i am building a lectern type thing and am carving the base to look like a tree
trunk. i am building branches to hold the table top, and want to extend the
front 2 branches into an arc over the top and aim a lamp out of the ends to
light the top. i am looking for help in picking these lights, i am
considering superbright led's.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds/w4_specs.htm

comments and suggestions welcome........

also.....

i need to wire in a microphone. i will carve out an area to hide a microphone.
any thoughts here. i know little about this and am open to all. i would like
to carve a screen in the front center of the table, slanted toward the speaker,
so the smaller the better.

thanks to all
bob

In article , Minorite
wrote:

comments and suggestions welcome...

Whatever lights you decide on, make sure you view it from the audience
side. It's *really* annoying to see the glare from a lectern light when
you want to watch the speaker.

djb

--
It's probably time to change my sig line, eh?

On 26 Mar 2004 01:42:58 GMT, hing (Minorite) brought
forth from the murky depths:

i am building a lectern type thing and am carving the base to look like a tree
trunk. i am building branches to hold the table top, and want to extend the
front 2 branches into an arc over the top and aim a lamp out of the ends to
light the top. i am looking for help in picking these lights, i am
considering superbright led's.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds/w4_specs.htm

comments and suggestions welcome........

I picked up some of those from www.whitelightled.com for
a buck apiece with free schematics and resistors. I'd use
a least one spot and several wide-angle leds for that.
Your normal light level at the spot will determine how
many you actually need.


also.....

i need to wire in a microphone. i will carve out an area to hide a microphone.
any thoughts here. i know little about this and am open to all. i would like

If you go with an embedded mike (like an electret), surround it in
very soft foam so it doesn't pick up all the thumps from movements of
hands and books on the top of the lectern. (I've always hated that.)

Better yet, get a wireless lapel mike so the speaker can leave the
lectern and still be heard.

Rob Weaver just turned me on to www.musiciansfriend.com or you
can assume the proper position at the computer and search *b*y
like the rest of us. Both have excellent pricing.


to carve a screen in the front center of the table, slanted toward the speaker,
so the smaller the better.

Carve a screen?!? 'Sprain, preese.


--------------------------------------------------------
Murphy was an Optimist
----------------------------
http://diversify.com Comprehensive Website Development

hing (Minorite) wrote in
:

i am building a lectern type thing and am carving the base to look
like a tree trunk. i am building branches to hold the table top, and
want to extend the front 2 branches into an arc over the top and aim a
lamp out of the ends to light the top. i am looking for help in
picking these lights, i am considering superbright led's.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds/w4_specs.htm

comments and suggestions welcome........

also.....

i need to wire in a microphone. i will carve out an area to hide a
microphone. any thoughts here. i know little about this and am open
to all. i would like to carve a screen in the front center of the
table, slanted toward the speaker, so the smaller the better.

thanks to all
bob

Bob,
The other comments I've seen are good and valid. Consider their advice.

Here's what I want to add: You're building something that will very likely
last much longer than any of the technology that you are installing into
it. Even if nothing comes along to replace it soon, there is no way that
the electrics will last as long as the lectern.

So leave yourself, or those who follow after you, a way to easily replace
and update your masterpiece. Panels which remove easily with screws.
Wiring chases that unobtrusively can be recabled with the next great thing.
Places for power supplies or transformers or whatever, where form and
function are not compromised. Lighting supports and screens that can
handle change, and not be damaged.

The beauty of your efforts today will then have a means of providing
service well beyond the short lifetime of current technology.

May you have a steady hand and a clear vision.

Patriarch

hing (Minorite) wrote in
:


i need to wire in a microphone. i will carve out an area to hide a
microphone. any thoughts here. i know little about this and am open
to all. i would like to carve a screen in the front center of the
table, slanted toward the speaker, so the smaller the better.

thanks to all
bob


Bob:

Not sure if anyone else spoke to the mic issue, as I haven't really been
following this thread. At the risk of repeating what someone else may
already have said, I'd recommend against building in a mic. Most lecturn
mics sound like hell unless the orgainization spends some pretty good money
for a top quality mic. Unfortunately, you seldom see that. Typical junk
mics don't have a good enough coverage pattern and speakers not accustomed
to using a mic end up moving all over the place resulting in really bad
sound. So - I'd recommend you save yourself the effort of building in to
accomodate a mic and get the organization to spend a few hundred bucks on a
decent wireless lapel mic. Folks can enjoy your handiwork and the person
using it.

I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn last night, nor did I play a sound guy on TV,
but I do do a lot of sound work.

