Focused audio delivery systems...the smaller model of ATC HyperSonic Sound (HSS H-450) is not *that* expensive (nor is the smaller Holosonics AS-16 model), but you'd want to look carefully at your application to see if they're the right thing to deploy.
According to museums where I've seen the HSS H-450 used, they can almost be *too* directional. If you point them at a listening position from a location in front of a visitor, you get adults or kids, but not both. If you point them down, then the sweet spot ends up assuming a specific viewing distance. In the real world, these mounting constraints may become a headache. Perhaps the larger model gets around some of these issues, but for about twice the money. I've personally used the Holosonics audio spotlight technology, as well. It has similar issues in terms of directionality, although the larger AS-24 model we have used has a good-sized hotspot (but again, it's pretty expensive). If you ask me, the frequency response of both brands of this type of speaker...the ATC and the Holosonics...leaves much to be desired. They are both weak in frequency ranges where there are fundamental speech sounds. You can infill with a subwoofer, but the crossover frequency has to be so high to cover the speaker's low-frequency roll-off that the subwoofer is both distinctly audible (negating the point of a highly-directional speaker solution) and can easily be localized (negating one usual placement advantage of a subwoofer). They are *very* cool, for the right source setting in the right facility with the right content (it helps if lower frequencies aren't critical (women's voices are better than men's, and whispers are better than either)). If, for instance, you have a single person in a very specific location without lots of competing sounds, the effect can be incredibly powerful and even spooky. I don't know about 24/7 reliability of either of these. Our AS-24 has been back for warranty work (after not all that many hours of use), which was cheerfully done. I was told that the H-450s at the museum have also needed work from time to time. The audio tubes and parabolic domes that have been suggested here are a whole other kettle of fish, with their own unique collection of pros and cons. You'd definitely want to try those out in your setting, for your specific application, too...just to see if they'll do the trick and not have too many side-effects. Things one might be able to get away with in the din of a science center or a retail venue may be show-stoppers in an art museum. Scott Scott Minneman, PhD CEO/CTO - Onomy Labs, Inc. 415 505-7234 - cell 650 330-0400 - office 650 330-0404 - fax http://www.onomy.com -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Proctor, Nancy Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:14 PM To: mcn-l at mcn.edu Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Headphone alternatives mcn-l Digest, Vol 42, Issue 28 Beyond most museums' budgets, but these directional speakers are pretty cool: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/woody_norris_invents_amazing_things.html Think Kate Bush, Experiment IV On 3/31/09 4:00 PM, "mcn-l-request at mcn.edu" <mcn-l-request at mcn.edu> wrote: > Send mcn-l mailing list submissions to > mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > mcn-l-request at mcn.edu > > You can reach the person managing the list at > mcn-l-owner at mcn.edu > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of mcn-l digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. If not a big set of headphones than what? A little help > please.... (Holly Witchey) > 2. Re: If not a big set of headphones than what? A little > helpplease.... (Jay Hoffman) > 3. Re: If not a big set of headphones than what? A little help > please.... (Christina DePaolo) > 4. Re: If not a big set of headphones than what? A little > helpplease.... (Johnson, Peter) > 5. Re: If not a big set of headphones than what? A little help > please.... (Bruce Wyman) > 6. Re: If not a big set of headphones than what? A little help > please.... (Bruce Wyman) > 7. IP SIG, et al.: AU Panel: 'Scholarly Communication in the > Digital Age' (Amalyah Keshet [akeshet at imj.org.il]) > 8. Early booking discount finishes today for ISKO UK Conference, > London, 22-23 June 2009 (Leonard Will) > 9. Re: If not a big set of headphones than what? A little help > please.... (Leonard Steinbach) > 10. Re: If not a big set of headphones than what? A little help > please.... (doug melven) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:22:21 -0400 > From: Holly Witchey <hwitchey at clevelandart.org> > Subject: [MCN-L] If not a big set of headphones than what? A little > help please.... > To: Museum Computer Network Listserv <mcn-l at mcn.edu> > Cc: Tom Hood <thood at clevelandart.org> > Message-ID: > <5CF048364B79B24694B5430B00F92C1C01F4CA655D at MAIL02.clevelandart.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Dear List-Servers: > > Our head of exhibitions would like to install a few (3 count 'em) listening > stations in a special exhibition this summer. Our head of design doesn't like > the look of big old headphones hanging from the wall--and our customers often > suffer from a fear of germs associated with equiment to be used by many. > Anyone got any cunning ideas as a delivery mechanism that will satisfy the > needs of both parties. Did I mention there's a recession and we aren't > looking to mortgage the farm for this one? > > Holly M. Witchey, Ph.D. > Director of New Media Initiatives > The Cleveland Museum of Art > 11150 East Blvd. > Cleveland, Ohio 44106 > Telephone: 216-707-2653 > Email: hwitchey at clevelandart.org > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:53:24 -0400 > From: "Jay Hoffman" <Jay at GallerySystems.com> > Subject: Re: [MCN-L] If not a big set of headphones than what? A > little helpplease.... > To: "Museum Computer Network Listserv" <mcn-l at mcn.edu> > Cc: Tom Hood <thood at clevelandart.org> > Message-ID: > <81314D11B3449840906FA6E34A6D08C8C6BAC6 at gsml.gallerysystems.