Speaker Coverage Calculator | How To Choose The Right Speakers & Placement

How do you calculate speaker coverage? In this video, Michael Curtis talks about choosing the perfect speakers and speaker placement for a live sound system.
Audio Math Survival Spreadsheet (Free Download): www.producedbymkc.com/audioto...
Speaker Specs Guide (Free Download): audiouniversityonline.com/spea...
- More From Michael Curtis -
Website: www.producedbymkc.com/
KZbin Channel: / michaelcurtis_audio
00:00 - Introduction
01:55 - What We'll Learn
02:14 - What Is Speaker Coverage?
05:22 - Why Is Speaker Coverage Important?
07:32 - Two Big Mistakes When Choosing Speakers
10:09 - The #1 Spec When Choosing Speakers
13:03 - Speaker Coverage Calculator (Audience FAR)
16:07 - Best Speaker Placement For Live Sound
17:49 - Is a Wider Speaker Pattern Better?
18:20 - Can Your Speakers Cover Your Audience?
19:41 - Speaker Selection & Coverage: Key Takeaways
Book a one to one call:
audiouniversityonline.com/one...
Website: audiouniversityonline.com/
Facebook: / audiouniversityonline
Twitter: / audiouniversity
Instagram: / audiouniversity
Patreon: / audiouniversity
Gear Recommendations: kit.co/audiouniversity
#AudioUniversity
‪@MichaelCurtisAudio‬
Disclaimer: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click them, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

[@isaiahmaragalla]

months and months of watching different videos on how to set gain on digital vs analog mixers, you clarified it in a single video. amazing work bro. thank you

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, Isaiah!

[@MrMann-gt1eh]

These videos are just GOLD. I really don’t want to jynx it but it’s crazy to me that these videos are free and available to the public. As a disabled veteran with no desire to attend a school to learn a bunch of crap I don’t care about just to get to attend the technically informational class I NEED… the comfortability of learning from my living room is unmatched. Being able to pause and rewind, get food, smoke, have creative control etc. The benefits are endless.

[@AudioUniversity]

I’m very glad to hear this, Mr. Mann! Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

So glad this was helpful to you!

[@minukdk]

What an informative session with easy to understand content. Thank you so much Michael and Kyle. Greetings from Sri Lanka :)

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, Minuk!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're so very welcome!

[@NeostyleDj]

Thank you very much for this great video and tools, greetings from Mexico and I am a big fan of your content. And thanks also to Michael for his contribution! Please more coverage videos :D !

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help, Sergio! Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@AudioUniversity Thank you, Sergio! So glad you liked the video.

[@hildemora]

Grande Sergio!

[@abiudmendoza5812]

Yes very interesting, I´m also from Mexico. I want to learn how to calculate coverage on the usage of hanging speakers, is there a video tutorial about it? Greetings

[@RaymanuelMuzik]

Thank you so much for this one!! This will help me setting up the sound system in my church! Just what I needed.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome!

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, Ray!

[@henryvanweeren7233]

Hello there, Loved the lighting analogy/metaphor. Everything presented here is well explained. Thanks.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, Henry!

[@henryvanweeren7233]

@@AudioUniversity Listening to the DAW/patchbay video now. I would like to understand how I can run a similar, simplified setup on my portable rig.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thanks a ton! Glad it was helpful to you.

[@juliocabello1492]

Finally! this is the best video ive ever seen that explains it very well and simple!! Thank you!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you so much, Julio!

[@KelvinEriaganoma]

This is absolutely informative. Thank you for such an amazing video. I respect you guys for what you do. Much love from Nigeria.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Kelvin!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you so much, Kelvin! Glad this was helpful for you.

[@eespecialeventsdj]

This is quite perfectly on time for me! I'm doing a pretty big wedding tomorrow and I'm stuck on the long wall of a big, "boomy" and "ringy" venue! Thank you so much!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome! Let us know hot it goes.

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to hear that, E and E! Good luck!

