Tech for retreats and talks, etc

Just typing up some lessons learned from my recently-concluded series of retreats, and posting these tips in case anyone finds them useful.

Retreats are for humans, not machines. Any tech must be minimized.

  • no hybrid, in-person only.
    • Hybrid is always a compromise, so where possible separate events for in-person and online. This is especially so for retreats, as you simply have no idea what the online participants are doing.
  • avoid PA unless necessary.
    • Only if the space is so big as to demand it. Rule of thumb: up to 20+ people is okay live, 40+ you probably want amplification. But it depends on the space.
  • if using PA, get a Bose system instead of using in-house.
    • I promise I’m not being paid by Bose. But seriously, Bose sounds completely transparent, it’s just your voice but a bit louder. Also the systems are discreet and easy to set up. Pretty much every other system I’ve used, the sound is terrible.
  • use wired microphone, wireless mics sound bad then die.
    • Like, every time. On my latest retreat, we tested the wireless mic, I said “this is going to die”, then it died during the first talk. Use a wire, unless you’re dancing. (Pro tip: you can get really good quality mics very cheap second hand.)
  • if recording, use a standalone recording device, no extra microphones, computers, etc.
    • Press a button and put it somewhere near. Or take a line out of the PA. Don’t let the tech impact the talk at all.
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Will second this. Never use wireless. And be very confident when refusing them. I find that people are always so excited about their wireless mic that you have to be very firm in refusing them.

I can’t speak to the sounding bad part cause I never use them.

Mic stands are actually extremely inexpensive. And it’s easy to chop them down to work well on the floor.

I would recommend, though, having at least a backup PA in case the speaker’s voice goes out.

As far as recording it can be good to have a person dedicated to this task. It’s easy for the speaker to get distracted and forget to record, etc.

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It depends on the model of wireless mic. Seinheiser EW-D can run for 2 hours with just 1/3 batteries consumed. Good audio quality. I can vouch for it. But it’s expensive.

Shure is pretty standard in the industry.

When I worked at a concert venue as an audio guy, we were very strict about putting new batteries in, straight from the original packaging, immediately before the mic went on stage. The battery got taken out and put in the “used” box as soon as the mic came off stage. No exceptions. Even if the mic was used for only 5 mins. A new battery, every time.[1] And a backup mic ready in the wings for every mic on stage. And two or three wireless receivers placed strategically around the hall.

Needless to say this is all very expensive. But this is what it takes to do wireless properly.

So yeah: just use an XLR cable if you can get away with it.


  1. Thankfully we had a large number of fire and CO detectors around the place that also took 9-volt batteries, so we’d just give the partially-used 9-volts to the maintenance department (and, of course, to anyone who asked for one haha). ↩︎

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I.e., it runs for a while and then it dies. You’re paying 10X the price for worse audio quality, and it will fail when used in an unprofessional setting.

You know what doesn’t die when the battery runs out? Wires.

Right, that’s what it takes. At my last retreat there was a box of unpackaged batteries, and I had to replace the battery every so often when it ran down. Just ridiculous. I’m sitting in one seat!

Not to mention the environmental cost, all that unnecessary tech and batteries.

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Though, having a wireless mic does save us from having to witness the volunteers’ cable management :see_no_evil::joy::pray:

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Nalanda have 2 sets of rechargeable batteries. So, it is helper’s responsibility to recharge the batteries after every session and replace the batteries in the mics with fully charged batteries. Just like what Bhante @Khemarato.bhikkhu said. Good rechargeable batteries are very affordable these days.

Bhante should get an assistant to sort out the technical stuff. Sometimes, new venues go wireless for tech to avoid the hassle and cost of wiring. Projectors are going wireless too.

I recall doing this! Both the witnessing and the cable management.

I always find the main drawback to cabled mics relates directly to the space where the dhamma talk is happening. #1 where are the electrical outlets #2 where is the teacher wanting to sit.

It’s not an issue if the teacher is willing to sit close to an outlet.

Otherwise there is cable sprawl that presents trip hazards. Presumably there are already other cables for computers and sound systems on the floor. Although usually the sound system sits right next to the outlet (but speakers don’t).

Perhaps you can volunteer. Most IT people don’t have lots of spare time to dedicate to retreat management. Besides, if I recall correctly Bhante was in the music business pre-monastic days and surely has a solid grasp of the tech challenges.

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I can’t even if I want. I did that for some of the retreats that I joined for the past few years, just not Bhante’s retreat. Though, I’m not an audio expert. I have never met Bhante in person. I’m from Malaysia. Please come to Malaysia, Bhante, out of compassion, for the welfare and happiness of the people over here.

Oh boy, again, I overestimated myself and underestimated Bhante, telling the expert what to do!

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