Hello, I would like some advice on my proposed setup. It is a nightmare! I have multiple game consoles along with audio and video components. My main purpose for this setup is to enhance and adjust 2 channel sound from legacy components and to split digital signals to analog to adjust if I wanted. It should also allow me to monitor levels with VU meters and have a preview monitor in the loop. I know it is excessive but I want to make sure the connections and path look alright. Thanks in advance.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gvrse16d3vmvpq4/Audio Path.pdf?dl=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gvrse16d3vmvpq4/Audio Path.pdf?dl=1
Have you considered using a digital mixing console rather than all those switchers and equalizers? If you got an 8 bus board, you could still deal with 2-channel sources and surround sources. The advantage of a digital console is that you could store presets, groups of settings, that you come up with for each source and recall them instantly. All the external processing could be internal. All you would need to do is to provide the console with the necessary analog sources or bitstreams.
I'm not sure that is an option. I want to have all sources connected at the same time to my projector and sound system. I need to route audio and video with a variety of differing connections (composite, component, s-video, VGA, HDMI, TOSLINK, RCA, Digital Coaxial). Right now I am using 4 Extron MPS Switchers, a Psyclone switch, 2 SPDIF matrix switches, a Kramer switcher, 2 Monoprice 8 source HDMI switchers, a Harris X50 convertor, and the Onkyo TX-SR605. Let me break down the list of sources, I know some sources are a little redundant (like Playstaion and Playstion 2) but I like to play each system on its dedicated hardware. It also puts people in awe to see so many serer racks full of video game consoles.
Game Consoles:
Nintendo NES
Super Nintendo
Nintendo 64
GameCube
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo Wii U
Nintendo Switch
Sega Master System
Sega Genesis/Sega CD/Sega 32X
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
PlayStation
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2 DVR (PSX)
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Sony PSP
PlayStation TV
Microsoft XBOX
Microsoft XBOX360
Microsoft XBOX One
Amiga CD32
Phillips CDI
Panasonic 3DO
NeoGeo X
NeoGeo CD
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 7800
Atari Jaguar
PC Engine
PC-FX
Video Sources:
VCR
DVD Player
Blu-ray Player
Karaoke Player
Laserdisc Player
PC
Android Tablet
Audio Sources:
CD Player
Tape Deck
MiniDisc Player
Gemini Digital Recorder
Game Consoles:
Nintendo NES
Super Nintendo
Nintendo 64
GameCube
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo Wii U
Nintendo Switch
Sega Master System
Sega Genesis/Sega CD/Sega 32X
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
PlayStation
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2 DVR (PSX)
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Sony PSP
PlayStation TV
Microsoft XBOX
Microsoft XBOX360
Microsoft XBOX One
Amiga CD32
Phillips CDI
Panasonic 3DO
NeoGeo X
NeoGeo CD
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 7800
Atari Jaguar
PC Engine
PC-FX
Video Sources:
VCR
DVD Player
Blu-ray Player
Karaoke Player
Laserdisc Player
PC
Android Tablet
Audio Sources:
CD Player
Tape Deck
MiniDisc Player
Gemini Digital Recorder
I would look into a professional $$$ broadcast system.
I'm sure they have a mixing console for all of this stuff.
I'm sure they have a mixing console for all of this stuff.
The main reason you're not getting much help here is that the DIY community thrives on ideas and projects that many can participate in or take advantage of. Your project is unique to say the least, an well outside the typical DIY world.
I design broadcast and corporate AV systems, and to me, that's where this looks like it's going. Systems I build are frequently larger than this, with even more complexity. However, the one key parameter not mentioned that will drive the project is budget. Bring that into play, and you might get more suggestions.
Also, to me this project looks partly like signal routing, somewhat about adjustment, but more than anything, this looks like mostly like a control problem. For any system to be practical, it has to be easy to use, fun to use if possible. To do that you might want to consider unified control of all systems. Such a control system could, for example, apply pre-set equalization to certain signals, as will as route them, mix or up-mix them, and do it from one control device.
There are several broadcast and corporate-level systems that can handle this, but might easily overshoot the budget. Then again, given size of the project, perhaps not.
I design broadcast and corporate AV systems, and to me, that's where this looks like it's going. Systems I build are frequently larger than this, with even more complexity. However, the one key parameter not mentioned that will drive the project is budget. Bring that into play, and you might get more suggestions.
Also, to me this project looks partly like signal routing, somewhat about adjustment, but more than anything, this looks like mostly like a control problem. For any system to be practical, it has to be easy to use, fun to use if possible. To do that you might want to consider unified control of all systems. Such a control system could, for example, apply pre-set equalization to certain signals, as will as route them, mix or up-mix them, and do it from one control device.
There are several broadcast and corporate-level systems that can handle this, but might easily overshoot the budget. Then again, given size of the project, perhaps not.
Thanks, thats a great answer. I have looked at other control systems but budget is a big issue. Most of the systems use SDI instead of consumer connections, which I think I would be hard pressed to use unless I bought mini converters for each piece of equipment. I am trying to work with what I have acquired on a small budget.. The Extron MPS switches are nice and allow me to route 3 composite, 3 VGA or component, and 3 S-video sources that are switched by the Psyclone switcher for analog video and ran through a Harris X50 for conversion, upscaling and or video adjustments. The monoprice HDMI 8x1 switches work great for me to switch between the HDMI connections. It works for manually switching between whatever we feel like playing or watching. It's more for having all the systems connected at the same time, no need to disconnect one to hook up another. My main goal was to make sure that the audio path looked sound. I didn't want to make some fatal error in the connections. I remember reading an article on audio y cables to make sure they are not used to feed 2 outputs to 1 input.
You might check into Simple Control which could operate most, if not all of your gear from one control surface that you most likely already own.
iPhone and iPad Universal Remote Control for Home Theaters
iPhone and iPad Universal Remote Control for Home Theaters
I do already have a Logitech Harmony 1100 unfortunately it has a 15 device limit. It works great for all the devices that I have it programmed for. I could pick up another but it is not really necessary. I don't have a cell phone believe it or not ��.
If you are willing to switch the video separately from the audio, beat up 24 and 32 input audio mixers show up on craigslist/ebay occasionally. These have a 1/4 phone jack input, which can be equipped with pomona adapters for RCA plugs. Then all the sound sources could be enabled at the same time. Switching would be turning one source AC on (others off), then switching the video. The downside to a pro audio mixer, they are cheap because many of the pots are worn out and maybe the electrolytic capacitors. About $2-3 a channel in parts. Your repair time is money saved if you are not making $60 an hour at your day job. I like doing the repair diy, no boss is breathing down my neck or requiring updates. Plus I'm indoors in the winter, no painting/roofing/mowing/landscaping/autorepair possible. I fixed a $35 PV8 for $6, a new master volume pot $2, screws to affix it $4 for box of 50. Also had a bad plated through via, repair free.
This too is a stupid phone zone. any device software compatible with android or apple now would be incompatible with the replacement op system in 4 to 6 years. Apple doesn't even maintain compatibility with their earphones over the decades.
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Very true, that definitely could be an option. DIY repairs are in my wheelhouse, I probably have a lot of the parts already. Thanks!