Why Your Wireless Systems No Longer Work

Click Here To Read The FCC History of Wireless Devices

If you don’t want to read the history of how and why we got to where we are today, know that we have a very small amount of air space to operate our wireless microphones, monitors, etc. We have to work around the sources causing radio interference outside and inside. Most people don’t know wireless systems compete for space with non-audio wireless equipment. In fact, wireless systems compete with things that aren’t audio-related at all. LED lighting, LED video walls, video displays and other non-audio components create interference.

Our customers benefit from our on-site service. We scan sites to know all of the interference, inside and out, BEFORE making recommendations for purchase. Some mail-order suppliers will reference online resources like this one from Shure. Frequency finders show how many simultaneous units can be used in each zip code. While these resources show what is possible in a perfect world, they do NOT show local users and the interference they may generate.

Every system we design and install has filters to reduce the interference caused without and within the four walls. Antennae are explicitly selected for the environment. The cables, length, and amplifiers are chosen to minimize noise and maximize reception. Antenna distributors and combiners ensure each receiver receives the strongest, cleanest signal from one central antenna.

We receive calls weekly from wireless users who have lost all functions of their illegal systems and don’t know why. They can’t understand why wireless can’t be turned on and left unchanged for decades without issue. Those days are over! Wireless is no longer a set-and-forget thing. It should not be considered reliable without active management. Active management requires learning to scan, choreograph frequently, and test systems to compensate for internal and external changes.

Contact us today for on-site service and training.

Cleaning and Sanitizing Microphones

Before COVID-19, microphone hygiene wasn’t much considered in live sound. In live sound, the mic's pop screen or “ball” might be replaced if it became caked with spit and plaque. Studio engineers and owners have always been aware and taken measures to minimize spital on delicate and expensive microphones.

When we speak, tiny liquid droplets leave our mouths with the air we exhale. These droplets of saliva can accumulate in and on the windscreen of a microphone, especially during close mic’ing. Although it is not very likely that these droplets will leave the windscreen, there is a possibility that the next speaker or singer will touch the windscreen with their lips. If this windscreen was contaminated, the virus could enter their body. The virus can also be transferred when replacing a windshield and not observing the necessary hygiene measures. If you touch a windshield that has just been used and it touches your face, you may contract an infection.

Protecting and cleaning microphones and accessories used close to the mouth and by multiple users is essential. Have just one user per microphone (including the accessories). Clean all surfaces, i.e., microphone housings, head baskets, and accessories, after each use, and leave the microphone unused to air dry for a while. Utilize plastic gloves, windshields, and thin plastic film bags to add protection.

We must wash our hands and maintain good oral hygiene when using microphones. It is essential for those using head-worn and earset microphones to wash their hair and behind their ears. We can transmit lots of germs behind the ears.

When it comes to cleaning and sanitizing microphones, we must understand the differences. The difference applies to all surfaces, kitchen pots and pans, dishes, computer keyboards, toilets, etc. Clean is free of visible contaminants. Sanitized is free of invisible pollutants. We should be concerned for both. A microphone must first be cleaned before it may be sanitized.

We have some general rules for cleaning the exteriors of microphones. Care must be taken not to rinse, submerge in water or clean the interior of the microphones with chemicals. Use ethyl alcohol (ethanol) or isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol), a 70% solution, to clean the exterior housing. Apply with a disposable soft cloth, a soft brush, or paper tissue. Ensure that the liquid is applied only to the outside of the microphone and does not enter the inside or the capsule. Do not use rough materials which might scratch the surface. Do not use solvents stronger than ethanol or isopropanol, as these might damage the surface. Never use sprays directly onto the microphone, as these can deposit on the membrane and thus damage the microphone capsule. Please be aware that extensive use may cause cosmetic damage to the microphone.

With some microphones, the head basket can be easily removed or replaced if the head basket is bent in any way. Go ahead and replace it. Mishaped heads affect the performance of the microphone. If you clean it, do not touch or damage the capsule! With the head baskets containing foam windshields, remove the inner foam and wash it separately, as described in the latter. Metal head baskets can also be cleaned inside with ethanol or isopropanol. You may also immerse the head basket in clean, hot water (e.g., 70°C/160°F). Do not use a dishwasher. The finish and shape of the head may be affected; spray the foam screen with Lysol surface disinfectant. Do this in another room so the airborne particles cannot accumulate on the microphone diaphragm. Let the basket and foam dry out entirely before re-assembly. A certified technician should complete any further cleaning and maintenance.

Advanced Sound & Communication has a sanitizing solution essential for churches, assisted living communities, retirement centers and community centers where those with compromised immunity systems use microphones, the RF Venue Li.LAC. This microphone disinfector yields a level of 99.99%* for surface disinfection. The independent, accredited laboratory Opsytec Dr. Gröbel GmbH has approved it.
The departments of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) have conducted comprehensive scientific studies to evaluate the effectiveness of Li.LAC. Viruses were sprayed onto microphones, similar to singing into the mic. The results show a reduction of 99.3% of the viral load on strongly contaminated microphones (including the metal grille and foam underneath) after 10 minutes irradiation inside Li.LAC.
RF Venue https://www.rfvenue.com/products/lilac

Contact us today for more information, pricing and availability

ASC Installs State-of-the-Art AV in Historic Church Damaged By Fire.