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > Holly/Tom - How would this work?: provide the 2 standard headphone jacks > (IPod and Mobile Phone, 3.5mm and 2.5mm) at each station and let people > use their own headphones. For those who don't have their own, let them > purchase the cheap airline type in the museum shop. > > Jay > > > -----Original Message----- > From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On Behalf Of > Holly Witchey > Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 7:22 PM > To: Museum Computer Network Listserv > Cc: Tom Hood > Subject: [MCN-L] If not a big set of headphones than what? A little > helpplease.... > > Dear List-Servers: > > Our head of exhibitions would like to install a few (3 count 'em) > listening stations in a special exhibition this summer. Our head of > design doesn't like the look of big old headphones hanging from the > wall--and our customers often suffer from a fear of germs associated > with equiment to be used by many. Anyone got any cunning ideas as a > delivery mechanism that will satisfy the needs of both parties. Did I > mention there's a recession and we aren't looking to mortgage the farm > for this one? > > Holly M. Witchey, Ph.D. > Director of New Media Initiatives > The Cleveland Museum of Art > 11150 East Blvd. > Cleveland, Ohio 44106 > Telephone: 216-707-2653 > Email: hwitchey at clevelandart.org > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum > Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > > The MCN-L archives can be found at: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:58:06 -0700 > From: Christina DePaolo <Christinad at SeattleArtMuseum.org> > Subject: Re: [MCN-L] If not a big set of headphones than what? A > little help please.... > To: Museum Computer Network Listserv <mcn-l at mcn.edu> > Cc: Tom Hood <thood at clevelandart.org> > Message-ID: > <6440C474B3F6FE4EB44B34421B3E501E1645631ADA at dtes01.SAM.Home> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > We have had a lot of good results with sound cones. Is that a possibility for > your installation? They are affordable and easy to install/manage. We use them > in our African and Native American Galleries and special exhibits. > > Christina > > -----Original Message----- > From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Holly > Witchey > Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 4:22 PM > To: Museum Computer Network Listserv > Cc: Tom Hood > Subject: [MCN-L] If not a big set of headphones than what? A little help > please.... > > Dear List-Servers: > > Our head of exhibitions would like to install a few (3 count 'em) listening > stations in a special exhibition this summer. Our head of design doesn't like > the look of big old headphones hanging from the wall--and our customers often > suffer from a fear of germs associated with equiment to be used by many. > Anyone got any cunning ideas as a delivery mechanism that will satisfy the > needs of both parties. Did I mention there's a recession and we aren't > looking to mortgage the farm for this one? > > Holly M. Witchey, Ph.D. > Director of New Media Initiatives > The Cleveland Museum of Art > 11150 East Blvd. > Cleveland, Ohio 44106 > Telephone: 216-707-2653 > Email: hwitchey at clevelandart.org > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer > Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > > The MCN-L archives can be found at: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:02:37 -0700 > From: "Johnson, Peter" <pjohnson at skirball.org> > Subject: Re: [MCN-L] If not a big set of headphones than what? A > little helpplease.... > To: "Museum Computer Network Listserv" <mcn-l at mcn.edu> > Message-ID: > <2A6CDDE8F1CB5D428E7CA6014794A58201EA4D90 at scc-mail.skirball.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > We also make use of sound cones. There tends to be a little bleed-off of > the sound as you near them, but it's not disruptive, and you can't > really hear much until you are directly underneath the cone. > > Peter Johnson > Project Manager for Records, Documents & Images > Skirball Cultural Center > 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. > Los Angeles, CA 90049 > 310-440-4707 > pjohnson at skirball.org > > -----Original Message----- > From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On Behalf Of > Holly Witchey > Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 4:22 PM > To: Museum Computer Network Listserv > Cc: Tom Hood > Subject: [MCN-L] If not a big set of headphones than what? A little > helpplease.... > > Dear List-Servers: > > Our head of exhibitions would like to install a few (3 count 'em) > listening stations in a special exhibition this summer. Our head of > design doesn't like the look of big old headphones hanging from the > wall--and our customers often suffer from a fear of germs associated > with equiment to be used by many. Anyone got any cunning ideas as a > delivery mechanism that will satisfy the needs of both parties. Did I > mention there's a recession and we aren't looking to mortgage the farm > for this one? > > Holly M. Witchey, Ph.D. > Director of New Media Initiatives > The Cleveland Museum of Art > 11150 East Blvd. > Cleveland, Ohio 44106 > Telephone: 216-707-2653 > Email: hwitchey at clevelandart.org > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum > Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > > The MCN-L archives can be found at: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:42:39 -0600 > From: Bruce Wyman <bwyman at denverartmuseum.org> > Subject: Re: [MCN-L] If not a big set of headphones than what? A > little help please.... > To: Museum Computer Network Listserv <mcn-l at mcn.edu> > Message-ID: <p06240879c5f7338e0178@[192.168.0.6]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >> We have had a lot of good results with sound cones. Is that a >> possibility for your installation? They are affordable and easy to >> install/manage. We use them in our African and Native American >> Galleries and special exhibits. > > The Tech Museum in San Jose did an exhibition about four years ago in > which they built their own sound domes -- sound tubes, really -- > in-house. They worked just as well as the commercially available > sound domes for a fraction of the cost (I'd guess around $200 vs $2k). > > Attached is an image (assuming that the MCN listserv doesn't get all > fussy about image attachments) in which you can see three of the > sound tubes hanging form the ceiling (I've overexposed the image so > you can actually see them). The trick there was to have enough > vertical space to make the tube long enough to work. I'd imagine if > you were working with a drop ceiling you could hide part of it in the > ceiling to reduce the overall visual impact. > > -bw. -- Nancy Proctor Head of New Media Initiatives Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) MRC 970 PO Box 37012 Washington DC 20013-7012 USA o: +1-202-633-8439 f: +1-202-633-8455 c: +1-301-642-6257 proctorn at si.edu http://www.americanart.si.edu http://eyelevel.si.edu/ _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
