matthew
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Facilitation & Logistics Member
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Post by matthew on Oct 11, 2011 7:17:09 GMT -5
I brought this up to the Facilitation WG via email as we were getting our act together, and I'll throw it out here now. I think that it might be a good idea to get a dual wireless mic system for the next meeting of the GA. We're already talking about changing the seating arrangement from "in the round" to... in the half round? At any rate, I think that having wireless mics that we can pass around will also make the process go much more smoothly. We'll be able to hear everybody, and we won't have to wait for the peoples' mic or wait as people get up and walk to the front. It was mentioned that we might not be at GSCA again after this next meeting, and eventually we'll probably be holding our meetings at the site of the Occupation, so we don't know if we'll always be at a place where we can even use amplification. Does anybody have any thoughts on this? Also, does anybody have a dual wireless mic system that we can use? If it has line-level outputs we already have the amplification. If this discussion doesn't take off here, does anybody mind if I post to the Fb group / event to see if anybody there has a system we can use?
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eddie
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Post by eddie on Oct 11, 2011 8:05:21 GMT -5
Joe Lombardo may have mics.
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matthew
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Post by matthew on Oct 11, 2011 9:12:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the lead- I just Fb messaged him.
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Dan L
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Post by Dan L on Oct 11, 2011 10:37:57 GMT -5
I, in general, am a little wary of acquiring microphones due to the fact that 1. The only work where there is power. 2. They only work where we are permitted to use them and 3. Becomes sort of a strange focal point where people are being 'talked to' rather than participating.
I think rearranging how we set up will have a lot to do to increase hearing/participation. Also, since the floor of the GA really isn't for long, sustained discussions anyway, I think a microphone doesn't encourage brevity and the sort of to this point, this is what I think needs to be addressed or brought up in a workgroup talk that the GA is best for.
The use of the people's mic, on the other hand, has at times been gratuitous (especially to those of us who find yelling other people's loquacious statements rather tedious). Perhaps there is a way to structure things where we can get the most amount of work done without having to be loud for long periods of time, so that we step around the Microphone issue all together?
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matthew
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Facilitation & Logistics Member
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Post by matthew on Oct 11, 2011 10:45:37 GMT -5
I, in general, am a little wary of acquiring microphones due to the fact that 1. The only work where there is power. 2. They only work where we are permitted to use them and 3. Becomes sort of a strange focal point where people are being 'talked to' rather than participating. I think rearranging how we set up will have a lot to do to increase hearing/participation. Also, since the floor of the GA really isn't for long, sustained discussions anyway, I think a microphone doesn't encourage brevity and the sort of to this point, this is what I think needs to be addressed or brought up in a workgroup talk that the GA is best for. The use of the people's mic, on the other hand, has at times been gratuitous (especially to those of us who find yelling other people's loquacious statements rather tedious). Perhaps there is a way to structure things where we can get the most amount of work done without having to be loud for long periods of time, so that we step around the Microphone issue all together? These are all good points. I would say that, if we have amplification, we can choose not to use it, but if we don't have it available, we can't choose to use it... The working group isn't going to force anything on the GA- we just want to have options, and to let the GA decide. Also- there are portable power sources which can be used to power the mic / amplification system during the meetings, if power isn't otherwise available.
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ihbar
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Post by ihbar on Oct 11, 2011 17:07:29 GMT -5
I'd like your input on this, all (not an official member of the WG): Last week when I connected the Furnace's PA and a microphone that was lying around that space, I was just kind of concentrating on getting there and back in the fastest time so that we could hook it up as quickly as possible once we had all the right gear. I didn't notice there was no gain on the speaker we used and I had to go get a power amplifier. I am more than willing to do the same thing again, having it all set up before everyone gets there this Sunday. This week, There is no need to acquire more microphones unless a working wireless one (two) is found, and even then it may not be compatible with ground loop noise from the circuit, speaker layout, room echo, and such. We'll need the PA head again too, and probably an extra speaker and cable extensions as well, all no problem for me to bring and set up. I think it is worthwhile to examine the layout situation though, except I'm not sure what would be best. The circle has a very tribal and warm feel to it but I almost feel there should be a designated aisle or path by a wall for the purposes of moving to the bathroom/moving around. One speaker cable is about 50 feet, the next longest I have is 25 feet. Total length of microphone cable ~80 feet. The omnidirectional mic I had was not in eyeshot and I had to use a backup directional one, probably creating frustrations with people not knowing how to use a mic correctly. I'll bring it next time. I would BLOCK any proposal of trucking MY OWN heavy sound equipment stuff around if we have meetings somewhere other than GSCA, especially if we're outside. I DO NOT want that stuff getting seized for any reason even if we are allowed amplification. I spent good money on them and I use them often to record, etc. I'd say People's mic for outside (no megaphones)! I believe Individuals WILL understand the use of the People's Mic with a little bit of learning and patience, on the grounds that it simultaneously encourages brevity and complete thoughts, is forceful but warm, getting everybody on the same beat. The concern about it being slow and 'annoying' is understandable, I feel, but I think the benefits outweigh that, plus, no one's saying everybody HAS TO echo back (if you're worried about being corny or whatever ). Gratuitous 'MIC CHECK!!! MIC CHECK!!!'s before statements are definitely annoying, I feel.
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flashmob
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Post by flashmob on Oct 11, 2011 19:27:08 GMT -5
This is something that would be more of a media issue but I just wanted to throw out the idea of using broadcasting tech such as a small fm transmitter or shoutcast internet radio so those with the tech can hear any announcements from whereever and those without the tech can be close enough to hear that we can eliminate the peoples mic even outdoors. It is slow and the cultish sound alienates alot of people.
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Post by deebee on Oct 11, 2011 22:24:46 GMT -5
I'm not a member of any WG and didn't attend any of the meetings yet but just wanted to throw this out there.
What about the feasibility of hooking up a Local WiFi connection that would host some kind of audio stream? Just did a quick couple minutes of google-based research and found there's a handful of decent looking android and iphone apps for local streaming audio. There's even some browser based options where all people would have to do is open up their phones web broswer and type in a local ip and it would just connect them to the stream(not sure if that might require Flash, like I said I just did a quick look).
I think it's safe to say that pretty much everyone has a cell phone and most people even have some type of smart phone. Wouldn't even need any data plan, it'd be a local network not cell network. Even found some pretty cool instructions for building a solar powered WiFi hotspot(takes care of the power issue). I doubt there would even be too much of a latency issue(one of the biggest problems it seems with the peoples' mic).
Just think of it this way, when people are most hungry for news they turn to radio. Remember the scenes on 9/11 of people crowding around in groups listening to the radio? I remember when my power went out during hurricane Irene I turned to my cars radio and my cellphone to try to find out about flooding emergencies.
A live audio stream delivered directly to peoples cell phones is essentially a radio broadcast, only it's produced by the people and consumed by the people. People who tune their phones into the broadcast act as the radios for others in the group who don't want to or can't use their phones. Sort of the same idea as the people's mic only a little more high tech.
Obviously there's issues that'd have to be considered and worked out before anything like this could work. Biggest one I can see is battery life of cell phones; a few different ways to tackle that problem. Definitely seems like something the media&tech work-group could look into though.
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