General information
The average age of our dancers is increasing, and with it the need for better hearing support. Poor intelligibility also falls back on us leaders. Not every dancer is aware that their own hearing has deteriorated. Failure in dancing may therefore also reflect negatively on the leader. Any leader can use the EAASDC Hearing Aid system if devices are available. Below you will find different options how to connect it to PA systems used in the realm of EAASDC.
This article refers to the so-called EAASDC Hearing Aid, specifically the audio transmission system Monacor ATS-16T / ATS-16R. The transmitter (ATS-16T) is connected to your sound equipment.
Where do you plug into on the transmitter ATS-16T?
The system’s transmitter has a 3.5 mm jack socket (mono) AUX-IN input on the side(!). Connect it with the corresponding cable to your sound system (Hilton, mixing console).
If the signal is not sufficient despite maximum volume at the transmitter, receiver and sound system, you can switch from the AUX-IN to the MIC microphone input on the Monacor transmitter. The signal should then be louder, but distortion will occur easily.
What is transmitted?
To ensure that the dancers can understand you well, only the speech signal should be fed into the Hearing Aid transmitter. A mix of speech and music is not helpful for people who have difficulty hearing. The Hearing Aid systems, including common hearing aids that may be connected to them, are designed for speech. For technical reasons, a mix with music tends to lead to poorer intelligibility.
Tips for Leaders
Communicate the transmitter channel to the dancers, best by putting up the EAASDC template. The transmitter has a volume control. It should be set to 2/3 of the maximum volume. The transmitter’s power LED TX shows green when a signal is transmitted.
Tips for EAASDC Hearing Aid users
Please make sure that the receiver is set to the same channel as the transmitter. Dancers who use the receiver with headphones should get headphones or in-the-ear headphones which provide high quality sound. The sound will be much better than with the supplied headphones.
Connection to caller/leader PA systems
Hilton systems
Almost all Hiltons have a separate output for voice only. This is an RCA socket labeled Voice Out, Tape Voice Out or Voice Only. The RCA socket is located on the front left or right of most Hiltons. On the MA-150, the switch must be set to Voice. For very old Hilton systems without such output, you can try Input Tape Voice.
Here is the documentation including photos of Hilton systems: https://eaasdc.eu/eu/index.php?id=1417&L=1
Powered speakers with built-in mixer (e.g. Bose S1)
If you connect microphone and music directly to the speaker, there is no way to pick up only the microphone signal at a suitable level for the Hearing Aid system. You can either use the workaround described below with the clip-on microphone or you can also use a mixer.
Powered speakers with separate mixing console
For caller/leader setups that use a mixing console and powered speaker(s), a description of how to connect the Hearing Aid transmitter to various mixing consoles can be found below.
Mixing consoles with separate channel, e.g. FX, monitor, AUX
Many mixing consoles have at least one separate mixing channel, which is used by musicians to control effects units or monitor speakers. You can recognize it on analogue mixing consoles by a row of controls, usually colour-coded, labelled FX, Monitor or AUX The Hearing Aid system is then connected to the corresponding output of the mixing console, which is called FX, FX SEND, Monitor, AUX or AUX SEND. If you are using the FX channel, for example, use the FX control to adjust the volume of the microphone(s). The microphones should first be set to the center position and the volume then adjusted as required. The AUX controls for the music and all other inputs are turned to zero. There may also be a corresponding summing control (FX, Monitor, AUX SEND), which I recommend setting to the middle position first and adjusting if necessary if the Hearing Aid system’s volume is too low or too high. |  |
Digital mixing consoles
Digital mixing consoles usually have several separate mixing paths (AUX or monitor). For digital mixers, volume is usually set in an app. The principle is the same as for analog mixers. If selectable, set the signal to "Dry".
You can find a description of the Bose Tone Match T1 here: https://eaasdc.eu/eu/index.php?id=1426&L=1
Small mixing consoles without separate mixing path
Small stereo mixing consoles do not have a separate FX channel. Here you can convert the stereo R and L outputs to suit your needs. The precondition for this setup is that you use only one speaker, which means that music is output in mono. If you need a second speaker for acoustic reasons, it can be connected to the first one as a slave. However, the music remains mono. Use the right main output for the Hearing Aid system and the left main output for mixing microphone and music for the speaker. Microphone: Connect it to the MIC input. Important: The PAN control must be set to center position. Music: Connect it to the left LINE IN. Balance control to left. It is best to use a cable between laptop computer and mixing console that combines both stereo channels to mono. E.g. this cable https://www.thomann.de/de/cae_15562_audiokabel_30.htm Connection Inputs: - MIC: Microphone, PAN control set to center
- LINE IN L: Music mono, BAL control to the left
Connection outputs: - MAIN L: powered speaker (music + microphone)
- MAIN R: Hearing Aid transmitter
The music + microphone is now output on the left, only the microphone on the right. You control the mix for the loudspeaker as usual using the input controls and the MAIN MIX sum control. Adjust the volume control on the Hearing-Aid transmitter so that the volume matches patter calling and singing. Remember that your voice can be significantly louder when singing than for relaxed patter calling. Disadvantage of this solution: Every change to the MIC and MAIN controls also leads to a change in the volume on the Hearing Aid system. This may make it necessary to readjust the transmitter setting. |  |
Workaround: If all else fails...
The Hearing Aid system should sound best when connected to your sound system as described above. If this is not possible (sometimes there is not enough time to remove all technical obstacles) or your system does not offer the possibility of transmitting voice only, the Hearing Aid system can also be used independently of your sound system. The transmitter must be powered by batteries or a rechargeable battery.
Connect the clip-on microphone (lavalier mic) supplied with the Monacor system to the transmitter (MIC input) and attach the microphone to your clothing, e.g. to the shirt placket at the top of your shirt, as close to your mouth as possible. You can attach the transmitter to your belt or put it in your trouser pocket.
If there is no clip-on microphone at all, the transmitter has a built-in microphone, too. So there is the option to place the transmitter itself as close to your mouth as possible or put it in your shirt pocket. The built-in microphone is located on the front of the transmitter and should point towards your mouth. The sound with the clip-on microphone is better than with the built-in microphone and therefore the preferable solution.
Using this last solution, in case of several leaders on stage, the device must be passed on to the next leader. This is better than no Hearing Aid at all, but less comfortable and less effective than any other solution.
Questions? Do not hesitate to get in touch.
Gero Teufert, 
(Email),mobile phone +49 (0) 178 88 66 120
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