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5 Minutes with…Monica Guelman, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Enersound

Interview extracted from Technologies for Worship Magazine, March 2016 issue

Tell us about Enersound

Enersound is a leading manufacturer of language interpretation, assistive listening, conferencing and discussion systems, portable sound, tour group, microphones, earphones, carry cases, translation booths and other products. Enersound has been in the audio visual international market since 1982 and established its headquarters in South Florida in February of 2007. Our products are well-established with houses of worship, governmental agencies, schools, hospitality and tourism organizations, non-profits, corporate clients, language interpretation and audio visual service companies, to name just a few.  We know the audio industry, and the team that makes our products is a diverse highly-trained research and development group supported by experts in electronics, professional interpreters, engineers and business people with knowledge of the industry. Enersound products are sold nation-wide and internationally.

Why are interpretation systems (also referred to as translation systems) becoming more necessary in the US and How?

With the rise of immigrants coming to the US in the last decades, offering simultaneous interpretation services has become more and more important. For example, in South Florida, we have a lot of Spanish, Portuguese and Creole being spoken. Providing language interpretation services for non-English speakers allows them to be more connected to their communities.  In the case of churches, non-English speakers are more likely to attend services in their own languages, so interpretation systems allow them to feel more integrated into their church community when they can participate in worship.  As a matter of fact, people are willing to drive out of their way to attend a church in their own language if something is available.

How are your interpretation systems used?

Our interpretation systems are very easy to use.

  1. The preacher speaks through a microphone. (In certain occasions, there may not be a microphone available.)
  2. The interpreter listens to the preacher’s voice, preferably through headphones.
  3. The interpreter converts the message into the foreign language by speaking into a microphone connected to a transmitter. The transmitter broadcasts the interpreter’s voice wirelessly to the audience.
  4. Congregants listen to the interpreter through wireless receivers with headphones. The receivers used by the audience and the interpreter’s transmitter are tuned to the same channel or frequency.

The same interpretation systems can be used for assistive listening as well, all they need to do is designate a channel for that purpose and make sure they have an extra transmitter to do it. The important thing here is that everything transmitted happens in real time without interrupting the service. As long as the church has an interpreter and a transmitter with the necessary amount of receivers, they’re good to go.

Our interpretation systems can be used for different ministries, youth groups, special events, mission tours, etc. The church isn’t limited to using them just for Sunday Service – there are multiple uses.

How do they work?

Our FM interpretation systems run on the 72-76 MHz FM band. This frequency band is specifically approved by the FCC for language interpretation and assistive listening only. This means that our translation systems won’t interfere with wireless mics, local radio stations or other FM frequencies in your facility. It’s important to point out that whenever a church chooses a translation system, they need to make sure that system is using an approved frequency band. Our users can start small and build up the system as needed.  Receivers and transmitters can be added as your language (and assistive listening) needs grow. They’re very durable, and can also be used in conjunction with the PA system in the church.  Best of all, our interpretation systems are affordable, plug and play and don’t require a technician or specialist to operate the system.