--

-Mike-

In article ,
hing says...
i am building a lectern type thing and am carving the base to look like a tree
trunk.

i need to wire in a microphone.

In general, if the mic will be more than 6" from the
talkers' lips, it will be worthless.

I suspect your mic will be worthless.

--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.

I agree, Built in mics are not very flexible and with changing technology it
probably isn't worth it. However you can create some sort of holder like
with the lights that could receive a goose neck thread or something.

--


"Mark" wrote in message
th.net...
In article ,
hing says...
i am building a lectern type thing and am carving the base to look like
a tree
trunk.

i need to wire in a microphone.

In general, if the mic will be more than 6" from the
talkers' lips, it will be worthless.

I suspect your mic will be worthless.

--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.

thank you to all who have replied. i answered what i could below. please keep
those cards and letters coming, and if anything else occurs, please let me
know.



Whatever lights you decide on, make sure you view it from the audience side.
It's *really* annoying to see the glare from a lectern light when you want to
watch the speaker.

djb

i want to light only the table, the ends of the branches will finish better
than 2" dia. about 8 " off the top, all slanted toward the reader/speaker, so
the only light the listeners/snorers should see is the glow at the branch end.
thank you for coming in with this. i thought i might be obsessing.


It's probably time to change my sig line, eh?

like visitors and dead fish.......



I picked up some of those from www.whitelightled.com

thank you for this link,

If you go with an embedded mike (like an electret)

sounds like what i want, but......

Better yet, get a wireless lapel mike so the speaker can leave the lectern and
still be heard.

there are 3 or more who use this ambo during servives, and i'm betting the
church mouse has more money then the church council.

Rob Weaver just turned me on to www.musiciansfriend.com or you can assume the
proper position at the computer and search *b*y like the rest of us.

both excellent, thank you. i went to both and drown in both. i don't have a
clue what mic to choose, but i really want to 'embed' it. i want to pierce
carve a screen/cover to blend the mic into the enviroment

Murphy was an Optimist

you think murphy had a problem?, i promised this for easter.


So leave yourself, or those who follow after you, a way to easily replace and
update your masterpiece. Panels which remove easily with screws. Wiring
chases that unobtrusively can be recabled with the next great thing. Places
for power supplies or transformers or whatever, where form and function are not
compromised. Lighting supports and screens that can handle change, and not be
damaged.

Patriarch, all included, and 5 3/4 height adjustment too. one of the big guys
isn't, if you get my drift....so the plans had to accomadate a large varience.
thank you for the other comments also.


I'd recommend against building in a mic. Most lecturn mics sound like hell
unless the orgainization spends some pretty good money for a top quality mic.

if you had to pick a mic, mike, what mic would you pic(k).(sorry, had to
happen)

I'd recommend you save yourself the effort of building in to accomodate a mic
and get the organization to spend a few hundred bucks on a decent wireless
lapel mic.

one i could sell, but i really don't think 4. how about a short mic out of the
table? i had planned for a 3" deep hole 3"dia. to hide the mic. would this be
large enough to hide some/most of something you might recommend?


In general, if the mic will be more than 6" from the talkers' lips, it will be
worthless.
I suspect your mic will be worthless.

ah Mark, another vote for the the wireless mic system. i might have to look
for pricing.


I agree, Built in mics are not very flexible and with changing technology it
probably isn't worth it. However you can create some sort of holder like with
the lights that could receive a goose neck thread or something.

i considered this. the lights are curved around the top from the trunk, into an
arc that will point the lights. branches at the back hold the top and provide
the book lip. then there's this one that comes around the front, thins into a
long tube, and points at the speaker. not a pretty thought.


thanks again,
bob

On 28 Mar 2004 00:27:47 GMT, hing (Minorite) brought
forth from the murky depths:

thank you to all who have replied. i answered what i could below. please keep
those cards and letters coming, and if anything else occurs, please let me
know.

I picked up some of those from www.whitelightled.com

thank you for this link,

If you go with an embedded mike (like an electret)

sounds like what i want, but......

Better yet, get a wireless lapel mike so the speaker can leave the lectern and
still be heard.

there are 3 or more who use this ambo during servives, and i'm betting the
church mouse has more money then the church council.

You might be surprised. A Chamber of Commerce had sucked a
colleague and myself dry. They got about $15k worth of work
and paid us a bit over $3k. Six months later, they dropped
us flat and paid some idiots $17k to redo it and it didn't
work. We were on performance pay, they got all of it up front
with no guarantees. I'm still sick about wasting so much time
with a non-profit who actually DID have money to spend but
didn't give it out. I'm wondering whose cousin got the bucks.


