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What are the technical considerations when using Answer: Our Conference Displays are usually used in sets of two, one for each side of the lectern. They are housed in discreet black boxes and our operators both run and tape the cabling where required. Positioning of the Prompters The prompters work best when placed on the stage, in front and on either side of the lectern - about 1 - 1.5 metres away. If they are too far below the stage level, the poles must be extended higher and the size and brightness of the text (as reflected in the mirrors) is reduced. Please take this into account when positioning and lighting the lectern. If there is no room on the stage for the prompters, an additional riser or some dressed road cases can be of great help. It is also desirable to avoid stage lighting spilling onto the prompter displays, as it reduces the brightness and contrast of the words and the reflections can be off-putting to speakers. Note also that the prompter displays are designed to work in darkened rooms; venues with a lot of daylight or bright lighting in the presenter's line-of-sight can reduce their effectiveness. Positioning of the Prompter Operator While a position which provides line-of-sight can be helpful, it is certainly not necessary. But we do need to be able to hear the speakers clearly. Please take this into account when scheduling rehearsals for times when audio personnel may not be available. We operate from laptop computers so we only need a small amount of table space. Sitting near the show director can be helpful for revising scripts during rehearsals, and can limit the need for a talkback headset. Cabling / Vision Feeds We provide and run vision cables between the Cueword computer and the Conference Display units. When a venue is particularly large and the operator is positioned some distance away, it can be helpful if patch bays are available or an extra cable can be run when the main crew set up. We can take several vision feeds from the Cueword computer, as well as loop through the prompter displays, so additional feeds can be provided for other monitors. Where several floor monitors are also being used however, it can be desirable to consider using a video distribution amplifier and possibly a humbucker to prevent interference. Using Floor Monitors If you are going to use large floor monitors in addition to or instead of Conference Displays, we can easily provide vision feeds for them. Try to place them some distance from where the presenters will be, to allow for viewing from a variety of stage positions. Common placements include at the back of the room, in the middle of the audience (with the audio/lighting desk) or at the base or edge of stage. |
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