New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

S

Spencer Schwieterman

Freshman
Jun 8, 2015
4
0
0
Hi all,

I do IT work for a small city and our Recreation Center would like to install a new sound system setup. I have past experience with audio post production in Los Angeles and have taken up setup of the new system. Since most of my experience is in post production and not live sound I have a few questions about how to best do the build.

They basically want the ability to make 3-4 audio input sources(iPod, computer, announcement microphone) be able to have their volumes individually adjusted between 8 different outputs(different rec center rooms/areas).

They already have amplifiers, wiring, and speakers setup so basically all I should need is a mixing board. My thoughts were to run a mixing board with the 3 audio inputs being sent to 8 separate aux outputs, each aux representing a different room that they could adjust individually. The ideal board in my mind would be low-channel number(I only need 3-4) with 8 mono aux knobs on each fader strip. Does that option exist?

Does this sound like the best option? If so, does anyone have any suggestions on the best mixing board for the setup? If not, what would be another way to make this setup happen more efficiently?

Thanks for the help!
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

NO
a traditional mixing console has way more knobs than they need and you'll end up being the only one who knows how to use it.

if you want the controls all in one place and something that you'll only have to explain once (or maybe twice) then something like this would be appropriate:
http://www.cloud.co.uk/products/detail.php?id=71

there are also options to move the source select and volume into each zone with the cloud, but usually once we get to that level we're looking at a DSP with remotes

Jason
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

Spencer Schwieterman said:
Hi all,

I do IT work for a small city and our Recreation Center would like to install a new sound system setup. I have past experience with audio post production in Los Angeles and have taken up setup of the new system. Since most of my experience is in post production and not live sound I have a few questions about how to best do the build.

They basically want the ability to make 3-4 audio input sources(iPod, computer, announcement microphone) be able to have their volumes individually adjusted between 8 different outputs(different rec center rooms/areas).

They already have amplifiers, wiring, and speakers setup so basically all I should need is a mixing board. My thoughts were to run a mixing board with the 3 audio inputs being sent to 8 separate aux outputs, each aux representing a different room that they could adjust individually. The ideal board in my mind would be low-channel number(I only need 3-4) with 8 mono aux knobs on each fader strip. Does that option exist?

Does this sound like the best option? If so, does anyone have any suggestions on the best mixing board for the setup? If not, what would be another way to make this setup happen more efficiently?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

Like Jason said, using a big mixing board is definitely NOT the best solution. It is too confusing and everyone will be able to screw it up and no one but you will know how to fix it.

You need a matrix mixer, this can be easily done in the digital domain these days. I would recommend you start by looking at these products. They are reasonably priced and offer all kinds of functionality for what you are trying to do.
Peavey Digitool MX16

Peavey Digitool LIVE

Please note, I do work at Peavey so I guess you could argue that I have an interest in this. However, I usually deal with the MediaMatrix NION products, which will also do what you are seeking, but is infinitely more flexible. The Digitools will get what you need done pretty reasonably.
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

Other companies making similar matrix mixer like tools are BSS (BLU-100 with EC-8BV), Biamp (NexiaSP with VS8), QSC (Core 250i with TSC-3).
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...Jz2uMK5gMYCFRYdgQodtTkAGg&Q=&is=REG&A=details

The link above was also a solution I had on my mind. Does that make sense as a 4 input, 8 output mixer?

The only I issue I see with boxes like this is the functionality of it. Making people cycle through menu just to lower a volume.

Let's say input 1 is music from a computer feeding all 8 outputs and input 3 is the announcement mic feeding all 8 outputs. I assume it would be possible (and hopefully easy) to just mute input 1 across all outputs while an announcement is made, then unmute once the annoucement is over?
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

Spencer Schwieterman said:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...Jz2uMK5gMYCFRYdgQodtTkAGg&Q=&is=REG&A=details

The link above was also a solution I had on my mind. Does that make sense as a 4 input, 8 output mixer?

The only I issue I see with boxes like this is the functionality of it. Making people cycle through menu just to lower a volume.