Rob Weaver just turned me on to www.musiciansfriend.com or you can assume the
proper position at the computer and search *b*y like the rest of us.

both excellent, thank you. i went to both and drown in both. i don't have a
clue what mic to choose, but i really want to 'embed' it. i want to pierce
carve a screen/cover to blend the mic into the enviroment

Tonight, or in about an hour tomorrow morning?


Murphy was an Optimist

you think murphy had a problem?, i promised this for easter.

bwa hahahaha


ah Mark, another vote for the the wireless mic system. i might have to look
for pricing.

Try Ebay and other China-based equipment wholesalers.


I agree, Built in mics are not very flexible and with changing technology it
probably isn't worth it. However you can create some sort of holder like with
the lights that could receive a goose neck thread or something.

i considered this. the lights are curved around the top from the trunk, into an
arc that will point the lights. branches at the back hold the top and provide
the book lip. then there's this one that comes around the front, thins into a
long tube, and points at the speaker. not a pretty thought.

G'luck! What P.A. system or amplifier do they have now?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tegory=29 949
Maybe extra mics could be plugged into this one. Talk to Pyle.
3-mic system with speaker! http://www.radios4you.com/sh120.html


--------------------------------------------------------
Murphy was an Optimist
----------------------------
http://diversify.com Comprehensive Website Development

In article ,
Minorite wrote:

[[.. munch ..]]


Murphy was an Optimist

you think murphy had a problem?, i promised this for easter.

You have to understand the difference between an optimist and a pessimist.

An optimist (with apologies to Candide) believes that we live in the "best of
all possible worlds".

A pessimist is *firmly*convinced* that that is the case.



BTW, did you make a mistake and specify _which_ Easter? grin

Minorite wrote:

Rob Weaver just turned me on to www.musiciansfriend.com or you can
assume the
proper position at the computer and search *b*y like the rest of us.


both excellent, thank you. i went to both and drown in both. i
don't have a clue what mic to choose, but i really want to 'embed'
it. i want to pierce carve a screen/cover to blend the mic into the
enviroment


one i could sell, but i really don't think 4. how about a short mic
out of the table? i had planned for a 3" deep hole 3"dia. to hide the
mic. would this be large enough to hide some/most of something you
might recommend?


Hmmmm.... it's all getting clearer now. Church podium. Now I know all of
the issues you're either facing or going to be facing. Lots of experience
with this stuff. OK - for one - time for you to subscribe to
alt.audio.pro.live-sound and post your original post there - along with some
of the additional detail you've put here since your original post. You'll
get lots of advice on different mics that can withstand the type of mounting
you're considering etc. You *will* have to give second thoughts to your
hollowing out strategy since you're almost guarnteed to be creating a very
effective well that will result in feedback the way you're going now. A lot
of that will be determined by the mic you chose.

I understand the issue of cost for 4 wireless mics. You're limited to a
less than optimal solution but realities dictate that you must come up with
the best that will work under those limitations. There are some pretty good
uni-directional mics out there that perhaps can fit into your design ideas
for the most part, but you'll get better info on models, specs, etc. from
aapls. I suggest a fixed mount so those people who are not experienced with
mics don't have the tendency to grab a gooseneck and pull it to them. You
sound guy will appreciate that as well. If you go to aapls, look for George
Gleason and let him know I sent you. You'll get a much warmer rececption
that way...
--

-Mike-

hing (Minorite) wrote in
:

i am building a lectern type thing and am carving the base to look
like
a tree trunk. i am building branches to hold the table top, and
want
to extend the front 2 branches into an arc over the top and aim a
lamp
out of the ends to light the top. i am looking for help in
picking
these lights, i am considering superbright led's.


Home Depot sells small sets of 3 to 5 20 watt halogen lights meant
for under-cabinet lighting. Made by Hampton Bay. They look to be
about 2" diameter and maybe an inch thick. They come in black,
white, and nickel finishes. You might want to stop by your local
Borg and see if these would work for you.

Hope this helps,
Jerry

Home Depot sells small sets of 3 to 5 20 watt halogen lights meant
for under-cabinet lighting.

thank you, this might be better than leds
bob

Minorite wrote:
Home Depot sells small sets of 3 to 5 20 watt halogen lights meant
for under-cabinet lighting.

thank you, this might be better than leds
bob

I've only used a couple of different LED's myself so I'm not the most
experienced voice out there, but I've found them to be too low a light level
or too soft a light for reading. Great for setting up treestands at 5:00 in
the morning though...

--

-Mike-