1U mic mixer for spoken PA

[coolbaci]

Regarding the Soundweb and changing being made live. Changes of settings (EQ, levels, bypass switches etc) can be made live via a connected computer and Soundweb Designer which will provide full access to every setting or via a custom application communicating via RS232. However design changes (adding limiter for example) can't be done live, and would require maybe 3 seconds of outage.

Otherwise for limited control, switches can be used to change any toggle items (ie bypass switches), changing between presets. While pots can be used to change fader levels, knobs or as a multiposition switch. There is also the possibility to use external controls from Panja (formerly AMX), Avenger, Crestron or Dataton.

The included help file in the software explains all the possibilities.

The only thing that can't be done is recover the configuration from the device. But then again, save the file, backup and your good.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by coolbaci

Otherwise for limited control, switches can be used to change any toggle items (ie bypass switches), changing between presets. While pots can be used to change fader levels, knobs or as a multiposition switch. There is also the possibility to use external controls from Panja (formerly AMX), Avenger, Crestron or Dataton.

After the short lived name change to Panja in 1999, they reverted back to the AMX since 2001 and I recall Scott Miller and Peter York wearing "Just kidding about the Panja thing" buttons at InfoComm shortly after the change back. FWIW, technically AMX is short for Advanced Microcomputer Systems as there already was an AMS, however many people will say that its really short for Another Miller Experiment (Scott Miller founded AMX quite literally in his garage in 1982).

[ptechie]

Here is the short story.
At some point a praise band was added to one of our services. As a result a sound system was purchased. This is the EMX5000, some wall mounted speakers, and a bunch of Shure ULX wireless mics. The priest and podium mics were all routed through the system as well. For the one band service a volunteer operator was used. For the other services no one usually ran the system resulting in poor performance for the spoken word aspects.
In the last year or so a pair of Bose L1 speakers was purchased for the band. According to them - This now allows them to hear themselves as the speakers are behind the band and adjust their own levels. I have heard various reasons for this purchase, band can't hear themselves, didn't sound good, no one to run the mixer.

I was recruited to add speakers for our lobby. I originally ran these from an aux on the EMX5000 into a 70v amp. As no one actually runs this system it rarely worked. All it took was one person moving the aux master or leaving the entire board muted after the band service and your couldn't hear anyone. As a result the lavs stopped being used and more people complained that they couldn't hear.

This year I ran audio for our Christmas Pageant. In preparing for it I realized that almost none of the inputs and features on the EMX5000 were used. Somehow one of the priest lavs was not even paired with a wireless receiver so even if they wore it didn't work.

My goal is to redo the spoken word system so that it reliably allows the congregation to hear the service. I would love to combine both systems and mix them both from the back of the house. With the money that has been spent this could have been done, but currently that major renovation isn't possible. I want to route a common mix into the mains and the lobby system. Eventually I would like to add an assistive listening system.

Researching and a call the Shure confirmed that the automixer won't adjust my levels so I still need an operator to ensure levels are correct. I figure I can have starting levels for each channel and have whomever is running slides make the minor adjustments each service.

Brad - awesome post here are some responses.
System segregation - as the band is running their system themselves there is currently no operator so I feel like to just trying to fix something that is broken rather then segregate more. Also - most services do not use the band so this is actually the primary system in may ways.

Existing mixer - the EMX5000 is barely used. Mostly faders and mutes. Most of the knobs are just temptations and any operator doesn't know enough to correct or utilize. The SCM810 has gain, 2 band eq, and insert if needed.

The location won't change so cable runs won't change.

The lack of mute is a concern on the SCM810. The podium mic gets the full force of the band and must be muted when they are playing.

I have ruled out a DSP as the primary mixer. I can certainly see how it could be very helpful for input and output processing for different sends.

Hope this helps.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by ptechie

I have ruled out a DSP as the primary mixer. I can certainly see how it could be very helpful for input and output processing for different sends.

Why have you ruled out DSP devices? I understand it may be more then many would want to approach as DIY, but if it is the interface or control aspect that is a concern then something like http://www.allen-heath.com/uk/Produc...iDR8&SubCatId= with http://www.allen-heath.com/uk/Produc...oteControllers or http://www.allen-heath.com/uk/Produc...oteControllers can be used to create a very powerful and easy to use system.

Every church is different, but based on your comments and experience with other churches, I recommend taking a step back and trying to create a comprehensive master plan for media and technology in your services. Right now you seem to have several factions all heading in different and potentially conflicting directions, which is ineffective in regards to both costs and results. You may also want to try to educate your church leadership that if they want a band, multiple wireless microphones, overflow audio, etc. then there may be a level of complexity and operation involved with supporting those.

[ptechie]

Thank you for your awesome ideas.
First - You have reminded me that we really really need a master plan. I think I need to start a thread to ask about people's experience with these.
Any suggestion as to what part of the forum that should go in?


Second I have been thinking a lot about the DSP option and how that could be really great.
I imagine the 4 voice mics running off a basic control panel for most services and with a flip of a switch they get rerouted to the main mixing console.
Compression and other effects could be integrated for the voice mics and we could easily set up a separate output for the lobby.
I really like the idea and will keep thinking and reading about it.