Let's say input 1 is music from a computer feeding all 8 outputs and input 3 is the announcement mic feeding all 8 outputs. I assume it would be possible (and hopefully easy) to just mute input 1 across all outputs while an announcement is made, then unmute once the annoucement is over?
Click to expand...


Thats really the wrong tool for the job. It also, to my knowledge, doesn't actually have mic preamps.
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

The BSS suite of tools is by far my favorite option, and would allow you to program a wall panel with the proper settings for use by the staff. It might also be worth it to purchase from an install company in your area and/or get them to install it.
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

Spencer Schwieterman said:
The BLU-100 doesn't have pre-amps either correct? Could this be solved by running a standalone preamp between the mic and the matrix mixer?
Click to expand...

The BLU-100 does actually have mic-level inputs. They are not XLR, so require using the Phoenix connectors, but the BLU-100 plus some kind of external user interface would be all you need. The BLU-100 can work with various software control mechanisms and a variety of hardware controls, too. It's aimed squarely at what you're trying to do, and is quite powerful, however it has a learning curve, as it is a variable architecture processor.
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

Spencer, do you have any budget amount in mind for this already, or are you trying to gather info on what gear options you can use so you can set a budget up for it? quite a few of the items mentioned already cost quite a bit more than you might think (except for the Digitool line of products actually...)

I'd like to ask you, how many seperate control locations for those few inputs, would you like to have?
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

Declan Slater said:
Spencer, do you have any budget amount in mind for this already, or are you trying to gather info on what gear options you can use so you can set a budget up for it? quite a few of the items mentioned already cost quite a bit more than you might think (except for the Digitool line of products actually...)

I'd like to ask you, how many seperate control locations for those few inputs, would you like to have?
Click to expand...

There are 8 separate control locations.

When I started the project I was just looking for equipment options since I was not familiar so much with a live sound installation. Since doing research between this site and others I have decided to go with the Cloud DMC1e. It was a little more expensive than I previously thought, but have gotten the budget cleared for it. It just seems to be the most powerful option for what I am looking for and will allow for future expanded uses in the recreation center it is being installed in.

I'm just onto looking at a couple amplifiers I will need and will be going forward with purchasing and installation. Looking forward to the results. Thank you everyone for your help!
 
Re: New Sound System Setup for Rec Center

Spencer Schwieterman said:
Hi all,

I do IT work for a small city and our Recreation Center would like to install a new sound system setup. I have past experience with audio post production in Los Angeles and have taken up setup of the new system. Since most of my experience is in post production and not live sound I have a few questions about how to best do the build.

They basically want the ability to make 3-4 audio input sources(iPod, computer, announcement microphone) be able to have their volumes individually adjusted between 8 different outputs(different rec center rooms/areas).

They already have amplifiers, wiring, and speakers setup so basically all I should need is a mixing board. My thoughts were to run a mixing board with the 3 audio inputs being sent to 8 separate aux outputs, each aux representing a different room that they could adjust individually. The ideal board in my mind would be low-channel number(I only need 3-4) with 8 mono aux knobs on each fader strip. Does that option exist?

Does this sound like the best option? If so, does anyone have any suggestions on the best mixing board for the setup? If not, what would be another way to make this setup happen more efficiently?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

I have done this at a multi room conference hall. I have used an unlikely product to do this. I've used BSS and Rane stuff in the past but this time I used an X32 Rack and I put a P16M in each room. Mapped inputs to P16 sends and I ran 10 rooms, each with their own mix and mixer. Took me 10 minutes to teach them how to use it. Each room has the same control. Works great for over a year and they love it.

If I were doing it over today I would have used one of the XR mixers. I needed mic inputs from each room plus all the aux ins so the Rack was a good fit. If you have less than 12 inputs and only need 4 mic pres an XR12 would work and at $299 for the mixer plus $250 per room for the P16M's it is a great way to pull this kind of system off. You could use other systems that work like this if you can't bring yourself to use the X stuff but you won't beat it for price and it sounds just fine in comparison.

I was worried about room linking but I set up some of the 16 presets so they could recall and couple rooms. Separate main controls per room turned out to be a plus as it turned out.

Update- my mistake but the XR12 and XR16 do not have the intranet port for the P16Ms.
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom