Equipment
What to choose?
Interpreters can be hired with or without equipment, and with or without booths. Every event and every situation is different, therefore it's essential to get good advice on what's best for your conference or meeting. Some events will require a whole van load of equipment and booths for interpreters, and a technician to set it up and monitor, while other situations only require the use of a simple mobile interpreter's set, sometimes also called a tourguide set (see below). And in some cases you won't need any equipment at all for the interpreters or members of the audience. Conrad Heijdemann of Tolkonline.com will give you the advice you need, and offer you the best Dutch interpreters for your event.
Here is a brief overview of the equipment that might be needed for your event:
Interpreters' booth
Seats two simultaneous interpreters. This is a transportable structure, usually supplied by a conference equipment supplier, which is set up in the room where your event is held. It's soundproof, which has two advantages: (1) The interpreters are not distracted by noise and can concentrate fully on what the speakers are saying, enabling them to render the best live translation, and (2) those members of the audience who aren't in need of translation aren't distracted by what the interpreters are saying.
Interpreters' console
In a booth, the interpreters share a desk, and each interpreter has a console with a microphone and a headset. The speakers' sound is transmitted to the interpreters through their headsets, and the interpreters' sound is recorded by the microphones in their consoles, and distributed through a distribution system, which usually includes digital processing equipment and infrared beamers. Those who listen to the interpreters, are given wireless receivers/headsets.
Interpreters' or 'tourguide' set
If there is no room or budget for an elaborate set-up as described above, there is a simpler and cheaper alternative. It consists of a wireless transmitter/microphone for the interpreter and one receiver/headset for each listener. The advantages are that this set doesn't take up any space in the room, and that it's considerably cheaper than the alternative. Disadvantages are that this equipment doesn't use infrared but radio waves, which are much more prone to interference from external sources, and that the interpreters don't have a soundproof booth at their disposal.
If a set like this is to be used, there is a number of considerations to be taken into account: (1) There is a maximum of about a hundred receivers for this system to work properly; (2) The listeners have to be seated no further than 20 or 25 metres from the interpreter(s); (3) The interpreters have to be provided with a good means of hearing the speakers' sound; (4) The frequencies of the set have to be compared with those used by the other sound equipment in the room, ensuring that they are far enough apart not to interfere with each other; (5) The room or building has to be one without too much steel in the construction, since a lot of steel in the environment will interfere with the signal coming from the interpreters' equipment; (6) The location of the interpreters has to be chosen so as to prevent other members of the audience who are not in need of translation from hearing what the interpreters are saying. And even after taking all of this into account, trouble-free use of this kind of equipment still can't be guaranteed - radio waves can be interfered with, after all, and nowadays our environment is full of numerous wireless signals that can cause trouble.
Hire Dutch interpreters with or without equipment
Conrad Heijdemann of Tolkonline.com can offer you the best Dutch interpreters and any equipment needed to facilitate the interpretation / translation of your event. Tolkonline.com owns its own small tourguide set, but can also hire bigger sets if needed, or offer other turnkey solutions for events needing more elaborate set-ups through their cooperation with conference equipment suppliers. Or Tolkonline.com can advise on what is needed for your event and refer you to the best suppliers. It's up to you how much we do for you.
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