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Event Rental Glossary

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Sometimes AV terminology can feel like a foreign language. To have all your bases covered and feel confident about understanding your rental quote, we've provided this glossary guide.

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To help keep things simple, we’ve split the terms into a few different categories:

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  • Audio Terminology

  • Video/Display Terminology

  • Production Terminology and Slang

  • Other Equipment

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Audio

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Line Array: speakers responsible for covering a portion of the audience. Positioning in a curved format allows full audience coverage at large outdoor venues. Audio Monitors: on-stage speakers, frequently pointed back at the presenters or performers so they can hear themselves, audience members, or other audio

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Ringing Out the Room: determining the natural sound of the space and used to eliminate audio feedback between on-stage microphones and speakers. 

​Microphone Rental

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Wireless Mic: cordless microphone connecting directly to the sound recording or amplifying equipment with which it is associated.

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Wired Mics: reliable, easy to set up, and easy to operate. Presents optimal sound quality, direct signal, without wireless, interfere, and generally more cost-effective rental microphone available to rent in new york city. 

 

Lav Mics: known as a lapel mic, this wireless component clips to your shirt or suit jacket for hands-free operation.

 

Headset: These are the microphones you see when stage performers to be directly in front of your mouth. These are wireless and allow for ample movement.

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Visual

 

Aspect Ratio: ratio of image width to its height. It is expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, as in 16:9. The older square ratio of 4:3 is less commonly used. 

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Confidence Monitor: video monitor projects what’s being displayed to the audience on the main projection screens or displays. 

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Distribution Amplifier: a signal box that distributes audio and video to multiple devices while amplifying the signal. 

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Running Spares: two projectors are focused onto a single screen, displaying the same image, and stacked on top of each other increasing brightness. 

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Downstage Monitor: monitor that can be seen by the presenter, but not the audience. It can display presentation notes, scripting, or what’s being displayed on the audience monitors.

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High Definition: A widescreen, 16:9 video display resolution of either 1280×720 or 1920×1080 pixels.

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Lumens: The measure of brightness for projectors. 

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Teleprompter: camera-mounted monitor that displays scripts visible to the performer, operated by a person at a computer who moves the script, while following the presenter.

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There are hundreds of different ways to connect video sources to projectors, flat-panel monitors, and video walls. This can get frustrating because not all devices have the right port. Having the right connectors is essential for event presentation success. If you don’t have the right cables, your presentations not work leading to disaster. Here are some common types of video connectors.

 

VGA: video graphics array. You have probably seen the 15 pin VGA connector on computer monitors, laptop computers, projectors, and some TVs. VGA cables are an analog signal which means it is not an optimal choice for clear images.

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HDMI: most common high-definition audio / video transfer cable for connecting TV rentals, digital signage, and other visual products we rent in NYC.

 

DVI: a digital visual interface for connecting video sources to projectors and video wall rentals. 

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Projection:

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Rear Projection: video projected from behind the screen out of the view of the audience. Typically placed backstage and used with our fast-fold screen rental.

 

Front Projection: projectors placed in front of the audience or above the guests. (We offer custom projector installs for galleries and museums.) 

 

Rigging: equipment we use to hang trussing, lighting, and sound equipment for outdoor events and in production studios.

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Truss: aluminum gridwork suspended above the stage for hanging lighting and sound equipment. It can also be used for hanging branded signage and large-scale video screens.

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Camera Riser: stage platform located at the back of the audience area, where the techs operate their equipment.

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Stage Kings - Stage Rental New York City

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PRODUCTION TERMINOLOGY

 

Green Room: a backstage area for performers and talent management. 

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Downstage: area of the stage closest to the audience in a standard stage setup.

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Front of House: everything on the audience side of a theatre.

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Proscenium: the opening in the wall at the front of the stage where the grand curtain is hung.

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Show Call: used primarily by the show caller to keep track of audio, video, and other cues contained within a production. 

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Site Visit: while planning an event the producer and client meet at the venue to discuss layout and logistics.

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Stage Left and Right: left and right sides of the stage, from the performer’s perspective. 

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Upstage: viewpoint of an actor facing the audience.

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