WildeMouth

How Extemporaneous Audio Description Works

In-Person Events

At a live, in-person event, the Describer, located either in an isolated space or in the audience, observes the proceedings directly and speaks into a microphone:

Martin in a spot booth looking out over the Nederlander Theater. He wears headphones and is seated before a microphone with his notes laid out on a table.
Martin in the spot booth with an open mic at Chicago’s Nederlander Theater.
Martin on the floor of the Credit Union 1 Arena using a stenographers mask and checking levels on small mixer.
Martin at Chicago’s Credit Union 1 Arena with a stenographer’s mask mic.

The microphone signal is fed into a transmitter, which then broadcasts the description into the venue. Patrons use individual, venue-supplied receivers equipped with headsets, earbuds, or portable T-coils to listen to the description.

Front and back panel product photos of the Williams T45 FM transmitter.
FM transmitter
Product photo of the Williams R37 FM receiver beside a pair of over-the-ear headphones.
Receiver with an over-the-ear headset.

Virtual Events

At a live, virtual event, the Describer receives an audio-visual feed of the event proceedings and uses that to compose and voice their description. Their microphone signal is sent back to the client and incorporated into their live stream or broadcast for listeners to hear.

Contact us to explore Extemporaneous Audio Description for your next event.