replacing sound system
Tue, 4 Oct 2005, 11:37 pmHarbour8 posts in thread
replacing sound system
Tue, 4 Oct 2005, 11:37 pmI need a little help in what is the 'best' direction to take.
Our current sound system consists of an amp, CD player and tape deck. Both the amp and CD player need replacing. This is easy enough, however, there has been the rare occasion in the past where I would have liked to play 2 effects together but was not able to as the amp only allowed one input at a time. I'm considering getting a mixer, but then comes the question of getting a mixer plus amp, or a powered mixer. However, I'd never use most of the features on the powered amp - certainly not the mic inputs, nor the use of so many channels (most powered mixers I've seen are 8 or more channels). I don't what to pay for features that won't be used.
As I'm all new to the use of mixers I need a little help (and clarification). As I've said, most of the time the CD and amp is sufficient, however, it would be good to be able to have a second input to simultaneously play another effect. Is there another way/product that can do this that I should consider?
If anyone have any advise or can 'enlighten' me, I'd be most appreciative.
Thanks
Ciao
Rob
Thou gleeking clapper-clawed bladder!
Our current sound system consists of an amp, CD player and tape deck. Both the amp and CD player need replacing. This is easy enough, however, there has been the rare occasion in the past where I would have liked to play 2 effects together but was not able to as the amp only allowed one input at a time. I'm considering getting a mixer, but then comes the question of getting a mixer plus amp, or a powered mixer. However, I'd never use most of the features on the powered amp - certainly not the mic inputs, nor the use of so many channels (most powered mixers I've seen are 8 or more channels). I don't what to pay for features that won't be used.
As I'm all new to the use of mixers I need a little help (and clarification). As I've said, most of the time the CD and amp is sufficient, however, it would be good to be able to have a second input to simultaneously play another effect. Is there another way/product that can do this that I should consider?
If anyone have any advise or can 'enlighten' me, I'd be most appreciative.
Thanks
Ciao
Rob
Thou gleeking clapper-clawed bladder!
HarbourTue, 4 Oct 2005, 11:37 pm
I need a little help in what is the 'best' direction to take.
Our current sound system consists of an amp, CD player and tape deck. Both the amp and CD player need replacing. This is easy enough, however, there has been the rare occasion in the past where I would have liked to play 2 effects together but was not able to as the amp only allowed one input at a time. I'm considering getting a mixer, but then comes the question of getting a mixer plus amp, or a powered mixer. However, I'd never use most of the features on the powered amp - certainly not the mic inputs, nor the use of so many channels (most powered mixers I've seen are 8 or more channels). I don't what to pay for features that won't be used.
As I'm all new to the use of mixers I need a little help (and clarification). As I've said, most of the time the CD and amp is sufficient, however, it would be good to be able to have a second input to simultaneously play another effect. Is there another way/product that can do this that I should consider?
If anyone have any advise or can 'enlighten' me, I'd be most appreciative.
Thanks
Ciao
Rob
Thou gleeking clapper-clawed bladder!
Our current sound system consists of an amp, CD player and tape deck. Both the amp and CD player need replacing. This is easy enough, however, there has been the rare occasion in the past where I would have liked to play 2 effects together but was not able to as the amp only allowed one input at a time. I'm considering getting a mixer, but then comes the question of getting a mixer plus amp, or a powered mixer. However, I'd never use most of the features on the powered amp - certainly not the mic inputs, nor the use of so many channels (most powered mixers I've seen are 8 or more channels). I don't what to pay for features that won't be used.
As I'm all new to the use of mixers I need a little help (and clarification). As I've said, most of the time the CD and amp is sufficient, however, it would be good to be able to have a second input to simultaneously play another effect. Is there another way/product that can do this that I should consider?
If anyone have any advise or can 'enlighten' me, I'd be most appreciative.
Thanks
Ciao
Rob
Thou gleeking clapper-clawed bladder!
crgwllmsWed, 5 Oct 2005, 01:23 am
Re: replacing sound system
Rob Tagliaferri wrote:
>
> I need a little help in what is the 'best' direction to take.