[@rogeriolisto]

Superb explanation. 👏

[@ruwenonmix8210]

Thanks for the video Michael.. 😍😍

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, Ruwen!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@AudioUniversity You're very welcome!

[@jamieremus277]

Great video and you made it understandable in your presentation. Thank you 🙂🇨🇦

[@ThomZek]

This is just brillant. Thank you so much for sharing so much knowledge with us!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome!

[@btechstuff]

Is there any reason in a venue to have speakers in the front, back and sides? Unless the area is huge? This was very informative. I am trying to help a church that has way too many speakers.

[@sxbadmonkey]

Great explanation and illustrations, waiting already for the next video!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Samuel. Make sure to check out Michael’s other content: www.producedbymkc.com

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you so much, Samuel! Videos come out every tuesday. Next week is one sub/phase compatibility.

[@hedersalvalagio525]

I agree. Thanks.

[@calvinmcclean6899]

Excellent, thanks.

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad it was helpful!

[@broadcastedtube]

Such an instructional video! :) Thanks a million.

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help, Roger! Thanks for watching.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome!

[@Vela_Isai]

Your the man Micheal!!! I appreciate the knowledge your sharing.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome! Glad the video was helpful for you.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome. Happy to help!

[@AsadMulla]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio I like "your" reply. "You're" spot on

[@jen3800]

also, thank you for making me aware of the dispersion aspects. i had to do a show in a massive conference center, lots of booths and competition to be heard. because of what you taught me, i realized the speakers on sticks were too low and mislocated due to vertical dispertion wasting energy, which opens the opportunity for more feedback chasing which equals awul audio. people, know your dispersion specs! you are a kick ass teacher, sir!. i am twice your age

[@djlynzcompany300]

Really amazing video! Thanks so much

[@matthewhooks5548]

If you were able to ceiling mount K12’s for a 60’ wide X 60’ deep room, would you split that into 2 or possibly even go to 3 speakers? Thanks!

[@kovansgarage7892]

I hope he Answer,, i have son 3x 120/60 speakers on each side ,,

[@matthewhooks5548]

@@kovansgarage7892 I ended up making a simple diagram on word with the angle of the speaker throw and it works great. I just made sure I had full coverage by the time it got to the first row of chairs

[@DJRomanCandles]

Really great info! glad to see another pro digs the K12s- I got a pair of the KW122s w the wood cab. Height is important- what kind of stands are you using for mobile use?

[@AudioUniversity]

I’d recommend the stands in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4nHZq1pg8mBf5Y

[@xtlmeth]

I wish I would have had this content years ago. I could have saved myself so much stress and extra work.

[@guitguy6579]

This is fantastic, thank you for bringing this guy on, I can't wait to watch his channel too!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help build awareness about what Michael does! Great teacher, great guy. Thanks for watching!

[@bannerrj41]

Thank you for this video..this was a game changer

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RecordingStudio9]

Thanks Michael.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome!

[@themellonfactory]

There is obviously deep expertise in play, and very worthwhile information. Respectfully, I feel would have been more impactful to have an example which didn’t simply resolve to single units stage-edge L & R orthogonal-facing, since that is very similar to what the random Google photos offered seemed like. Or alternatively, following the demo calculation, it would have been salutary to refer back & illustrate ways in which the Google photo rigs should possibly have been reconfigured.

[@AudioUniversity]

These are good suggestions, Rob. Thanks! If we would have reviewed the Google photo rigs at the end of the video, we would have noticed that the speakers were not centered on the audience areas they were deployed to cover. In some cases the speakers could have been aimed or placed differently. In most cases, the speakers will be placed beside the stage, but "How far from the stage edge and aimed in which direction?" is the question. Thanks for watching and giving your feedback!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@AudioUniversity Thank you for the feedback, Rob. I see your point, but wanted to use a similar deployment and put a "why?" behind it. I hope to use the concepts I introduce here as a foundation, then expand on it in future videos.

[@marshalldjs5237]

Thanks dude . This video helps me a lot to improve my knowledge..

