When to use an ISO booth and when to use portable equipment for simultaneous interpretation. Technical comparison with practical criteria for your event in SP.
When to use each one. A practical decision criterion with a comparison table.
Answer 3 questions to find out which to use:
The booth is the simultaneous interpreter's work environment. It is inside it that the professional hears the speaker, interprets almost at the same time and keeps concentration for hours. Background noise, heat, lack of a view of the stage or cramped space reduce accuracy and speed up fatigue, and the audience notices the drop in quality, especially after the first hours of the event.
That is why deciding between the ISO booth and portable equipment is not a matter of aesthetic preference or just of price. It is a technical decision, which depends on the event's duration, the number of participants, the environment's noise, the available space and the level of formality of the meeting. This page gathers the criteria lingo uses to recommend one model or the other, based on 21 years of events in São Paulo.
The ISO booth follows the international standard for simultaneous interpretation booths and is the reference at congresses, medical conferences and formal meetings. Each module measures about 1.6 m by 1.2 m, seats two interpreters side by side, has tempered glass with a full view of the stage, silent forced ventilation and 30 dB of acoustic insulation. Setup takes 2 to 3 hours and a technical team, which is why it is usually done the day before or the morning of the event.
The 30 dB of attenuation makes a practical difference. In a hall with applause, stage sound and people moving around, the interpreter inside the booth hears the speaker through the headset without competing with the room noise, and their microphone does not pick up the audience. Forced ventilation, in turn, prevents the heat and stuffiness that, at long events, break concentration.
The ISO booth is justified when the event has more than 100 participants, lasts more than 4 continuous hours or is formal, such as congresses, M&A, arbitrations and board meetings. It is also the choice when the hall is noisy or when there is more than one language, because booths side by side need insulation from each other. Rental details are at simultaneous interpretation booth rental in São Paulo.
Portable equipment is a compact booth, about 0.8 m by 0.8 m per module, that sets up in 30 minutes without tools and takes up little space. It attenuates 15 to 20 dB, which is enough for quiet, air-conditioned rooms, and has passive ventilation. Visibility is partial, and the module seats one to two interpreters.
It works well at smaller meetings, of up to about 80 people, lasting up to 4 continuous hours: due diligence, training sessions, arbitrations, board meetings and technical visits. It is also a good solution when the venue has limited area, such as office meeting rooms, or when loading access is difficult, because it does not require a freight elevator or a large team.
On the other hand, portable equipment depends on a favorable environment. In noisy halls, with audience microphones or support sound nearby, the lower attenuation can leave the interpreter exposed to noise. lingo assesses the venue before recommending, and prefers to suggest the ISO booth when in doubt, because interpretation quality is the final criterion.
The decision tree above sums up the reasoning in three questions: number of participants, duration and formality. A single answer pointing to the ISO booth is enough for it to be the recommendation. It is a deliberate safety rule: the cost of using a sturdier booth than necessary is small, and the cost of using an insufficient one is a loss of quality during the event.
Some borderline cases deserve attention. A 5-hour meeting with 60 people in a quiet room falls between the criteria, and lingo decides based on ambient noise. A 3-hour event with 120 people in a hotel hall with sound from neighboring events calls for the ISO. A hybrid event, in which the interpreters' audio feeds the online broadcast, also weighs in favor of the ISO, because noise on the microphone goes to the people watching from home.
Whichever model, the booth needs a view of the stage and the projection screen. The ideal is a position at the side or at the back, with no pillars or standing people in the line of sight, and without blocking emergency exits. The ISO booth has tempered glass with a full view, which helps. With the portable, the partial view requires more care in placement or a monitor showing the stage image.
At events with two or more languages, the booths sit side by side, and each team needs a view of the stage. When relay is needed, in which one booth interprets from another, the consoles are integrated. The total space, adding up booths, sound desk and the technician's circulation, should be given to lingo in the quote request, preferably with the floor plan or photos of the room.
Simultaneous interpreting is one of the most cognitively demanding tasks there is. That is why interpreters work in pairs and rotate every 20 to 30 minutes, following the ISO 2603 rotation. While one interprets, the other follows along, notes numbers and difficult terms and prepares to take over. The booth has to seat both comfortably, with room for reference material, water and notes.
This is where the model makes a difference. With portable equipment, the reduced space and passive ventilation make shift changes and thermal comfort harder in long sessions, which is why the recommendation is to limit use to up to 4 continuous hours. In the ISO booth, room for two professionals and forced ventilation allow full-day sessions, with breaks according to the program.
At events with several languages, it is possible to combine the two models: ISO booth for the main languages and portable for languages with fewer participants or shorter sessions. lingo designs this configuration case by case, within the venue's space and noise limits. Whichever model, the digital RF transmitter, receivers and on-site technician follow the same standard. See the whole kit at equipment rental in São Paulo.
On cost, the difference between the models shows up in the quote, but it is only one of the factors. The price also depends on the number of languages, the duration, the receivers and the need for a site survey. The automatic quote calculates the amount in 60 seconds and the quote amount is the final amount on the invoice. The price factors are in how much simultaneous interpretation costs in São Paulo, and the step-by-step for choosing equipment is in how to choose equipment.
To make the choice concrete, three typical situations help visualize the recommendations:
Do I need to decide on the model before requesting the quote? No. Just give the languages, duration, number of participants and venue, and lingo recommends the model. If the form data points to the ISO, the quote already comes with it. The team's guidance is free of charge.
Does the booth need power and a network point? It needs a power outlet nearby. The audio connection with the venue's sound desk is made by the technician, who also integrates the system with the venue's PA. Tell us in advance who operates the venue's sound desk.
Who sets up and dismantles? lingo's team, across Greater São Paulo, with no additional setup or dismantling charge. Delivery, setup, dismantling and technical support are included in the quote.
What if the venue does not allow an ISO booth? lingo assesses the space and, if necessary, proposes the portable, or an intermediate solution, such as a booth in a support room with audio and image from the stage. The important thing is to flag this limitation right at the start of planning.
Yes. We provide modular ISO 4043 booths and portable booths. The recommendation depends on your event — our team advises at no charge.
Yes. For events with multiple languages, it is possible to use ISO for the main languages and portable for languages with fewer participants.
Describe your event — we recommend at no charge.