Technology moving foward posted by Ro...

So I just finished this seasons Cape May Jazz fest. And I am always looking for ways of improving the sound and space at the small bars postage stamp stage.

Normally I take a Yamaha DM 1000 to this space. This gives me a 32 channel board in a single rack size. But, I still need a space for me to be able to get behind the console.

And when your dealing with a stage that is only 20' in depth, and 7' in width. Your taking up some valuable space. Being that at any given time, I could have a drum kit, keyboard, bass rig, guitar rig, 2 sax players, a trumpet player, and a trombone player.

So, given the dimensions above.... This does not leave a comfortable amount of space for me to mix in. Nor enough space for all of the amp racks, and my personal work box. Which is a EWI four drawer road case.

This year, the company that I work for, bought a Yamaha DSP5D.

www.yamahaproaudio.com/do...php?imageid=439

(I hope that worked! Being that it's not a .bmp, or jpeg.)

The DSP5D has a network port on the front of the unit. And it has an IP addressable switch. This allows the user to put a wireless access switch on the port.

Now by running the Yamaha Studio Manager, in conjunction with the Yamaha DME driver. I can connect with a Tablet PC and have that as the control surface for the DSP5D. Which means that I do not need a mixing space for me on stage.

This still needs a single rack space on stage. But, now that I don't need access to the mixer, I can now consolidate everything to that rack. The amps, DSP5D, Big Ben (Apogee Word Clock), and CD player. Are all in one rack.

I didn't gat a chance to take any pictures of this in action. But, what I did was to put this rack right next to the keyboard player. And I put his Roland KC-500 on top of the rack. Consolidating over 15 square feet of stage space. Which isn't much. But leaves a lot of breathing room for the other players on stage.

This also allows me to be right next to the musician for setting up the monitor mix for them. Now, I'm not listening to a "Q" wedge. I'm listening to there monitor it's self. Giving me a much better handle of their mix.

Now that we are getting better with networking audio equipment together. And UDP protocols have improved. I can see wireless control becoming more and more common place in the Live Sound Reinforcement work place.

I feel that in the next 10 years, there will be no large format consoles, taking up large amount of floor space in smaller venues.

Even with with less expensive digital mixers. You can still achieve wireless control. Just about all of them have a USB port that allows software control. And with the adaptation of a USB to Ethernet converter. You can take the USB software to a wireless access switch.

Now, your only taking up the space of a Laptop out in the house. No audio snakes to run. No long runs of power out to FOH. Everything is now contained on stage. Which will cut down on set up time, and will give a better relationship between you and the club owner. Being that your not taking up a ton of room in his club.

For more information on taking your USB mixer to Ethernet. Look up Lantronix.com.

www.lantronix.com/device-...-servers/?tab=2

It seems that they are phasing out this product. If you have an interest. Act soon!