>
> Our current sound system consists of an amp, CD player and
> tape deck. Both the amp and CD player need replacing. This is
> easy enough, however, there has been the rare occasion in the
> past where I would have liked to play 2 effects together but
> was not able to as the amp only allowed one input at a time.
> I'm considering getting a mixer, but then comes the question
> of getting a mixer plus amp, or a powered mixer. However, I'd
> never use most of the features on the powered amp - certainly
> not the mic inputs, nor the use of so many channels (most
> powered mixers I've seen are 8 or more channels). I don't
> what to pay for features that won't be used.
>
> As I'm all new to the use of mixers I need a little help (and
> clarification). As I've said, most of the time the CD and amp
> is sufficient, however, it would be good to be able to have a
> second input to simultaneously play another effect. Is there
> another way/product that can do this that I should consider?
>
> If anyone have any advise or can 'enlighten' me, I'd be most
> appreciative.
A cheap and easy way, which you probably could have achieved on your old equipment, would be to buy a two-into-one adaptor cable from somewhere like Dick Smith's, and plug both your CD output and your tape deck output into the one amp input. Then if, say, the cassette was playing a city background noise, it would keep playing underneath when you played a CD effect (a police siren for instance). The disadvantage of going into the same input would be you'd have no control over individual levels (ie mixing) at amp level, and the additional signal would boost your output...so you'd have to do some experimenting to make sure the signals were recorded at the right level and didn't distort. And you wouldn't get a stereo signal (most sound effects are mono anyway). But you might find you had volume controls on the tape player and the CD player, which would effectively mix the levels (achieving a crossfade, for instance)
Even better, I'm sure there are still small mixers (4 channel) available at Tandys/Dick Smith type stores, which is probably what you're looking for.
Cheers,
Craig
>
> I need a little help in what is the 'best' direction to take.
>
> Our current sound system consists of an amp, CD player and
> tape deck. Both the amp and CD player need replacing. This is
> easy enough, however, there has been the rare occasion in the
> past where I would have liked to play 2 effects together but
> was not able to as the amp only allowed one input at a time.
> I'm considering getting a mixer, but then comes the question
> of getting a mixer plus amp, or a powered mixer. However, I'd
> never use most of the features on the powered amp - certainly
> not the mic inputs, nor the use of so many channels (most
> powered mixers I've seen are 8 or more channels). I don't
> what to pay for features that won't be used.
>
> As I'm all new to the use of mixers I need a little help (and
> clarification). As I've said, most of the time the CD and amp
> is sufficient, however, it would be good to be able to have a
> second input to simultaneously play another effect. Is there
> another way/product that can do this that I should consider?
>
> If anyone have any advise or can 'enlighten' me, I'd be most
> appreciative.
A cheap and easy way, which you probably could have achieved on your old equipment, would be to buy a two-into-one adaptor cable from somewhere like Dick Smith's, and plug both your CD output and your tape deck output into the one amp input. Then if, say, the cassette was playing a city background noise, it would keep playing underneath when you played a CD effect (a police siren for instance). The disadvantage of going into the same input would be you'd have no control over individual levels (ie mixing) at amp level, and the additional signal would boost your output...so you'd have to do some experimenting to make sure the signals were recorded at the right level and didn't distort. And you wouldn't get a stereo signal (most sound effects are mono anyway). But you might find you had volume controls on the tape player and the CD player, which would effectively mix the levels (achieving a crossfade, for instance)
Even better, I'm sure there are still small mixers (4 channel) available at Tandys/Dick Smith type stores, which is probably what you're looking for.
Cheers,
Craig
WordartWed, 5 Oct 2005, 07:23 am
Re: replacing sound system
The easiest way I have found to layer sound effects is to buy a secondhand computer (less than $150.00) as long as it is a pentium with about 2 gB of disk.
Get a decent ($20) soundcard: you can edit, output and play sfx from cd, your hard drive and with the use of double inputs as already suggested play more than 3 sfx simultaeneously.
Write me offboard for more info.
Best luck
Alan.