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help, Marshall. Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

All about the knowledge gains : )

[@markotero7778]

Thanks for putting together this video. Very informative and accurate. One question, I tried to download the Audio Math Survival Spreadsheet but it keeps giving me the same message: Sorry, unable to open the file at this time, Please check the addres and try again. Am I missing something?

[@KyleThurmanMusic]

Michael Curtis! I can say I now know someone famous! Haha! My favorite bass player/audio engineer!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you for the kind words, Kyle! Hope this was helpful to you.

[@kairandbellinger1973]

BIG QUESTION??? First off -Thank you so much - BUT at 16:28 isn't that the same as two QSC on sticks on the side of the Stage but only facing straight? I mean I get the content and concept 100% - I've only known setting up the small outdoor stage the popular method - so such an Amazing video. But how do we place the two side speakers closer together and not impede the view of the stage? I would have loved to see your before and after overhead image of the picture example you used as a set up at the beginning of the video to your best solution setup at the end.

[@BarnabY07]

I believe there is a lack of information on yt about speaker coverage. So, thanks for this one.

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome!

[@bradthurkle7217]

That was brilliant. Learnt heaps. Sound is a deceiving thing lol 😆(subbed)👍

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome! Yes, sound is trickier than meets the eye : )

[@bradthurkle7217]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio ya not wrong 👍

[@surfcello]

18:51 Don't you want to use Tangent instead of Sine? Makes quite a difference for large angles.

[@TheVcasf]

NEED HELP I need to cover a large outdoor area with music without disturbing the neighbors. It's a long term install. What should I research to understand the best way to achieve this?

[@rectify2003]

Fascinating video and great Channel

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you so much!

[@rishavrai5889]

I am sorry if this feels like a noob's question but, what makes a speaker or headphone drivers to sound accurate?? (if possible could you make a detailed video on this. It would really help)

[@AudioUniversity]

This video might help, Rishav: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2WxooZ9fLeFgK8

[@pianistganga]

What to buy for digital piano ? I just need it for piano playing in.12"18 fret room

[@chrismunyao9951]

Thanks for the video, aren't we getting destructive and constructive interference where the two waves meet at the centre ?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Hey, Chris. Yes, you're absolutely right here. This would be true with any left/right setup. I'm usually not too worried about the overlap because the precedence effect usually makes it so any listener will be drawn to the speaker they're closest to. I'd rather have a little bit of overlap than a gap in the middle.

[@RamRam-cg3rq]

Which software i can start with to design my show? (pc and free is preferable)

[@Vlade.Jovanoski.Official]

Does having 100 degree speakers mean you'll always have comb flitering? I have 4 100 speakers, it seems like it is impossible to avoid comfilterinng with this set up right?

[@davidmuathe633]

thanks fro the awesome content

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@silvermineband2719]

When does the lighting analogy break down? I attend a church where the speaker placement looks like it was designed by a lighting installer. Sound has different properties than light and I’m trying to help remedy the issue.

[@michaelanthony9068]

Great topic. I wish I could find plans or formulas for building good bass guitar cabinets. I have building skills but have not been able to find plans on line. Plenty of plans for car speaker or subs but no musical instrument speaker boxes. Btw, I have two 12” EV bass guitar speakers I would like to build or buy already made boxes.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I've heard EARful cabinets for bass are incredible. They have plans you can buy!

[@jacklazor-hr8tl]

Thank you for this it helps

[@p3trolhead]

Great video. But after calculating the Audience FAR how do you come to decide the angle specs of the speakers. Was that explained? Thank You!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Yup! Start just after the 14:20 mark and it should take you from there.

[@p3trolhead]

I got it! it is 2*ASIN(1/Audience FAR)

[@AudioUniversity]

Great question, JNCS. Thanks, Michael! Make sure to download the Audio Math Survival Spreadsheet for more audio formulas! www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit

[@andnegr]

This is a great video!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you so much!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you enjoyed it, Andrea! Thanks for watching.

[@anthonygalli5949]

Does anyone know of a laser device that you can set the coverage angle to and then be able to put on the speaker grill (ideally magnetic) to visualize the coverage area?

