Cable Tester

Adapters for HDMI and Displayport

The next time you are hooking a laptop up to a projector, don't be surprised if you find that there is no VGA connector on it. More and more laptops are coming out with Displayport and HDMI(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) outputs. To assist with connecting these laptops with our projectors, we have recently purchased the following adapters:

1. HDMI (M) to DVI(F)

2. Displayport (M) to DVI(F)

3. Displayport (M) to VGA(F)

Although video and audio are both incorporated within Displayport and HDMI, these adapters only allow for the video signal to pass through; Any audio will need to come through on a separate cable.

These images were pulled from monoprice.com for the purpose of educating employees on our recently purchased adapters. Please let us know if you have any questions about this posting.

Lecterns and Podiums

The terms are not identical; one typically stands on a podium, but one typically stands behind a lectern.(from Wikipedia)

With the exception of our lectern which is located in the Engineering Building closet of room 102, all of our lecterns have built in amplifiers and speakers.

Our lecterns are equipped with a XLR input on the top which allows for the connection of a gooseneck style condenser microphone. Additionally, we have added flanges to the tops of our lecterns so that we can add gooseneck arms and mic clips which can host any of our dynamic or condensor microphones.

2 of our lecterns can be separated at the middle to create a table top lectern with a sound system.

Sennheiser Lapel Microphones

So it is time to put a wireless mic on a subject at a event. You are familiar with the Sennheiser body packs from Hoffman Hall, but you have received instructions to make the wireless mic a Cardioid type. How do you do that? Our Sennheiser wireless systems can be modified easily between Unidirectional, A.K.A "Cardioid", and Omnidirectional microphones. They can also convert your electric guitar to a wireless instrument if you have the correct cable.


The Sennheiser ME-4 is a cardioid type lapel (or Lavaliere) microphone which is ideal for use in live P.A. systems due to it's ability to reject background noise and prevent feedback. It has a large round windscreen at the top which allows you to physically distinguish it from the ME-2. The ME-4 also has a swiveling clip so that you can accommodate mens button up shirts or womens blouses. Please note that the construction of the ME-4 creates, in my opinion, a lot of mechanical noise; But the benefits of a cardioid make it well suited for live sound in spite of that. I have put a "Cardioid" type pattern behind the microphone head so that you have a visual representation of the inverted heart shaped pick up pattern.


The Sennheiser ME-2 is a omnidirectional type lapel microphone which is ideal for Non-P.A. set ups where the presenter needs to be recorded on video or just voice. The ME-2 can, and has been used successfully with a live P.A. system, but is much more prone to feedback due to its pick up pattern. As a rule of thumb, try to make all of your microphones in a system the same type, that way you have fewer sound issues to deal with. The protective metal mesh screen on the ME-2 is removable, allowing you to turn around the alligator clip on the mic so that it can accommodate men's and womens clothing. Please note the pick up pattern of this mic as I have poorly illustrated it with a large round grey globe.


Placement of the lapel mic: Make a "L" with your thumb and pointer finger and point to the sky. Place your thumb on your sternum and your pointer finger to the lower lips. This is a simple way to describe the ideal placement of the lapel mic. It is an unobtrusive way to show the person putting it on where to clip it on so that you don't have to push the gain to high on your mixing board. (Please refer to the image at the bottom)



If you find a microphone without a wind screen, please notify a coordinator or manager so that it can be fixed. This screen keeps dirt and oils off of the mic so that it can do it's job well. Also, if you find a lapel mic with a damaged wire, please mark it in a way that people will notice it and bring it to the attention of a manager or coordinator.

Wired Microphones

In AV we have a variety of Wired Microphones; Dynamic, Condensor, Cardioid, Omni Directional, Super Cardioid. The chart below illustrates some of our more common mics and the following statements will assist you in determining which microphone you would want to use for a specific event.

Dynamic Microphones are the most commonly used mics for events

Condensor Microphones require power to operate, usually in the form of Phantom power from a mixing board.

Both Dynamic and Condensor mics have specific pick up patterns. The mics we use have the following patterns: Cardioid- or Unidirectional, Super Cardioid, or Omni Directional.

Caridoid, or Unidirectional, mics are ideal for live sound reinforcement because the pick up pattern rejects noise from the room.

Omni directional microphones are ideal for recorded audio. They do not work as well in live sound due to their tendency to pick up sound from room speakers and cause feedback.

Great resource courtesy of Shure: http://www.shure.com/stellent/groups/public/@gms_gmi_web_ug/documents/web_resource/us_pro_mics_for_music_sound_ea.pdf

Shure SCM 268

The most basic of mixers that we use for recording and/or amplified sound at events, The Shure SCM268 has 4 microphone inputs along with 1 (line level, unbalanced, mono) aux audio signal. Condensor mics can be used when 12V phantom power is on.

It has 2 potential outputs; One is a XLR output that can be toggled between Line Level and Mic Level, the other is a RCA aux out. The aux out generally goes to recording device (such as a Marantz PMD660) when a panel discussion needs to be recorded as well as amplified; But is can also be used to send audio to another powered speaker if necessary. Keep in mind that the aux is a unbalanced signal and should not run on a cable of more than 10 feet from the mixer to the powered speaker.

A Master volume knob on the front controls the output of both outputs simultaneously.

Since our Ballroom (SMSU355) has both line level(2 on stage, 2 on west wall) XLR inputs and mic level(2 on stage, 1 on west wall) XLR inputs, the XLR out on this mixer will be able to meet the requirements of the jack you are plugging into.

If you are interested in learning more about this mixer, please consult with Jeff in person, or download the manual here:

http://www.fullcompass.com/common/files/499-SCM268UserGuide.pdf

(User guide link Courtesy of Full Compass)

Press Boxes

Press Boxes!

When Press Conferences are held on campus, it is common for a "Press Box" to be requested. You may also hear them called "Mult. boxes" due to their ability to multiply a single channel of audio output from a mixer.

This box allows local media folk (Think TV Channels 2, 6, 8, 10 and 12) to plug into the existing sound system and capture the audio for their recording devices- All without getting in your way. Knowledge and use of these boxes is important because the audio you produce on the board is many times the audio which is used in your local news cast.

In CAVET we have 3 kinds of Press boxes.

A. Passive Line in, Mic out boxes
B. Passive Straight pass thru (My term)
C. Active Pressbox with selectable line/mic leve inputs and outputs

A. The Passive Line in, Mic out box is non powered and requires that you have a line level output on your mixer to the box. It will then duplicate the signal to multiple XLR outputs at a mic level. The number of outputs depends on the model you are using. These XLR outputs are made available to local press so that they can record your audio mix from the board. You cannot plug a mic directly into this box.

B. The Passive Straight pass thru is also non powered and will accept a mic level signal. That signal will be reproduced as a mic level signal to all of the outputs on the box. No Mixer is necessary.

C. The Active Press box with selectable line/mic level inputs and outputs requires power from a wall outlet. You must select the input as line or mic depending on your source. Local media outlets can then plug into any of the 6 XLR outputs and independently select line or mic level to their recording device. Individual output channels also have a gain/attenuation control to adjust the audio level. These outputs should all be set at "Unity Gain" What this means is: If you put a line signal into the press box at +4 dB, the signal coming out of a line level output should also be +4 dB; Nothing should be added or taken away from the signal.
If you have questions about how to use one of these boxes, please consult with Jeff, look them up online, or just make arrangement to test one out.