Re: How to do an analog insert?
I was looking at the feasibility of using an X32 for musical theater and it looks like it has enough outputs to uses for interfacing the Shure SCM810 automixers. But not by using it on inserts. The SCM810 isn’t really made to be used that way.
I was on the auto mixing for live sound panel at the NYC AES with Dan in 2009. I use the Shure SCM810 for theatrical productions. For the dialog parts not for music. I have a rack of 2 linked together. I come out of the (post fader) direct outs on my main console (these channels are only assigned to a singing sub group) and I plug into each input of the 810 and then the output of the 810 comes back into the console and is assigned to a vocal (talking) sub. This way when I need to push a channel a little bit more I have control on the main console and if I mute a channel it also takes it out of the 810 (auto mixer). So for the singing parts only the singing sub group is up and for the dialog parts only the talking sub group is up.
I always enable the “last mic lock on” switch on the 810 so it leaves the last mic on instead of turning them all off if there is a pause. It prevents the system from sounding choppy. But of course if I mute a channel or bring down its fader it is no longer in the mix (810) even if it was the last mic locked on.
I use this method whenever I do any theatrical shows for the dialog parts. I have used 20 channels of automixers for shows and have had every wireless mic up on stage with interactive dialog that was too fast to be able to manually bring up and down all of the people just for their lines. I had only just gotten to work on the show a few days before opening for a weekend run so I didn’t know it well enough and the automixers work great. I will say it again; the automixers don’t work for singing.
The SCM810 when bought new can be a little bit pricey especially considering how much the Dugan card costs for the Yamaha mixer that does 16 channels. But I have only bough one SCM810 new (and that was at dealer cost), I find them selling used on ebay for good prices. I have had to fix a few of them but it is still a bargain. I think people use these on installs where they aren’t really appropriate so they wind up on the used market at a reasonable price.
I am working on a musical now (closing night tonight) and am using 16 channels of auto mixing using the SCM810. I am using another company’s digital console for this show.