St. John The Baptist Catholic Parish in Beloit, KS was damaged by a fire. The massive undertaking to return the historic late 1800s structure to it’s traditional, like-new, form. ASC is installing an AV system including Renkus Heinz, Fulcrum Acoustic, Dynacord, QSC QSYS, Tascam, Netgear and Shure. Stand by for updates.

Lightning Can't Stop America's Auto Auction w/ASC.

Auto auction facilities are often like large garages. Cars pass through lanes of giant metal buildings with concrete floors, and open garage doors, so in-person and online buyers can bid. Parallel lanes have a slight separation, allowing buyers to walk from auction to auction quickly.

Auctioneers like to be loud and understood. They don’t like hearing adjacent auctioneers. Hundreds of cars can pass through an auction. Buyers need to hear, so they don’t miss a sale. Auctioneers fight loudness wars. Ultimately, equipment is damaged, the sound quality suffers for those streaming remotely, and it can cause permanent hearing damage. This noise and poor acoustics can adversely affect the auctions and revenues.

Advanced Sound & Communication has worked with local auto auctions in the Kansas City market for over 30 years. For about 15 years, we have provided audio, video, surveillance systems, and services to the largest independent auction business, KCIAA. KCIAA is now part of America’s Auto Auction / XLErate Group organization, which has 23 locations throughout the United States. KCIAA is now America’s Auto Auction KC.

Over a year ago, we received a distress call. Multiple lanes had no audio. After extensive testing and fact-finding with staff members, we determined the equipment failures resulted from a direct lightning hit. Amplifiers and speakers were burnt. Fortunately, the failures were drastic and immediately apparent. Static discharges and lightning strikes can sometimes damage microchips which might malfunction or fail years later. We quickly installed temporary systems to eliminate downtime and minimize the inconvenience of supply chain-related delays. We began working on a plan to restore functions and increase redundancy simultaneously.

When KCIAA was built, we housed the audio, video, and surveillance equipment in one secure room, the MDF (IT Closet). Initially, this room was right-sized for the amount of equipment. KCIAA had several power-related events that damaged office and AV equipment a few years after opening. A backup power generator, conditioners, and UPSs (Uninterruptable Power Supplies) were installed. Two QSC QSYS Core processors replaced the original audio processor. After 15 years, the systems outgrew the space and its ability to keep the IT equipment cool. Management expressed this concern. They are planning on building a new MDF and gutting the original. They needed rack space for this process.

Technology has changed a lot in 15 years. We provided a solution that decreased BTUs and freed valuable rack space in the MDF while providing maximum redundancy for processors and amplifiers. We installed compact systems in secure locations under countertops in each lane. We eliminated the need for thousands of feet of copper cable from the overhead cable trough. Reducing the length and location of the wires has improved audio quality and reliability. Each lane has a dedicated QSC QSYS Core Nano processor, QIO-ML4i and QIO-L4o. Two two-channel Powersoft Mezzo 602A amplifiers powering four JBL AWC82 speakers gave us the flexibility to balance the speakers to the room. Two pre-existing QSC Core 110F processors remain in the MDF. They provide audio to the streaming auction computers and the surveillance NVR (Network Video Recorder).

Before the lighting strike, the QSC Core110Fs reliability was excellent. Management said they were glad to see us because it had been two years since our last service call. Our retail division, Big Dude’s Music, has been a QSC dealer since day one, and we have been incorporating QSYS systems in our installations since its release. QSC continues to grow, evolve, and communicate well with its dealers to navigate supply chain issues. Being experienced and fully certified in QSYS makes programming and integration a breeze. The system has received a unanimous thumbs-up from the auctioneers. The feedback from online streamers is the audio is more transparent and louder than before. We have no doubts America’s Auto Auction will continue to function issue free.

We look forward to seeing Doug, Steve, and the rest of the staff in a couple of years.

Get A New Lease on AV Life With Section 179

Advanced Sound & Communication provides audio, video, lighting, security, and financial solutions to pay for them and save capital. Section 179 of the IRS Tax Code is an incentive created by the U.S. government to encourage businesses to buy equipment and invest in themselves. An equipment lease is the best way to get what you need while saving capital.

Section 179 allows a business to deduct the total purchase price of financed or leased equipment and off-the-shelf software that qualifies for the deduction. The deduction limit is $1,080,000 for new and used equipment, with a spending cap on equipment purchases of $2,700,000 and a bonus depreciation of 100%. There are additional bonus depreciation allowances of up to 100% for qualifying equipment.

The equipment purchased, financed, or leased must be within the specified dollar limits of Section 179, and the equipment must be placed into service in the same tax year that the deduction is being taken. The equipment must be put into service between January 1st and December 31st of the year the deduction is to be taken. The IRS does not plan to waive the “put into service” requirement because of supply and demand issues. Therefore, projects should be ordered as soon as possible to ensure delivery in 2023.

