Sound system design is crucial for any event, but it's particularly critical for large and small outdoor venues. Any event held outside is subject to numerous potential interruptions, from nearby cars to flocks of birds that pick precisely the wrong tree to call home. These disruptions can overwhelm weak or imbalanced sound systems, leading to a less-than-stellar experience for your audience.

If you're new to the world of audio systems, then you have a lot of research ahead of you. Fortunately, this guide will provide you with three tips that will help you get started on designing the perfect audio system for your outdoor event.

1. Know Your Needs

Can you ever have too much power? The answer, surprisingly, is "yes!" Events come in all shapes and sizes, and the perfect audio system for a DJ playing to a crowded field won't be nearly as well-suited to an outdoor wedding. While the former might need plenty of power and heavily emphasized bass, the latter won't (usually) be looking to blow their audience away.

The takeaway is straightforward: know your needs and understand your audience. Your sound equipment needs to play to your specific venue and crowd, and that means choosing equipment that provides that's appropriate for your application. Don't choose the most powerful PA system that fits your budget unless you need that extra "oomph."

2. Don't Ignore Portability

Outdoor event venues are transient almost by definition. You or your stage crew will need to haul your equipment to the site, set it up, and eventually tear it back down. Remember that weight and size matter, especially if you have limited personnel available to help. Hauling heavy gear that requires two people to carry can potentially put a real drag on your setup and clean-up operations.

You will also want to consider the steps necessary to get your gear into place and set it up. A straightforward Bluetooth PA system is often the easiest option but may not provide sufficient sound quality or power for your needs. As you move up to more sophisticated systems, keep the time and effort required for setup in mind.

3. Understand Outdoor Acoustics

Acoustics is a massive topic, but one critical fact to understand is that driving sound outdoors is often far more challenging. Without walls to reflect sound waves, you can lose more loudness than you would in a similar indoor environment. This problem can become particularly apparent with bass, so you may want to consider sizing up your subwoofers.

While you still need to keep your specific crowd and application in mind, outdoor events sometimes require a bit more power than you'd otherwise bring to an indoor venue. Consider giving yourself a comfortable power overhead when choosing equipment for large, open-air outdoor events. 

For more information on audio systems, contact a company near you.