Nightclub Sound System Design

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, amplifiers, 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 first time.

Below we have compiled a list of questions that you as nightclub owner need to

ask your consultant so that every factor that affects 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 satisfies 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, Amplifier, Absorption, Reflection 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 affect 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 affect 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 defined

different zones for your venue? Areas with loud music, peppy music, background music.

4. How do different 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 affect the sound quality and output? Is

your sound system ready to deliver on crowded days?

6. How does the amplifiers 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?

8. How does the air temperature, pressure and humidity affects 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-off if someone accidently pulls of a lead from a

speaker or amplifier 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 +91-172-2236154.