We have great news for you if you are considering more than an audio, video, lighting, or security upgrade. Section 179 includes all types of business equipment, off-the-shelf software, and commercial vehicles. Our leasing partners will provide one lease for all. There are requirements, so contact us for details.

Leasing provides the daily usage of the equipment you need today with affordable monthly payments and tax deduction benefits. You can keep your capital in your business. You own the equipment without the financial hit on the front side.

Contact us for more information:

Brent Handy, CTS: 816-564-7281. brent@advancedsoundkc.com

2023, The Year For Baby Steps.

We ended December with a very different reality than expected in January. Economists and manufacturers give us some certainty for 2023. It will be slightly better than in 2022 and exponentially better than in 2020 when little Milo was born. We have already seen an improvement in order fulfillment over December 2021. As with all things in our personal and professional lives, we must remain aware of the situation, plan accordingly, and live in grace when ETAs come and go multiple times throughout the year. It is what it is for the foreseeable future. New manufacturer price lists for 2023 reflect higher dealer costs, discontinuation, replacements with new components, and slow deliveries.

The tech industry is being forced to make changes. Changes in manufacturing locations, facilities, staffing, components, firmware, and shipping will take time to implement and perfect. As with all things tech-based and man-made, there will be issues. What is essential is how problems are addressed and how quickly the manufacturers and the service providers solve them.

Advanced Sound & Communication sells only the best and most reputable brands, favoring those based and manufacturing in the USA. You can start 2023 with an experienced, respected, talented team helping you navigate the uncertainty of your audio, video, lighting, security, and control system replacement, training, and service needs. Our manufacturers have local representation and service departments with factory-trained technicians. When you have a problem, we will address it and resolve it as soon as possible. When the name of our company, Advanced Sound & Communication, was chosen, “sound” represented all things related to sound systems, and “communication” described phone and video conferencing. There was a time when companies like ours were very specialized and only did one thing. Technology, users, and expectations have changed. We aren’t limited to any one thing. We provide all things related to audio, video, lighting, security, and control systems. If you have a need, any need at all, small or monstrous, contact us. You don’t even have to ask, “Do you do X?”. The answer is probably, “Yes!” Milo is now three. He won’t answer the phone or reply to emails. But he will show you his cars, trucks, trains, and his new little sister on Messenger. He loves Messenger.

A Habitat for Humanity for AV

Advanced Sound & Communication’s largest vertical is the house of worship market. We remove, test, clean, and warehouse used equipment for churches in desperate need of equipment. We network with church staff members who call us to let us know when they have some equipment to pick up or let us know of someone with a need. For instance, Frank Gentile at Church of the Ressurection in Leawood provided an EAW speaker system which we installed in an inner-city Church of Christ. Queen of the Holy Rosary in Overland Park, KS, and Mission Road Bible Church in Prairie Village, KS told us to find good church homes for the speakers we replaced. We are very selective and can’t take everything offered. Churches can be dumping grounds for very outdated and worn-out gear. We want to be a blessing, not a hindrance.

Thom Reiner posted an interesting blog entry on the churchanswers.com website. According to Thom, churches should expect a 20% reduction in pre-COVID attendance and a 5% reduction in contributions. For several years we have seen dying churches grafted into larger ones and some churches selling facilities to get back to basics, meeting in homes as micro-churches. New church plants are on the rise. This trend is expected to continue. The need for affordable solutions will increase while record supply chain issues and double-digit cost increases continue.

If we provide services, installing or upgrading audio, video, lighting, security, and control systems, we can make sure your used equipment is given to a grateful, needy congregation.

Brent Handy, CTS

brent@advancedsoundkc.com

(816) 564-7281

2022 is 2021's Ugly Sister. Are You Ready To Dance?

2022 is here. We have a lot to be thankful for. 2021 is history. We all know history repeats. In all things electronic, 2022 will be very similar to 2021.

2021 caught everyone off guard. Political and economic policies, laws, and Acts of God have shown us how fragile our supply chains are. Letting UPS and FedEX be your warehouse is not going to work anymore. Securing equipment in 2021 looked like a one-armed and legged man doing the Carlton dance. Manufacturers and leaders of our industry affiliations tell us supply chain issues will persist. Price increases will continue. 2022 will be just like 2021 in that regard.

Anything made by humans can and will fail. Some failures are unpredictable, It is more important than ever to keep your audio, video, lighting and control and IT systems maintained. If you are planning to purchase upgrades or systems, be prepared for delays. Consider making an additional investment in time and resources to minimize downtime.

We have had calls the week before Christmas, Easter, and special events. Callers knew they have had problems for extended periods of time. In one case, a church called us one day before Easter wanting project lamps. There weren’t any factory replacement parts in the country. They did nothing about it and called two days before Christmas. We had the same exact conversation with the same exact contact. Mismanaged organizations will fail. Mismanaged electronic systems will fail. We know 2021 will be a repeat of 2022. We know supply chain issues will persist. Now is the time to be booking your preventative maintenance calls so you can be ready for spring break events and Easter.

Call, text, or email Brent Handy, CTS to schedule a no-cost on-site evaluation. He will help you with your tech systems and help you waltz your way out of 2022. Brent doesn’t do the Carton dance!