Get a decent ($20) soundcard: you can edit, output and play sfx from cd, your hard drive and with the use of double inputs as already suggested play more than 3 sfx simultaeneously.
Write me offboard for more info.
Best luck
Alan.
David AshtonWed, 5 Oct 2005, 09:14 pm
Re: replacing sound system
option 1 dj type twin cd player and mixer they are built tough and the price is down to around $800 complete.Option 2 buy CSMD programme and get a virtual twin cd player and mixer for $50 plus cost of computer.Hifi gear is really a waste of money as it will not usually last.Whilst I have a vested interest as I sell gear these are the two methods I use.
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HarbourThu, 6 Oct 2005, 11:21 pm
Re: replacing sound system
Thanks everyone for the advise. I forgot to mention in my previous post that I have a small budget and need to get a system that can be used easily by others. I liked the idea of getting a cheap mixer from DS when I next need to mix sounds live, otherwise I think I'll just replace the amp and CD player - while using a computer is an interesting idea, and one I've considered, we don't have much room in the bio box and we also have to pack it away between shows.
Ciao
Rob
Thou beslubbering tickle-brained puttock!
Ciao
Rob
Thou beslubbering tickle-brained puttock!
gregFri, 7 Oct 2005, 07:19 am
Re: replacing sound system
Hi Rob
I think somebody has already suggested it, but I think the best way would be to get a dual deck CD player. You need to make sure you can play from both decks at the same time however to achieve what you want. Then you can just get a single input amp.
Otherwise see if you can find someone within your organisation who has some computer knowledge and get them to mix the tracks together that you need and then record it to cd as a single track. Doing it this way means you can have unlimited number of sounds playing at the same time.
If you get into trouble, email me off board and I will see what I can do to help you out.
Greg
greg 'at' donhardt.id.au
I think somebody has already suggested it, but I think the best way would be to get a dual deck CD player. You need to make sure you can play from both decks at the same time however to achieve what you want. Then you can just get a single input amp.
Otherwise see if you can find someone within your organisation who has some computer knowledge and get them to mix the tracks together that you need and then record it to cd as a single track. Doing it this way means you can have unlimited number of sounds playing at the same time.
If you get into trouble, email me off board and I will see what I can do to help you out.
Greg
greg 'at' donhardt.id.au
Walter PlingeTue, 11 Oct 2005, 10:27 am
Re: replacing sound system
Hi Rob,
If all you are looking for is a SMALL mixer, consider one of the BEHRINGER range. The UB502 sells in Australia for around $70. It may have the very limited facilities you are seeking. Be aware that BEHRINGER is only a budget product; but, given your apparent wants/needs it may serve you well. (The BEHRINGER web site is: www.behringer.com) Hope this helps...
Cheers,
Russell E Williams
(Southern Audio)
If all you are looking for is a SMALL mixer, consider one of the BEHRINGER range. The UB502 sells in Australia for around $70. It may have the very limited facilities you are seeking. Be aware that BEHRINGER is only a budget product; but, given your apparent wants/needs it may serve you well. (The BEHRINGER web site is: www.behringer.com) Hope this helps...
Cheers,
Russell E Williams
(Southern Audio)
Walter PlingeWed, 2 Nov 2005, 02:34 pm
Re: replacing sound system
Rob, save yourself a lot of time and money and do all your effecrts naturally!
If you have to produce a streetscape, as suggested by Crg above, try opening the back door of the theatre or performance space.
To acheive a siren effect make a hoax call to the police, ambulance or fire-brigade, anticipating their time of arrival to coincide with the cue.
I have suggested at least three of the services as you will have to rotate your 'emergency' calls between them throughout your run so as not to upset one or other overmuch...
If you have to produce a streetscape, as suggested by Crg above, try opening the back door of the theatre or performance space.
To acheive a siren effect make a hoax call to the police, ambulance or fire-brigade, anticipating their time of arrival to coincide with the cue.
I have suggested at least three of the services as you will have to rotate your 'emergency' calls between them throughout your run so as not to upset one or other overmuch...