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Audio Public Address Sound System.

Mornin' All,

                    I need some advice please.


Imagine a portable sound system as used by travelling musicians, rock guitarists or others with electric instruments. There will be a large mixing desk, and amplifier and speakers. All is well if the musicians with electric instruments only plug their 1/4 inch jack plugs into their instruments when the mixer sliders are down (off) so as not to cause a big pop or bang through the speakers. Sometimes though the jack plugs are unplugged from the instruments when the mixer sliders are up (on) and a terrible sound results from the speakers.


Is there a "magic box" that can be inserted in line with the audio leads from the instruments to the mixer that AUTOMATICALLY prevents this unwanted loud noise problem?


Thanks,


Z.
Parents
  • OK Z, you have to go to the next stage. In reality the sound guy is as important as all the players (although some are not treated as such and are often seen as unnecessary by amateur groups) and can have a huge influence on the overall performance. There should be no need to unplug your "electric" violin, if you play more than one instrument some adjustment may be needed, and the best option is a switch which shorts out you instrument microphone, or if it is phantom powered shorts the two signal conductors together. This should be electrically silent, just stopping the mic from picking up the stage sound.


    However in the general case I would suggest you find someone who can be your sound mixer, he/she will probably be musically trained or knowledgeable and will work on making your band sound similar in each venue as well as dealing with changing instrument levels and the musical balance as it changes through various pieces from an artistic viewpoint. This process makes all the difference, even with a simple Ceilidh band for barn dancing. As far as equipment goes you may find that a suitable person already has something like an M32 (or cheaper X32) digital mixer which they will provide saving you money for the modern sophistication and a lot of facilities you probably don't have (including the effects and compressor/limiters etc referred to above. I can think of nothing automatic which is available, but then your problem is normally minimised / avoided as  I suggested above. The M32 does have several automated features which might help you, but one would need to see the exact problem first, having done the other suggestions.


    Regards

    David


Reply
  • OK Z, you have to go to the next stage. In reality the sound guy is as important as all the players (although some are not treated as such and are often seen as unnecessary by amateur groups) and can have a huge influence on the overall performance. There should be no need to unplug your "electric" violin, if you play more than one instrument some adjustment may be needed, and the best option is a switch which shorts out you instrument microphone, or if it is phantom powered shorts the two signal conductors together. This should be electrically silent, just stopping the mic from picking up the stage sound.


    However in the general case I would suggest you find someone who can be your sound mixer, he/she will probably be musically trained or knowledgeable and will work on making your band sound similar in each venue as well as dealing with changing instrument levels and the musical balance as it changes through various pieces from an artistic viewpoint. This process makes all the difference, even with a simple Ceilidh band for barn dancing. As far as equipment goes you may find that a suitable person already has something like an M32 (or cheaper X32) digital mixer which they will provide saving you money for the modern sophistication and a lot of facilities you probably don't have (including the effects and compressor/limiters etc referred to above. I can think of nothing automatic which is available, but then your problem is normally minimised / avoided as  I suggested above. The M32 does have several automated features which might help you, but one would need to see the exact problem first, having done the other suggestions.


    Regards

    David


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