Jessie Rodgers
Bruce Paul
Dan Dwyer
James Dickman
Kurt Dickman
Brian Sumner
Austin Mages
If anyone who wishes to volunteer is not listed here, please contact
Byron and he will make sure you have something to do on the Audio
Committee. If a Question Mark is next to your name Byron will contact
you to see if you can do the job. If anyone else wants to volunteer
please let us know!
Byron's contact info is:
byron at byronlee.com
773 633 4799
Backup Contact for Audio:
Steve 773 848 5307
Byron has priced out a new mixer and wireless microphone system. We are
awaiting a decision on which mixer and wireless microphone the budget
can accomodate.
The Behringer Xenyx X2442USB is a 10 mic input mixer for $349.99.
The Behringer Eurodesk SX2442FX is a 16 mic input mixer for $499.99.
The Audio-Technica System 10 Digital Wireless single microphone system
is $299.
The Audio-Technica System 10 Digital Wireless dual microphone system is
$799.
Patti Chang has asked the hotel if we can get a dedicated login for
wi-fi again this year. Bill Reif will bring an ethernet cord if we need one.
Debbie Pittman will re-label snake cables if any of the labels fell off
since last year.
Byron to connect with IABS Idol to get music.
Byron arriving between 7:30 and 8:30 depending on transportation.
Thursday Night Setup (Starting at 8-ish, couldn't hurt to show up early!)
Tear down and set-up are the two biggest jobs, we need all the
volunteers we can get. If you were not on the conference call and would
like to help please make a point to show up to either Set-Up or Tear Down!
Jobs To Be Done:
1. Unload and Sort Equipment (Byron, Bill, Marco, Patti, Francisco,
Steve Hastalis, Debbie Pittman, Debbie Stein, Glenn Moore? Cathy Randall?)
Steps: Help Chang family unload and deliver audio equipment to the main
room, unpack and sort equipment, untangle loose wires, re-wrap loose
wires, assist in any lifting or moving of heavy equipment to proper spot
of the room.
2. Set Up Microphone Stands (Steve, Bill, Marco, Byron, Glenn? Robert
Hansen?)
Steps: Unfold mic stands, put on clips, put mics in clips, plug mics in,
run cables to the snake, plug mics into snake while keeping tabs on
which mic went into which input of snake, run snake to the audio table.
(you will have to get creative about running cables under table skirts
and under the stage)
3. Set Up Speakers (Bill, Marco, Byron, Steve, Glenn?)
Steps: Set up speaker stands, put speakers on stands, plug speakers in,
run cable between speakers and audio table (you will have to get
creative about running cables behind the stage)
4. Cable Tapedown (Byron, Bill, Debbie Stein?)
Steps: Tape down excess cable between audio table and mic snake, tape
down cable between speakers and audio table. Tape down extension cables
between audio table and power outlet if any.
5. Audio Table Hook-Up (Debbie Pittman, Byron, Bill, Marco, Steve, Glenn?)
Steps: Hook up mics to mixer careful to note which mics are going into
which inputs (these should match the numbers on the snake), hook up
wireless mic, hook up external mixer and all external equipment for
streaming, hook mixer up to amplifier, hook speakers up to amplifier,
apply power and test.
Morning Pre-Setup:
Jobs To Be Done:
1. Inspection (Byron)
Steps: Re-test everything, make sure all connections are tight and that
nothing was forgotten.
2. Last Minute Shopping (Francisco?)
Steps: Drive to electronics or music store, buy or assist in buying any
emergency last minute materials, deliver receipts from treasurer.
3. Scheduling (Byron)
Steps: Work with convention presenters and chief officers to accomidate
any last minute changes in schedule, location, or other variables,
assist in percuring equipment needed for presentations later in the weekend.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday General Sessions:
Jobs To Be Done
1. Mic Runner (Denise will ask for volunteers)
Steps: Walk around the room and bring wireless microphone to people who
wish to speak, change batteries when you suspect the mic is dying, bring
mic to prize table when they want to draw names, keep track of the mic
as it can go missing easily.
2. Mic Adjuster (Denise will ask for volunteers)
Steps: Watch the microphones or listen on headphones at audio table,
adjust mics when they are knocked off kilter, adjust mic height or
length depending on presenters' needs, check mic connection when and if
a mic gets unplugged and is rendered unhearable.
3. Video Manager (Nelly Gamino?)
Steps: Acquire and set-up projector if not already done, help presenters
hook up laptop or other playback device to projector (video or audio),
run slideshows if presenter doesn't have a remote control, turn off
projector when not being used, dim or raise the lights when needed.