[@crayfish3629]

Some great knowledge 😊

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, cray fish!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you so much!

[@lolashake2641]

In my speakers manual (HK Pro Premium 15”) at the specs only have Angles Up (45 degrees) and Horn directivity (90 x 50 degrees CD Horn) which of this 2 specs is the correct angle to use for reference? Thanks for the content!

[@AudioUniversity]

You should use the directivity of the horn. I believe the 45-degree spec refers to the tilt of the speaker.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Yup, Kyle's got you.

[@lolashake2641]

Thanks guys!

[@Al-po2oh]

Is there a calculator for speaker and power mixer wattage to size of room? Thanks. Very informative stuff.

[@kamesh_98]

Hi, I'm first time building a speaker on my own. I have 100w 2.0 Apm that will power 50w/channel. for 3 way crossover i chosen: woofer - 40w mids - 15w tweeter - 15w all are 8ohms (i have option to go for 4ohms) What do you think, in total 60w for speakers is too much or how should i choose mids and tweeter power?

[@jtmusiclessons21]

what software do you use to see the colored image

[@surangafernando3100]

Thanks sir

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're welcome!

[@chrismunyao9951]

Secondly doesn't this affect the coherence of the summed wave that is to cover the audience ! as seen the LR weather diagram for 70degrees doesn't have a even semi circle of the sound wave across the prediction software in the venue

[@AudioUniversity]

Yes, Chris. Both of your comments point out an important consideration when dealing with multiple speakers - certain frequencies will cancel/sum depending on the distance offset between speakers and the listener. This is one of the things we are trying to manage by using speakers with the appropriate coverage angle and placing them properly. If the speakers are too narrow or placed too far apart, there will be a hole in the middle of the coverage. On the other hand, if the speakers are too wide or placed too close together, the interactions between speakers will cause more extreme phase interferences. Ideally, we will choose speaker angles and spacing that minimizes the interaction of the speakers while maximizing the coverage over the audience.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@AudioUniversity Kyle nailed it here. Great question, Chris.

[@joshuared1000]

Great video!! thank you!!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@stevenking2828]

Where do you get the latest version of the spreadsheet? THe one I got is from 2021

[@AudioUniversity]

www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit

[@htl1975]

How should you place or aim the speakers if you don't have a stage? The rented space is a square where you have to set up in the audience box. Currently I aim the speakers backward to avoid feedback. Is that correct?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thanks for the question! I'm having a hard time visualizing the speaker orientation. Can you clarify a bit more on what you mean by backwards? And where the audience is in relation to the speaker?

[@htl1975]

The speakers are aiming toward a front wall that is say 10ft away and the presenter is between the back of the speakers and the audience .

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@htl1975 If I'm interpreting this right, you're bouncing the sound off the front wall then back to the audience?

[@htl1975]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio yes

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@htl1975 I would face them at your audience, for sure. Even if the person with a mic is in the audience. It's very possible to keep things stable.

[@timcason3479]

Would a Bose L1 pro 32 on the stage near the front on a side would not work? This scenario is about the same demensions that I play at once a month. My area is a little bigger 72’D X 84’ W. My stage 3 1/2 feet high 11’ D and 12’ W. I have used one speaker system and I have use two and both have worked amazingly well for consistency of coverage and volume. Is this a bad thing? Am I missing something in all of this?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I think your Bose will do great here. It's a 180°-ish box, so it's very, very wide. Just make sure it doesn't spill back on to your stage and you'll be in good shape.

[@kingtenstudios5870]

Another Solid Video!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you!

[@davidalcaraz7213]

Thank you for such an amazing video!! it was really helpful. You don't recommend Bose F1 systems?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I've never used that specific F1 system, but I'm sure they're great if deployed correctly for the right situation.

[@nikolapetrusic1862]

You make really great videos! What is the name of the simulation software?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you so much! The simulation software is MAPP 3D by Meyer Sound. It's free and available for Mac and PC.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, Nikola!

