Headache gone! Music dept's new mute switch...
Anthony Baxter
Director | Anchor create physical security systems to make buildings work your way and protect profits | CCTV surveillance, Access & Door entry, PA systems and specialist data & integrations.
Remember the sound of 20 keyboards going at once?!! How does a music teacher get silence when the head walks in to the classroom and 20 students are playing at full volume with their backs turned? Headphones? yes, well, but, how do get the class's attention?... This school can now silence the cacophony in an instant without raising their voice (or even uttering a word).... from the teacher desk.
Envoplan partnered with audio specialist Anchor to design and deliver this state-of-the-art music room, where a high grade audio system links the keyboards to a customised touch screen controller at the teacher desk. The teacher can also control things anywhere in the room via a remote tablet/iPhone app. The lighting and even the projector can interface with the new system.
The teaching can be far more focussed too, as teacher can listen in to any selected pupil's work by simply touching the student's desk position shown diagrammatically on the control display - enabling him to immediately listen into that particular budding musician's headphones.
It was a neat and well thought out multi-facetted solution to an age old problem facing music departments: "a four part harmony of furniture, software, wiring and project management!"
Anchor specified a new Yamaha NP-12 keyboards that exactly matched the client's needs, allowing for an optimum piano experience within a limited bench space.
A neat desk top module with both 3.5mm and 6.35mm socket enables the student to connect headphones without touching control gear which is safely out of the way in a cabled managed Envoplan 6060 benching installation finished in graphite, with a walnut edge to complement the window frames and the teacher desk.
A robust articulated arm hold the student's PC keyboard and mouse which neatly swings out of the way for access to the music keyboard.
Above all: volume controls have been regained by the staff! They may even be able to hear the bell for lesson change!
"Repeat and fade"...by liking this post. Share this post to your music department and save eardrums today :)