Practical Conference Audio Tips for Flawless Events
Good AV is invisible when it works. When it fails, it's what people remember.
Start With the Audience, Not the Gear
Decide early whether the event is in person, hybrid or virtual, and tell the AV team.
Send materials ahead of time, and bring backups: a spare laptop, copies of the files, an extra mic.
Conference Audio Tips: Never Cut Corners on Sound
If the budget has to shrink, cut lighting or video before audio.
An audience that struggles to hear switches off and tires quickly.
Feedback usually comes from a speaker being too far from the mic, not too loud.
Hold a handheld mic about 15 cm from your mouth, and keep a lapel mic clear and facing up.
Match the mic to the room and the speaker: lectern, table, handheld, lapel or headset.
Keep charged spare mics within reach.
Visuals: Making Sure Every Row Can See
Check sightlines from every row, and for remote viewers. Use more screens in wide or deep rooms.
Keep the furthest seat within five screen widths, and the bottom of the screen at least 1.5 m off the floor.
Match projector brightness to the room's light, and use a matte, non-glare screen.
Plan accessibility early: captions, interpreters and camera framing.
Conference Audio Tips for Hybrid Meetings
In the room, people who aren't speaking should mute their laptop speakers and mics to stop feedback.
Use the room's speakerphone and camera in Zoom or Teams.
Connect laptops by cable (USB, HDMI and Ethernet) for stability.
Quick Tips for Speakers
Stay close to the mic, and don't turn away from it.
If the sound drops out, keep talking: the technician will fix it or bring a spare.
Send slides and videos early, in standard formats.
The Bottom Line
An effortless conference comes from deliberate planning. Preparation recovers from most accidents, and usually prevents them.