Paging Systems; Public Address; Sound Reinforcement
These have been grouped together because of their basic similarities and use of common components. In fact, the three terms are often used interchangeably. These audio systems generally use microphones, amplification equipment, and speakers to pickup and reproduce sounds.
Paging System
A paging system is used in a facility to transmit announcements, often for the single purpose of locating individuals. This is the one audio system, where it is just as common for the source of the paging audio to be from a telephone system as from a microphone. Electronic break tones and emergency signaling may also be incorporated into these systems, along with the addition of background music. Paging systems are often zoned to send the paging signal where you want it and to keep it from where you don’t. Paging systems are often used in environments having loud background noise and must be capable of exceeding this noise level so the page may be understood.
Public Address System
The term public address system, or PA system, is applied to several different audio systems. It’s often the name used to describe a school intercom sound system. For more information on these systems, please go to our Communications section. It’s also a term used by band members and entertainers, to describe their high-powered stage sound systems. A public address sound system may be as small as a portable amplified speaker on a tripod and one microphone, or it may contain dozens of microphones, and be able to produce tens of thousands of watts in audio power.
Sound Reinforcement Systems
Sound reinforcement system describes the purpose of this audio system very well . . . to pickup audio, using microphones, and to amplify it to the point that the sound produced by the loudspeaker system sounds very natural to the audience, without being excessively loud . . . to reinforce, not to overwhelm! Sound reinforcement systems are often used in auditoriums, in houses of worship, and in performing arts theaters, for plays and musicals. Performance Sound Systems are really just a higher quality sound reinforcement system that has minimum noise and added audio power capacities, especially for the reproduction of live music and live entertainment.