In 2006, I was helping a group of friends with some amateur performance in Singapore as a volunteer.
As we have no funds to buy the highly expensive professional equipment, I designed a portable theater system, loaned them the money to purchase materials and assembled the system.
It took over 3 weeks to design and build. I stayed overnight so that I finish it as fast as possible.
After much rush work, effort and testing, the equipment checked out with barely an hour to spare before the performance starts.
This is the stage area. The modified projectors are used for spot lighting. The fluorescent lamps provide background lighting. They can be switched on and off from the control area. The electrical system is modular, like Lego bricks. They can be assembled and disassembled.
For the sound system, we have 2 microphones on the stage area, one is which is hidden at the right side of this picture where you see the stack of blue boxes. They are cheap, small but highly sensitive. They pick up any noise within 5 meters. If I had more budget I would have gone for a 4 microphone setup.
The entire performance is monitored from the Control Area, which is basically a big trolley with switches, circuit breakers, voltage regulators, amplifiers, TV set, miniature cameras and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder).
Here is a run-down of some of the features of this device:
Electrical Power - Electrical power is routed from a nearby area through long, thick wires to the Control Area, which is protected by 3 sets of circuit breakers and a voltage stabilizer. After that, it is redistributed to the various other systems through a recycled voltage regulator, switches and extension plugs.
Sound System - Other than 2 on-stage microphones, the Control Area also has a normal microphone for making announcements and a simple switchbox which takes sound from a notebook computer, VCD player and DVR. The sound is broadcasted by FM radio, and received by 2 radios parked strategically on the stage. This saves me much wiring trouble.
Video Recording - The 2 miniature camera allow video to be recorded into the DVR. If I had more budget I could transmit the video with a long cable or by wireless from other cameras. You can switch video channels with a video switchbox.
Emergency Power - We can switch to emergency power within 5 seconds using a special plug system I invented. There is a large lead acid battery and a 400W inverter that can theoretically handle the load if we avoid using the projectors for stage lighting.
Storage - The trolley has space for storing many wires and equipment for easy transportation.
This is a portable recording unit which comprises of a camcorder, tripod, movable trolley, LCD monitor and extension plugs. You can monitor the recording from the LCD monitor, which can be rotated around for other people to see. There is a set of earphone for the operator to monitor the recording.
I also created a simpler version of the portable recording device. It also works.
When the show is over, the Control Area looks less scary.
The fluorescent tubes are stacked carefully into a recycled shopping trolley.
The whole setup cost around SGD$4000 plus donations of some second hand parts. Using new professional equipment would cost around 4 to 5 times more.
The biggest disadvantage of this system is that it requires a van or lorry to transport everything outside walking distance. It is too heavy and large to go on a car.
