Dear Constance,
Your question is one that museums everywhere work with.

The Museum Cluster of the Creative Capital here in Wellington New Zealand
could assist you with a complete turnkey system from all the audio
recording in all the languages through to the sensors appropriate player
and speakers and if desired the entire interpretational display, we
specialise in museum exhibits of all sizes from complete museums to small
displays and interpretational aids.

In answer to your player inquiry we would suggest one of several options;

1) CD - as this is low cost and requires little maintenance, but is only 2
track replay
2) Computer storage - this will give you many more tracks and your
exhibition could be expanded to include video replay as well, this is more
expensive.
3) DVD - this will give you more tracks and some video if required and is
quite robust, this is more expensive than the CD option in replay and
compilation.
4) Solid state replay - will give you good playing options, this is more
expensive than CD or DVD and only allows for a short loop of sound and
generally only 2 tracks.

Multiple tracks will give you the ability to place speakers in more than
two locations therefore allowing directional sound sources to aid
interpretation in the gallery, for example manekins with speakers mounted
in the head cavity.

The issue of sensors is important and requires discussion often related
around the ongoing sanity of the museum staff hearing an audio loop for
months.

Another issue relating to the need for sensors is how much isolation is
achievable in the museum for the exhibit.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me, if
I cannot answer a question for you I know someone in the cluster will know
the answer.

Kind regards
Simon Hughes
President
Marmalade Audio



Simon Hughes
Marmalade Audio
Wellington New Zealand
PH 64 4 3859051  MOB 64 25 446 927

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