A B selection of Microphone

[Wadge]

Hi guys, I wonder if you could help me out.

In our band, the singer uses a wireless mic.
The band members all use in ears.
The singer randomly calls out the next song to play. Having in ears makes it hard to communicate.
I would like to avoid using a second mike for communication.

Essentially what I was thinking is that ideally there be an A B box/device into which I could plug the wireless mike receiver output into. Said device would have two outputs, one going into the vocal channel on the mixer with the other going to the talkback on the mixer.

Ideally the switching between the two channels would happen via a footswitch controlled by the singer so that he could choose whether to talk to the band or to have his signal routed to the output of the board.

Do you know of any such device?

 

[happycat]

I just searched google for "xlr ab switch" - one of the results looks to be just what you are after (http://www.markertek.com/Routers-Switchers-DA's/A-B-Switchers/Radial-Engineering/R800-1500.xhtml)

I haven't used this or anything like it - so don't take this as a recommendation. But it does look like enough people have the same need as you otherwise this product wouldn't exist

 

[Wadge]

Thank you. My only problem is that the singer is using a wireless mic and the receiver is next to the board. Now I could put this box next to the singer, have an XLR go from the wireless receiver to front of stage to the Radial and then have a further two XLRs go from the Radial back to the board. It does seem a little cumbersome.

What I was hoping for is a similar unit closer to the board to which I could attach a footswitch with a single cable going to the singer. The singer could operate the switching remotely from a footswitch whilst the splitter would stay at the board. Essentially, what I was thinking of is a footswitch similar to what guitar players use to change channels on an amp.

 

[bongomania]

The cables going from the stage to the splitter near the board would be just as much of a pain as anything else. He should just put the wireless unit near the snake input onstage, and use two mixer channels, one going straight to talkback.

 

[Wadge]

That or shout louder!

 

[claytitan]

Could you just put a couple omni mics on the stage to send to those with in ears? Don't send to the monitors or mains. Put just a little in so you can hear the lead singer better when he backs off the mic.

 

[Wadge]

I'd rather not do that. I have found that with IEM the cleaner and less cluttered the mix the better and ambient noise wrecks havoc with that

 

[Adam Harzuf]

He should just put the wireless unit near the snake input onstage, and use two mixer channels, one going straight to talkback.

He still needs the switch next to him.

My only problem is that the singer is using a wireless mic and the receiver is next to the board. Now I could put this box next to the singer, have an XLR go from the wireless receiver to front of stage to the Radial and then have a further two XLRs go from the Radial back to the board. It does seem a little cumbersome.

It's the most reliable solution other then 2 mics IMO, and least worries about wireless interference.

 

[Nephilymbass]

My suggestion is to put the singers wireless on the stage near the in ear system so you can hook it up to an Ab We had two singers at one point both running wireless and I put both of there units in my rack and kept the mics in my rack drawer when not in use. No one ever forgot their mic after that. The singers seemed more willing to help me move gear. A win win for everyone