[@robertmwangi7401]

Thanks for this,am in Kenya and I have this question,Does the direction of the wind affect the sound set up?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

The wind will certainly move around the medium which sound is traveling through. Not a whole lot you can do about it, but it certainly has an affect on sound, mostly changing how the high frequencies propogate.

[@markboughton1349]

Hi it's great for bigger venues but some times you have got to set up in a small wedding venue where the audience is almost ontop of the band due to space is there any rule of thumb advice for small footprint venues and what about matrixing in longer venues, where is best again to position additional arrays.. does the same rules apply.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Hey, Mark. Yes - when the audience is super close AND you have a long room you definitely run into some challenges. Just like I mentioned you should subdivide and conquer the L/R halves of the room, I like to do the same with the DEPTH of the audience as well. So, you could have a Left Front, Right Front, Left Back Half, Right Back Half - all of these on matrices that you can control individually. Get the speakers as high as you can and still aim through the middle of their zones.

[@ladjkaoz]

👍👏👏 alot of people dont have an idea why they set up the way they set up most of the times....😂

[@anthonybulaoro7551]

The wider the inches of speakers means a wide coverage?

[@AudioUniversity]

It varies on more factors, but in my experience smaller speakers of the same product line tend to have wider patterns. Choosing the angle is just the first step. Learn more in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKmskp16r7adsM0

[@legendarydjmarcus1212]

Great Video!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thanks a ton!

[@Kenndentertainment]

What's the name of the software you are using?

[@adi.sax.ardelean]

Hello! I'm from Romania and I want to ask you for an opinion about setting up and setting up an audio system for the live band. they have a column consisting of 2 dynacord fx20 basses and a fx12 top horn with which they go superimposed in the center of the dance floor. I still have 4 fullrange ev sx300 speakers that I play in the room depending on the location of the stage. if the scene is in the center then I place the column in the center and fullrange two on the left and 2 on the right in line. . column in the center I set mono L + R always in the center as always used as point 0 and the other fullrange speakers are also set mono in the processor, so I do not use anything stereo because our kind of music is so that in each speaker they should sound the same if they are placed scattered around the room. (depending on the room I do not use a standard installation) I rarely place them in line with the column in misloc. Is it okay for the delays applied to the speakers to be centered on the dance floor column? I don't use smaart for alignment only with a roulette wheel, the distance from each fullrange and then the distance to the center, after which I apply the delay or the approach to each speaker, taking as a reference the center of the dance floor. I hope you understood! thank you

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I think I'm understanding you : ) I'd say you delay your rig to whichever system covers the most amount of people and is loudest. Everything "aligns" to that one.

[@adi.sax.ardelean]

I understand! I will take the column as main volume which dominates in volume anyway and I will delay the other fullrange speakers compared to the column. in case I don't have a column, is the backmost speaker taken as a reference? thank you for the answer

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@adi.sax.ardelean Your reference point in that setup comes from a point in the room, not necessarily a specific speaker. There will be a speaker that will inevitably have no delay line added to it, though (since it is farthest away from that point in the room). You will most often finding your reference points for delay setting where you have the most amount of overlap between two speaker zones.

[@adi.sax.ardelean]

Thank you! 👍

[@fairyanstudio8934]

Very Intresting

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you!

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, FAIRYAN STUDIO!

[@danielbelik]

What is audience FAR?

[@JCVD87]

this applies for parties & gigs .. not for home cinema stereo or 5.1 setup !

[@geronez]

aligning mains and subs please. thanks

[@AudioUniversity]

Check out this video, Richie: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4XSh2uHYrBradU

[@tkarchesy]

So, If I had 4 speakers with 100 degree horizontal coverage, could I place them to get a stereo effect?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I would try only have two sound sources overlapping each-other at one time. Having four different arrival times from four different speakers creates more confusion than a usable stereo image.

[@WhiteKnightx7]

I do not understand the math, i have an FAR of 1.66 but the math equation does not work for me, no degree i input equals my FAR, what am i doing wrong?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

A FAR of 1.66 means you need a 74° speaker to cover your audience. Is that what you're getting?

