What can be called "outboard gear"?

M

Michael Bink Knowles

Freshman
Jan 12, 2011
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Oaktown
www.binkster.net
If you were explaining to the new guy what is outboard gear, what would you say?

Is it everything in the FOH rack and the monitor rack? Everything, including the comms station and the old RTA nobody uses? Is it the spare analog crossover in case the BSS takes a dump? Is it the matrix mixer for alternating between multiple desks at a festival? Is it the Smaart rig, the Lake Contour, the wireless touchpad, the network router?

Or is it the very much simpler "everything that can be inserted into the mixer or patched between the mixer and the stage"?

Trying to set up a standard definition for us live sound folk.

-Bink
 
Re: What can be called "outboard gear"?

I guess, literally, 'outboard' refers to anything not 'inboard' or inside the mixer? Which would include just about everything that is patched in or through the mixer, but nothing that is unrelated to the audio system (like comm).

Personally, I wouldn't include anything except console inserts and processing in the outboard category, since system DSP or line drivers aren't really 'outboard' gear IMHO.

Also, I'd consider CD players, iPods, and any other incoming signal to be a source, like a microphone, not outboard gear.
 
Re: What can be called "outboard gear"?

Bink said:
Are you including crossovers and speaker management systems if they are present at the mix position?

-Bink
Click to expand...

I think it should be "units that are used in the processing or EFX of mixer inputs or insert loops, up to the point of console outputs" or "any devices external to the console that involve a send from the console and a return of the signal thereto."

Crossovers, loudspeaker management systems, and external EQ are not part of that.

Is some kind of "legal definition" absolutely necessary? Are you helpers unable to wrap their heads around this relatively simple concept?

I recall my Bay-Area coworkers to have been very on top of such things, but that was 20 years ago....

Have fun, happy training.

Tim Mc
 
Re: What can be called "outboard gear"?

Michael Bink Knowles said:
Are you including crossovers and speaker management systems if they are present at the mix position?

-Bink
Click to expand...

Maybe .... everything between the preamp and the speaker dependent management system (ie, crossover in amp racks, input on powered speaker, but NOT a matrix/zone/FOH Wank A/DSP), including outboard preamps .......
 
Re: What can be called "outboard gear"?

Michael Bink Knowles said:
Are you including crossovers and speaker management systems if they are present at the mix position?

-Bink
Click to expand...

Not me. I break "outboard" into 2 groups.
Processing or Drive.
Drive is EQ (yes, even when inserted), crossover, and speaker management.
Processing is comps, reverbs etc.
CD and such are Source. Not to be confused with Outboard !
BUT, that's just me, and the way I picked up how others were doing it.
 
Re: What can be called "outboard gear"?

Michael Bink Knowles said:
If you were explaining to the new guy what is outboard gear, what would you say?

Is it everything in the FOH rack and the monitor rack? Everything, including the comms station and the old RTA nobody uses? Is it the spare analog crossover in case the BSS takes a dump? Is it the matrix mixer for alternating between multiple desks at a festival? Is it the Smaart rig, the Lake Contour, the wireless touchpad, the network router?

Or is it the very much simpler "everything that can be inserted into the mixer or patched between the mixer and the stage"?

Trying to set up a standard definition for us live sound folk.

-Bink
Click to expand...

To me "outboard gear" is defined as stuff the BE uses that isn't onboard the mixer.
 
Re: What can be called "outboard gear"?

Michael Bink Knowles said:
If you were explaining to the new guy what is outboard gear, what would you say?
Click to expand...

"Any device that you plug into a console that [1] doesn't produce it's own signal and [2] modifies the signal sent through it."

Bink, you also might want to differentiate between analog, digital, and virtual outboard (plug-ins, etc.). Are you trying to keep history alive? I'm only 24 and find myself wondering how kids don't know about VHS tapes.8O~8-O~:shock:

Best of luck on your search.
 
Re: What can be called "outboard gear"?

Hey Bink,
Outboard is dynamics and FX, speaker processing/EQ is drive.
Of course now its all on board, so its dynamics, FX, and drive.

Regards, Jack
 
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