Practical guides to help you plan event sound, understand professional audio equipment and choose the right speakers, PA systems, microphones and supporting equipment.

Audio Hire Knowledge Base

Audio Hire’s Knowledge Base is for people who need to organise sound but do not necessarily work with professional audio equipment every day. Whether you are planning a wedding, party, conference, corporate function, school event, outdoor gathering, DJ booking, presentation or live performance, you can start with what you are organising rather than trying to work out a list of equipment first.

You do not need to know which speakers, microphones, mixers or PA system you need before you begin. These guides explain the practical decisions involved in event audio, from choosing an appropriate sound system and positioning speakers to selecting microphones, setting up a mixer, preventing feedback and deciding when professional setup or a sound technician would be useful.

If you already know what you need, you can browse our audio equipment hire range. If you would rather begin with the occasion itself, visit Hire by Event Type for practical guidance covering weddings, parties, corporate events, DJs, live music, schools, presentations and outdoor events.

Choosing the Right Sound System

Choosing a sound system is easier when you start with the audience, venue and purpose rather than wattage or equipment specifications. A system being used primarily for speeches has very different requirements from one providing music for a dance floor, while indoor and outdoor spaces create different coverage requirements.

Our guide to How Many Speakers Do You Need for an Event? explains the main factors affecting coverage, while How Many Subwoofers Do You Need? looks specifically at situations where stronger low-frequency performance is required. If you are ready to look at equipment rather than general guidance, visit Speaker Hire Adelaide, PA Hire Adelaide or Sound System Hire Adelaide.

Speakers & Subwoofers

Professional speakers are not simply about making something louder. Speaker choice, placement and coverage all influence how evenly an audience hears speech and music, while subwoofers become particularly important for DJs, dance floors and other applications where low-frequency impact matters.

Our guide to Speaker Placement for the Best Sound explains why where speakers are positioned can matter as much as the equipment itself. You can also read When Do You Need Subwoofers With Electro-Voice Speakers? and our closer look at the Electro-Voice EKX-18SP Subwoofer. For current equipment options, visit Speaker Hire Adelaide.

Battery-Powered Speakers & Portable PA

Battery-powered speakers solve a different problem from a conventional mains-powered PA. They can be particularly useful where access to electricity is limited, where running extension leads would be inconvenient, or where the system needs to be moved easily between locations.

Our new guide, Battery-Powered Speaker Hire in Adelaide: When Do You Need a Portable PA?, explains when battery-powered sound makes sense and when a conventional two-speaker PA is the better choice. It also looks at applications such as wedding ceremonies, speeches, presentations, corporate activations and temporary outdoor locations where portability and reduced cabling can be particularly useful.

Audio Hire also offers the Electro-Voice EVERSE 12 Battery Powered Speaker for suitable portable applications. Unlike our normal PA systems, which are supplied with a minimum of two speakers, the EVERSE 12 is specifically designed to operate as a self-contained portable PA where that configuration is appropriate.

Electro-Voice Speaker Guides

Audio Hire uses professional Electro-Voice speaker systems, and our equipment guides explain how the different models fit different applications rather than simply reproducing manufacturer specifications.

Our Electro-Voice ZLX-12 G2 guide looks at one of the most versatile speakers in the Audio Hire range, while the Electro-Voice EKX-15P guide examines the larger 15-inch option. You can also compare the two in Electro-Voice ZLX-12 G2 vs EKX-15P: Which Should You Choose? or explore the broader Electro-Voice Speakers Adelaide resource.

If you already have the equipment and need practical guidance, How to Set Up Electro-Voice Speakers for an Event covers the fundamentals. For performance applications, our guide to Electro-Voice Speakers for Live Music in Adelaide explains some of the additional considerations involved when the PA is reinforcing performers rather than simply reproducing recorded music.

Microphones

Microphones are one of the areas where apparently small decisions can have a major effect on an event. The right choice depends on who is speaking or performing, whether they need to move, whether they need their hands free, how many people require microphones and how the system will be operated.

A useful starting point is our Microphone Hire for Events: Complete Guide, which looks at microphone choice in the context of the complete PA system rather than treating the microphone as an isolated piece of equipment. If you are deciding between cable-free movement and a straightforward wired setup, read Wired vs Wireless Microphones: Which Should You Hire for Your Event?.

For a more detailed explanation of the technology itself, How Do Wireless Microphones Work? explains the complete signal path from the microphone and transmitter through the radio link, receiver, mixer and PA system. For larger programmes, How Many Microphones Do You Need for an Event? covers the general planning principles, while How Many Microphones Are Needed for a Panel Discussion, Conference or Q&A? looks specifically at situations where several people need to participate.

You can browse the current equipment range at Microphone Hire Adelaide.

Wireless Handheld, Lapel & Headset Microphones

Wireless microphones are useful when the person speaking or performing needs freedom to move without being physically connected to the sound system. The important question is not simply whether you want wireless, but which type of wireless microphone best suits the way it will be used.

A wireless handheld microphone is familiar, versatile and easy to pass between speakers. Lapel and headset microphones leave both hands free, making them particularly useful for presentations, training, conferences, demonstrations and other applications where someone needs to speak while moving or using their hands.

Our guide Wireless Lapel & Headset Microphone Hire: Which Type Do You Need? explains the practical differences between the two hands-free options, including microphone position, appearance, movement and resistance to feedback.

If several presenters need microphones at the same time, Audio Hire also offers a multi-channel wireless lapel and headset system in 2, 4 and 8 microphone configurations. The receiver and mixer components are installed and prewired together so customers do not need to assemble a group of separate wireless receivers and mixing equipment themselves.

Microphones for Weddings, Conferences & Presentations

The way microphones are used matters just as much as the microphone itself. Wedding speeches, conference panels, formal presentations and audience Q&A sessions all create different practical requirements.

For weddings, see How to Set Up Microphones for Wedding Speeches. For business and conference applications, How to Set Up Microphones for Corporate Presentations and Conferences covers the particular requirements of professional speaking environments.

If you are organising a business function, the relevant commercial services are Corporate AV Hire Adelaide and Conference AV Hire Adelaide.

Preventing Feedback & Microphone Problems

Microphone feedback is one of the most recognisable audio problems, but it is usually caused by the relationship between the microphone, speakers, gain and positioning rather than a faulty microphone.

Our guide to How to Stop Microphone Feedback at a Function explains the most common causes and practical ways to reduce the risk. You can also read How to Prevent Handling Noise and Other Common Microphone Problems, which covers several other issues that can affect speeches, presentations and performances.

For functions where somebody needs to actively manage the audio system throughout the programme, Sound Technician Hire Adelaide may be more appropriate than equipment hire alone.

Audio Mixers & Connecting Multiple Sources

A mixer becomes useful when several microphones, music sources, instruments or other audio devices need to use the same PA system. It allows those sources to be connected, balanced and controlled independently before the combined signal is sent to the speakers.

Our new guide, How to Set Up an Audio Mixer for Good Sound, walks through the basic process of connecting microphones and other sources, setting input gain, balancing channels, using EQ sensibly, establishing the overall PA level and checking the system for feedback.

It also explains why simply turning everything up is not the same as setting a mixer correctly. Gain structure, microphone technique, speaker placement and a proper soundcheck all contribute to the final result.

For straightforward systems involving only a small number of inputs, Audio Hire offers the Yamaha MG06 Audio Mixer. Larger presentations, conferences and multi-microphone systems require more channels and should be configured around the actual number of simultaneous sources.

PA Setup & Getting the Best Sound

A professional PA system still needs to be positioned, connected and configured correctly. Speaker height, coverage, gain structure, microphone position and the relationship between the different components can all affect the result.

Start with How to Set Up PA Speakers for Clear Sound at Your Event. The new How to Set Up an Audio Mixer for Good Sound guide then takes the next step by explaining how microphones, music and other sources should be managed before the combined signal reaches the PA.

If you would rather have the system arrive configured and ready to use, our guide explaining Is Equipment Setup Included? outlines the different ways Audio Hire can supply equipment. Audio Hire offers equipment hire as well as delivery and collection, professional sound system setup and sound technician support depending on how much assistance your event requires.

Weddings

Wedding sound can involve much more than playing music at a reception. Ceremony music, vows, speeches, background music and a DJ or dance floor can all form part of the same day, sometimes across several locations within a venue.

Our guide to Choosing a Sound System for a 50-Person Backyard Wedding in Adelaide looks at a smaller wedding scenario, while Planning an Outdoor Wedding Sound System for 150 Guests explores the additional coverage considerations involved in a larger outdoor ceremony.

For ceremonies where access to mains power is inconvenient, Battery-Powered Speaker Hire in Adelaide is also relevant. For the complete commercial service, visit Wedding Sound Hire Adelaide.

Parties & Celebrations

Party sound requirements vary enormously. A birthday gathering with background music and speeches is very different from an engagement party or private celebration centred around a DJ and dance floor.

Speaker coverage, guest numbers, the venue and the amount of low-frequency reinforcement required should all be considered together. The guides on How Many Speakers Do You Need for an Event? and How Many Subwoofers Do You Need? are useful starting points.

If speeches or an MC form part of the event, the microphone guides can also help you decide whether a wired or wireless option makes more sense. When you are ready to choose a system, visit Party Speaker Hire Adelaide.

Corporate Events & Conferences

Corporate audio is often less about maximum volume and more about intelligibility, reliability and making the technology disappear into the background. Presentations, conferences, panels, awards nights and launches can require combinations of microphones, playback, PA systems and technical support.

What Equipment Do You Need for a Corporate Event? provides a practical overview, while Corporate Events & Conferences: Audio Hire in Adelaide looks more broadly at planning professional event sound.

Where several speakers need individual microphones, Wireless Lapel & Headset Microphone Hire: Which Type Do You Need? and How Do Wireless Microphones Work? provide useful background before selecting a system.

For bookings, see Corporate AV Hire Adelaide or Conference AV Hire Adelaide. Suitable higher-end professionally operated productions can also use Meyer Sound Hire Adelaide.

DJs & Dance Events

A DJ does not necessarily need to supply the venue’s entire sound system. Many DJs perform with their own controller or decks while the PA system is supplied separately.

Our guide Does a DJ Need to Bring Their Own Sound System? explains how the responsibilities can be separated. This can allow the DJ to concentrate on their performance while Audio Hire supplies the professional speakers, subwoofers, cabling and supporting equipment.

For the dedicated service, visit Audio Hire for DJs in Adelaide.

Live Music & Performances

Live music introduces additional requirements because several sound sources may need to be mixed and reinforced simultaneously. Vocals, instruments, playback and monitoring all need to work together, and the system may require active operation during the performance.

Our guide to Electro-Voice Speakers for Live Music in Adelaide provides an introduction to some of these considerations. The How to Set Up an Audio Mixer for Good Sound guide is also useful for smaller performances where the artist or organiser is operating a relatively straightforward mixer themselves.

You can also explore PA Hire Adelaide, Microphone Hire Adelaide and Sound Technician Hire Adelaide depending on the requirements of the production.

Outdoor Events

Outdoor sound presents challenges that do not exist in an enclosed room because there are no walls or ceiling helping to contain the sound. The size and shape of the audience area, speaker positioning, expected crowd, wind, background noise, available power and the type of programme all become particularly important.

What Sound System Do You Need for an Outdoor Event? explains the main factors to consider. Where running mains power to the speaker position is difficult or undesirable, Battery-Powered Speaker Hire in Adelaide: When Do You Need a Portable PA? explains where a battery system can be useful and where a conventional powered PA remains the better solution.

Outdoor ceremonies, school activities, community gatherings and performances can all require different approaches, so it is better to start with the listening area and what people need to hear than with equipment specifications alone.

Schools & Community Events

School events can range from assemblies and presentations to sports days, formals and celebrations. Each places different demands on a PA system, particularly when sound needs to cover a large outdoor area.

Our guide to Professional PA Hire for Adelaide School Sports Days explains how appropriate sound coverage can improve announcements, music and the overall running of the day.

Wireless microphones can be particularly useful where teachers, officials or presenters need to move away from a fixed announcing position, while battery-powered PA can be worth considering where access to mains power is limited. For systems that need to arrive ready for use, Audio Hire can also provide professional sound system setup.

Audio Hire Costs, Quotes & Planning

Comparing audio hire quotes can be difficult because two suppliers may appear to be offering the same thing while including very different equipment, service levels, delivery arrangements and technical support.

How to Compare Audio Hire Quotes Without Being an Audio Expert explains what to look for beyond the bottom-line price. Why Are Audio Visual Hire Quotes So Different in Price? examines some of the reasons apparently similar quotations can vary substantially.

For a broader pricing overview, see How Much Does Event Sound Equipment Hire Cost in Adelaide?.

360 Photo Booth Guides

Audio Hire also provides a fully operated 360 Photo Booth service for weddings, parties, school formals, corporate functions and other celebrations. Unlike ordinary dry-hire equipment, the 360 booth service includes delivery, setup, operation during the booking, pack-down and collection.

If you are unfamiliar with the format, start with 360 Photo Booth Hire: How It Works, What to Look For and Venue Requirements. You can also read about What Guests Actually Experience With a 360 Photo Booth, our guide to 360 Photo Booth Hire for Adelaide Weddings, or the introduction to the 360 Spinner Booth in Adelaide.

For pricing and bookings, visit 360 Photo Booth Hire Adelaide.

Audio Hire Across Adelaide

The venue and location can affect everything from the appropriate system to delivery, setup and access. Audio Hire services Adelaide and surrounding areas from our Walkerville base, with local information available through our Areas We Service guide.

Rather than treating location pages as generic suburb listings, our local guides are designed to help people understand Audio Hire services in the context of the venues, functions and requirements found in different parts of Adelaide.

Need Equipment Rather Than a Guide?

If you have worked out what you need, you can move directly from the Knowledge Base to the relevant hire section. Browse Speaker Hire Adelaide, PA Hire Adelaide, Sound System Hire Adelaide or Microphone Hire Adelaide.

If you would rather start with the occasion, Hire by Event Type will take you through the relevant considerations for weddings, parties, corporate functions, conferences, DJs, live music, schools, outdoor events and presentations.

Audio Hire can supply equipment for collection from Walkerville or, depending on the booking, provide delivery and collection, professional sound system setup or a sound technician.

Find the Right Audio for Your Event

Start with what you are organising, where it is being held, approximately how many people need to hear the system and what the sound system needs to do. From there, you can use the Knowledge Base to understand the options or go directly to the relevant equipment and service pages.

Browse Audio Equipment