[@WhiteKnightx7]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio Ok, so my phones calculator is just wrong, I went ahead and got a proper calculator and that's exactly what I got, thanks for the response and the help

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@WhiteKnightx7 You got it! Happy to help.

[@frspp]

Yeah easy to get FAR but tricky part is type the formula =DEGREES(2*ASIN(1/FAR)) which outputs the degrees.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@frspp That's why you should get my spreadsheet, so you don't have to type it out : ). Inputs and outputs are all built in.

[@macfmradio1694]

Wich is the software

[@MohitSingh-yc5bi]

Can we directly connect to mixture?? Or is there need of amplifier?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

If you have an active (or "self powered") speaker you can connect directly to the speaker.

[@DJKrowbarKE]

I remember the first time I walked into a lecture hall to teach sound students the Sabine formula. They love sound but we’re not ready for the math. One thing most people who enter this industry are never told is that, ‘this is a career of numbers’.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

That's very true! You can get away with a lot in your career in audio and not truly understand what's going on under the hood, but it will eventually come back to get you. The math supports the art.

[@Alexandermajor]

What happens when you and have a irregular shaped space you are providing sound to is the equation still the same. For example the first half of the audience being a big rectangle and the rear a smaller square attached to the first half.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I'm having a hard time picturing the room you're describing, but I would use your main speakers to cover the largest audience area, then maybe a fill speaker to cover that smaller portion. Subdivide and conquer.

[@Alexandermajor]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio Thanks for the information I really appreciate it.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@Alexandermajor You're very welcome!

[@Megamare1]

We always just sit in front of the sound board guy 😂👌🏻

[@johnzhang6493]

Most people only pay attention to the radiation angle of the speaker, but do not pay attention to the angle at what frequency. The radiation angle of the speaker changes with the frequency, unless it is designed with constant directivity

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Great point here! I didn't talk about polar plots and how you can assess that. Proportional beamwidth vs flat beamwidth speakers, etc. Would be a great followup topic.

[@floydafflick2389]

Iight is lumination sound is wave so there is no comparison that's wave and beam both travel differently...

[@AudioUniversity]

I agree that light and sound can’t be compared in every case and they behave differently, but thinking about it this way really helps visualize sound dispersion angles.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're right, Floyd. They do travel differently! BUT, in the case of a stage light and a speaker, they're both trying accomplish the same goal - even coverage. If you know of a better analogy let me know! Always open to feedback.

[@floydafflick2389]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio ok let us understand light is reflection so for light it's color to luminate it so chose the right color... Sound is wave which product vibration and echo so in a enclose area sound revibrate off walls so it's not hard the have a soround sound..in a open area speakers have to be at a certain angle to produce the same soround sound...

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I think I'm following you, but regardless of the room I'm in I still use the exact same design principles for coverage. I still want my audience to be within speaker coverage regardless whether I'm inside or outside. Just like you would with lights.

[@floydafflick2389]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio I am a Jamaican in my younger days I was a sound system operator I play in Large and small open space and indoor large and small so I understand what it is to present audio frequency...it a lot of things to accomplish that... tuning frequencies volume to space and more...

[@adriant.sorianojr7780]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome!

[@Tweel_Weight_Plate]

Actually the MOST important thing to consider is...will the speaker system damage peoples hearing.

[@AudioUniversity]

That's definitely an important consideration. I believe it's also important to spread the word about the importance of hearing protection!

[@adamsonlinearrayspeakersha87]

@@AudioUniversity I'm a hobby DJ, I do weddings, birthday parties etc, I use commercial cinema speakers, they sound fantastic, I get a lot of positive feedback about sound quality.

[@JesusSavesSinners]

Speakers on the Ceiling, bouncing sound off the Ceiling is absolutely NOT Necessary for a Dolby Atmos System. Why NOT? In many movies these speakers will Not even be used. At most they are used 15% of the time. When you do Not have them the sound will still come out. You will hear it from your side and rear surround speakers. This absolutely sounds Great. I have heard many professionals say in Ceiling and Bouncing off Ceiling Speakers are a Huge waste of Money.