(projector may be needed in various rooms, so this job means you need to
work with whoever needs the projector at any time)
4. Audio Manager (Byron)
Steps: Watch the stream for any dropping, monitor audio in headphones
and adjust levels when required, keep all un-used mics down low to
prevent excess noise or picking up whispering of people who don't wish
to speak on the mic, keep an ear out for dropped channels or crackle, be
prepared to play sound effects, audio clips, audio from videos, etc,
provide audio cables to external devices such as Media Players and
Laptops, talk and or play music during breaks or recess, alert those who
may be walking near the audio table and direct them past it.
Friday Evening (IABS Idol):
1. Pre-IDOL Crew: (Byron, Marco, Bill)
Steps: About an hour before IDOL, take 2 wired microphones and re-adjust
them to serve as floor stands, rip up the cables and tape then back
down, place wireless mic by the IABS area, where the MC will sit (MC and
Judges will share wireless mic), test mixer, music playback and mics.
2. Mic Adjuster (Julia?, Brianna?, Jimmie Dickman?)
Steps: Re-adjust mic height if talent has trouble, adjust mic for
sitting if needed, adjust mic for guitar/other instrument and singing if
needed, fix mic or mic stand if it falls over or breaks, change
batteries in wireless mic if it starts to die, assist in locating the
wireless mic if and when it gets lost.
3. DJ (Byron)
Steps: Monitor microphone level, play music, queue up special sound
effects if needed, search for or download last minute requests, assist
in any other IDOL needs.
4. DJ Assistant (Marco)
Steps: Download last minute requests and listen to them to make sure
they are good copies, transfer them to DJ via Dropbox, communicate with
MC if DJ is busy, take over DJing if DJ has to pee or is otherwise
occupied, assist in all IDOL DJing duties.
5. Post-IDOL Crew (Byron, Marco)
Steps: Move 2 floor mics to table, reconfigure them for table mode, tape
the mics back down, replace wireless mic battery regardless of battery
level (better safe than sorry), make sure room is ready for Saturday event.
Special Events Audio Needs:
Parents of Blind Children Breakfast: Room A? (Byron will use his iPhone
to Stream, Bill to record with VR Stream)
Student Breakfast: Room A? (Byron will use his iPhone to Stream, Bill to
record with VR Stream)
IABS Luncheon: Main Room (Using main audio table equipment)
Parents Seminar: Room A? (Hotel Audio, no stream or recording)
Teen Scene: Room C? (Marco, Dave Meyer?)
NFBI Kid Kamp (No Audio, No Stream, No Recording)
Post-Convention Tear-Down Crew:
(Byron, Marco, Bill, Steve, Debbie Pittman, Patti, Fransico, Julia
Chang? Cathy Randall? Glenn?)
Jobs To Be Done
1. Mic Dis-assemblers
Steps: Unplug mics and take the out of the clips, place mics in bubble
wrap, untape and wrap cables, put cables in plastic bin, remove clips
and put with mics if possible, if not put them in their own bag, unscrew
tri-pods and fold up, tighten screws, place tri-pods back in vinyl bags,
zipper them up and place near plastic bins, untape audio snake and
disconnect from board, wrap snake and place in plastic bin (wrap it in
bubble wrap if possible), look around for any audio equipment that may
be laying around and make sure it doesn't belong to the hotel before
packing it.
2. Speaker Dis-assemblers
Steps: Unplug speakers, take speakers off stands, fold stands, remember
to loosen screws and tighten them once folded again, place stands in
vinyl bags, untape speaker cable, disconnect speakers from board, wrap
cables, place in plastic bins, look around for any audio equipment that
may be laying around and make sure it doesn't belong to the hotel before
packing it.
3. Board Disconnect: Unplug all cables from board, check with Byron to
make sure some of the cables don't belong to him, wrap cables, stow
loose adapters in plastic box, unplug power BUT do not unplug power
until Byron has his laptop packed as he may be saving audio files and
power loss may result in damaged files, pack all cables and adapters in
plastic bins, pack mixer and amplifier in seperate plastic bins to
distribute weight, be careful to keep everything organized and neatly
wrapped, avoid putting cables or adapters that go together in seperate
bins, look around for any audio equipment that may be laying around and
make sure it doesn't belong to the hotel before packing it.
4. Re-Sort, Pack, and Load Equipment
Steps: If equipment is placed in bags or bins where they don't belong
repack them, manage space appropriately in bins, pack everything that
can be in bubble wrap or protective packing, nothing heavy should go on
top, help load bins or other heavy equipment onto the cart, help load
the Chang family vehicle with bins and other equipment.
5. Chicago Equipment (Steve and Patti will coordinate to make sure it
gets taken back to Changs home, Patti will bring to December meeting)
Steps: This equipment is on loan from the Chicago Chapter and is needed
for their local meetings, if it is not already packed and accounted for
please do so, open case and double check that all peices of Chicago
Chapter equipment are present. Make sure this equipment gets into the
Chang Family vehicle.
6. Hotel Equipment
Steps: All hotel equipment must be returned to the hotel, make sure that
none of it gets packed and that it is left somewhere where the hotel
staff will find it.
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