The following information is published with ROUNDALAB's permission from the ROUNDALAB Reference Manual compiled by Richard & Jo Ann Lawson, 1987.

Sound and What It Can Do for You

Betty & Clancy Mueller

If sound is too loud, it can drive you crazy.
If sound is too soft, it can drive you crazy.
What happens when sound is just right???

When sound is right you will get a pleasant blend of music and voice. This pleasant blend when it occurs, leaves everyone in a good frame of mind because they could hear the music (which you need to dance) and also the cues (which you also need to be able to hear to execute the dance). How can this be accomplished?

If you will take a moment and look at the many knobs on a PA set, you will see such things as Bass, Treble and volume for both Phonograph and Voice. These knobs were put there for your use. Put on a piece of music you are familiar with and start experimenting with the Phonograph knobs. You will notice quite a difference from high to low in the Bass and Treble. Now adjust them until you like the sound you are getting. Next move over to the Voice side and plug in a microphone and start experimenting. Try Highs and Lows on Bass and Treble until you sound as good as possible. Very high treble as well as turning to face a speaker may give you a squeal. When you have the sound where, in your opinion, you sound the best you can, it is now time to have your partner check the sound around the room to see that you are being heard all over the room. Put on another piece of music and you fill find you may need to reset some of the knobs on Bass, Treble or volume. After awhile this becomes second nature to check each record as you come to them.

Each PA set has one more control which is often neglected and that is the speed control This must be watched constantly for the dancers' comfort. Just as a Caller will speed up or slow down the music he calls to, you as a Round Dance Leader should adjust the speed to suit your dancers' needs.

You have now adjusted the Phonograph, Microphone and speed controls to best suit your needs. Please be professional enough to turn them to where the Caller had them set when you came up to he PA to go to work. This is just courtesy and really is appreciated by the people you work with. Some Callers prefer the Phonograph volume turned down all the way. This can prevent a loud blare of music when he returns to the set and forgets to look at the Volume control.

There are many fine makes of Pas and Microphones and no one set will suit everyone best. Do not be afraid to experiment with different ones until you find one which is best suited to you. We have always found the Callers and the people who make equipment very willing to answer your questions.

There are some extras which can be used with, or added to a PA to make your job easier. One of these is the many types of Wireless microphones now on the market. These can be checked at the National Conventions as they are being used in the workshops or at the booths where they are being sold. The Leaders doing workshops around the country are always happy to answer questions. One thing to remember in selecting a wireless is the size of the hall and the acoustics where you will be using it. Select this item carefully.

Another of these extras which is more useful for the Round Dance Leader is a remote music set back. With this, you can select any part of a record and from the floor automatically return to that precise part of the music every time - real great for practicing a "sticky part of the dance".

Remember: Don't be afraid to experiment and ask lots of questions until you find what is best for you and your dancers.

Roundalab Journal, Summer, 1983