[@CSGATI]

That way loses stereo seperation

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Exactly : ) I care very little about stereo for my PA in a live setting. An incredibly small percentage of your audience actually gets stereo - they have to be standing exactly in the middle. Once you take one step left or right the precedence effect takes over and your ear gravitates to whichever speaker is louder and earlier.

[@DavidH2154]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio Just because there are speakers on either side of a stage, doesn't mean you have a stereo system and/or do a stereo mix. Similarly, even if you have a Sub L and a Sub R channel, if they both carry effectively only a single kick drum and bass guitar panned centre (or near centre) surely that behaves just like a mono sub channel.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@DavidH2154 You are correct in that having two speakers in a system doesn't make it "stereo". My earlier comment assumed that the two mains speakers I reference would have some overlap in the middle. And yes, if you do not pan any individual elements in a LR sub setup, then they would come out at equal time and energy at both speakers, making it similar to mono.

[@djelevateusa1714]

I don't understand this spreadsheet. If I have a coverage area of 100 x 100, so that's a FAR of 1. If I have a speaker that provides 110 degree coverage, it says it can cover a FAR of 1.22. So is that saying I only need a single 110-degree speaker to cover a 100x100 area? And to get ridiculous with it, what about a coverage area of 10,000 by 10,000? That's going to have a FAR of 1 as well. Sorry for being thick-headed?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

No worries at all! Let me try to explain it better: It's not that a speaker with a FAR greater than 1 will cover an FAR of 1. It's that the FAR tells you the necessary speaker needed to cover that. So, a room with a 100ft Depth and a 82ft Width would shake out to needing a 110° speaker to cover that (if you're only using one speaker). You're right in saying that a 10,000ft x 10,000ft area could not be covered by a single speaker, but that would at least give you some starting dimensions to break that area up and have other speakers start to take a chunk of it. That's why you "subdivide" and conquer. A room with a FAR of 1 would need a 180° speaker, which doesn't exist. BUT, you could do two 90° speakers and subdivide the coverage. Use row 75 to help out here. Put in depth and width, it will give you FAR and the needed coverage angle of the speaker. If you don't have speakers wide enough, cut the width of the venue in half, then use two speakers of at least that width.

[@djelevateusa1714]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio but what if the area was 5' by 5'? It would still be a FAR of 1 and any speaker could cover that right?

[@djelevateusa1714]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio also I've noticed in the calculator sent that anything with a width greater than depth returns a FAR less than 1 and comes up with an error when plugging that into the "Room FAR to Needed Speaker Coverage Angle"

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

@@djelevateusa1714 This calculator is geared more towards the ratios in and of themselves, not necessarily the absolute depth and width. That's where judgement comes in vs relying solely on the calculation. Yes, you're totally right that any old speaker can probably cover a 5' x 5' area, but how often are we working with such a small audience size? The error is telling you that you're asking "too much" of a single speaker. You've gotta use more than one speaker if you have a FAR greater than 1. That's why it says "subdivide and conquer".

[@djelevateusa1714]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio fair point - sorry I'm in engineer (not sound) in my day job so I nitpick stuff like this. The whole reason I started looking into this stuff was I was curious how far apart speakers need to be to avoid comb filtering. Whether I'm using my EV Evolve 50s (110 degree) or QSC K12.2s (75 degree), I always put them pretty close to my booth. I'm wondering if spreading them out farther would get improved audio by reducing comb filtering. Was wondering if there was any sort of calc for that.

[@tesfishentertainment520]

10q 10q my tich

[@Tweel_Weight_Plate]

When is the music industry going to WAKE UP !!! Stop damaging peoples hearing !!!!!

[@toki3204]

what?

[@jen3800]

the only value of spreading things into stereo for a live show, aside from input... it makes zero sense aside from power distribution. even in my own home it is pointless. I have 40 years experience as a mixer. mono is for real men.