Hey guys,
Odd request perhaps but I was trying to find info whether what I'm looking for is possible.
As part of a street festival, a restaurant in the area is having all their tables hooked up to mics that - through a PA mixer system - will be amplified on the restaurant's speaker system (that usually plays music).
We're keen to find out whether a PA system or some type that would automatically switch between input for a period of time, so that you might hear table 5's conversation for a period and then automatically change to table 12's, etc etc.
Is this possible? Am I mad for thinking so? I couldn't think why this would be a functional thing for live events usually, but the point of this event is just to have a really odd dining experience.
Thank ya, Thank ya, Thank ya
Dominic.
Odd request perhaps but I was trying to find info whether what I'm looking for is possible.
As part of a street festival, a restaurant in the area is having all their tables hooked up to mics that - through a PA mixer system - will be amplified on the restaurant's speaker system (that usually plays music).
We're keen to find out whether a PA system or some type that would automatically switch between input for a period of time, so that you might hear table 5's conversation for a period and then automatically change to table 12's, etc etc.
Is this possible? Am I mad for thinking so? I couldn't think why this would be a functional thing for live events usually, but the point of this event is just to have a really odd dining experience.
Thank ya, Thank ya, Thank ya
Dominic.
I wouldn't have thought there's anything ready made to do this?, you would need to custom make something.
Agreed, why make up some fancy circuit that will have limited usefulness otherwise, when someone could just flip a switch every so often.
meanwhile has this gone on before? I for one, as a diner would be livid if I found my table conversation broadcast over the PA. I'd be at the manager's throat in an instant.
meanwhile has this gone on before? I for one, as a diner would be livid if I found my table conversation broadcast over the PA. I'd be at the manager's throat in an instant.
thanks for the replies!
yes, the event has been publicised as such, and will be ongoing throughout the day. Having someone behind the board would of course make the situation possible but we thought it'd work *conceptually* better without someone to point the blame behind a board.
Talking to others one possible option may be using a mixer with midi capability and creating a script of sorts through a program like Logic pro, say, 120 seconds long, and assign one mic to be muted for 110 of those seconds, and 10 of those unmuted.
yes, the event has been publicised as such, and will be ongoing throughout the day. Having someone behind the board would of course make the situation possible but we thought it'd work *conceptually* better without someone to point the blame behind a board.
Talking to others one possible option may be using a mixer with midi capability and creating a script of sorts through a program like Logic pro, say, 120 seconds long, and assign one mic to be muted for 110 of those seconds, and 10 of those unmuted.
I'd use a normal mixing desk and something mechanical to push faders or mute/unmute things. Lego will probably do it.
Chris
Chris
Hi,
Feedback could be a nightmare. Standard performance mikes simply
won't do the job well at all, though you could knock up some omni
boundary mikes to sit in the middle of the tables. From my telecoms
days I know a fair amount about audio conferencing and its problems.
Lets just say its nowhere near as simple as you might think it will be.
rgds, sreten.
Feedback could be a nightmare. Standard performance mikes simply
won't do the job well at all, though you could knock up some omni
boundary mikes to sit in the middle of the tables. From my telecoms
days I know a fair amount about audio conferencing and its problems.
Lets just say its nowhere near as simple as you might think it will be.
rgds, sreten.
USB controlled signal relays board at the input of the mixing desk+ some muting transistors? 8 channels boards are fairly common. And then let the computer randomize things ?
Some omni boundary mikes might do it. But I've to agree with sreten, this could turn into a feedback nightmare.
Some omni boundary mikes might do it. But I've to agree with sreten, this could turn into a feedback nightmare.
You can get a digital mixer with automation, and just program it to put up one channel at a time. I doubt it randomizes, but a pattern can be made to repeat.
Are you mad?
That's invasion of privacy, people will be on the edge on what to talk about because that might go on the PA without previous notice, or altenatively speak only about the weather, etc.
I'd also slap the face of the restaurant owner if he did that or at a lighter level avoid it like the plague.
IF People thinks it has Something Important To Say To The World, just install a PTT switch at every table and let THEM pick what to say and when to do it.
Unless your Restaurant caters to exhibitionists or Big Ego people who believe everybody wants to hear what they say, at any time.
If so, don't forget to also build glass walled toilets in the middle of the dining room, they will become a great attraction.
Or some toilet cameras, played through a Video Wall.
A hare brained idea if I ever saw one.
Now if you are really into it, maybe you can pick some ideas here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrhRsZ56b4g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3_iLOp6IhM
I don't know if budget is an issue.
But the way to do it is to use a RS232 controllable audio switch
like the Extron SW12A
And an automatisation controller
like the AMX NI700
to switch randomly from input to input by sending rs232 command to the switch.
Quite expensive equipement though...
But the way to do it is to use a RS232 controllable audio switch
like the Extron SW12A
And an automatisation controller
like the AMX NI700
to switch randomly from input to input by sending rs232 command to the switch.
Quite expensive equipement though...
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