Modular Sound Board

[KingRazor]

I think this would be a really, really cool idea.

It could also be highly impractical. I don't know. If making a sound board was easy I don't think the only people making them would be big companies.

My vision is a sound board that you can add channels, AUX sends, and other components to as you please.

The board could start out with just 4 or 6 or 8 channels, a master fader (or two) and one or two AUX sends and then be built up from there.

I have no idea how or if this would be possible, but I LOVE the idea.

 

[Slevage]

Boards are pretty cheap these days.
Just buy more than you need from the start.

The cost of manufacuring individual pieces is much greater that one. Just think about the added interconnection points of the modular unit.

 

[KingRazor]

I don't know, it's pretty tough to find a budget board with more than 4 AUX sends.

 

[projectMalamute]

Almost every professional caliber mixing console is modular.

 

[KingRazor]

Almost every professional caliber mixing console is modular.

In what sense? I haven't seen any boards so far that allow you to add inputs or outputs to it accept for some digital boards.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

LOL

Almost every professional caliber mixing console is modular.

^This.

In what sense? I haven't seen any boards so far that allow you to add inputs or outputs to it accept for some digital boards.

They have a separate channel strips, usually several You can choose from, different AUX master strips, different master sections, etc.

You really haven't seen one???

Regards
Sam

 

[KingRazor]

Hi.

LOL



^This.



They have a separate channel strips, usually several You can choose from, different AUX master strips, different master sections, etc.

You really haven't seen one???

Regards
Sam

Umm no, I guess not.

 

[fokof]

There is also the "iLive" concept from Allen&Heath wich is a module onstage with a patch , all the processing is done there , like a PM1D type of thing.
The console linked to the patch is only a controller , a 'deluxe"' mouse if you like.You can mix with a laptop , an iPhone , an iPad.

You can add more units linked with a single CAT5 cable , a 48ins/24outs or whatever and all the processing is included without the need of a console.

Nice concept , very 'modular'.


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[Jimbob Jones]

Here's a picture of a TAC Scorpion, a modular analogue desk.

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As you can see, each channel is on its own strip of metal, so you can pull them out individually and replace them. So (for example) you'd be limited to 32 channels by the chassis, but you can put whatever you want in those 32 slots.

Most desks (aside from really, really cheap ones) are designed in a very similar way to the scorpion, but you can't change anything because the holes in the top plate would be in the wrong place. Here's the inside of an old 8 channel Studiomaster. You can see the 8 single-channel PCBs, along with the different strips in the master section.

Each channel has it's own identical PCB, which makes servicing much easier, as you can repair/replace a single channel without affecting the others at all.

Here's a picture of an Allen and Heath GL3300 48-channel desk.

You can see that the channels come in groups of eight, with a master section in the middle that's the same width. This makes A&H's job very easy when manufacturing, as they can sell the 8,16,24,32 & 48 channel versions of their desks without having to manufacture any different parts other than the chassis.

Behold, the iLive
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My Church recently got the iLive system, and I have to say that it is awesome. We got the IDR48 Mixrack (48 in, 24 out) and the T-112 surface (which has another 16 TRS ins and outs which we use for the various stereo ins/outs required across the Church).

(Off the top of my head), with the iLive Mixrack, you get something like 12 assignable matrices (which can be anything: main outs, recording matrices, groups etc), 24 mono auxes (or 12 stereo), 128 input channels (the 'brain' can support that many, even though there are only 64 physical inputs across the system), gate, comp, fully parametric EQ and De-Esser on each channel, a Lexicon effects rack with up to 8 different effects simultaneously (The most I've ever used in a service is 6, and that was pretty ridiculous), and 12 DCAs (Digital VCAs).

If you really had the need to expand from there, then you could daisy-chain in another Mixrack into the surface and add ins/outs/processing power. Having said all that, you do get limitations. Firstly, you have to use the same EQ for monitors and FOH. Also, if you want to use a sidechain with a compressor, your options are limited; A&H still use their 'blocks of 8' idea, and so your sidechain has to be in the same bank of eight as the channel you'd compressing/gating etc.

Wow, sorry for the waffle! It must be a slow morning.

 

[KingRazor]

My church has a great Roland M-400 V-Mixer digital console. It's pretty compact but it has 48 inputs and 8 outputs. It uses a digital snake system.

But, that board costs $10,000, and I'm looking at a solution for a start-up band.

I thought a modular sound board would be really cool because you could start small and then add stuff as you went along.

But it sounds like that's still an expensive solution most of the time.

Would be cool if there was a sort of "DIY" solution that was a little cheaper.

 

[Jimbob Jones]

I would just get a decent analogue desk with 24 channels and 6/8 auxes. There's plenty of capacity in there and there's nothing scarily complex about it.

If you want a smaller desk with the option of adding more channels and auxes, then you could get two desks. Have a 'desk1' with direct outs, route said direct outs to a 'desk2', then return the output of 'desk2' back to 'desk1' as a stereo pair. Then you get the same set of channels on two desks, and can use them for whatever you like, effects, monitors etc. In theory, you could daisy chain as many desks as you like! (Although I wouldn't reccomend it)

That's a pretty clunky solution though, but there is another option. I've never used them, but have a look at the Aviom monitor systems.

 

[fokof]

Firstly, you have to use the same EQ for monitors and FOH.

If you "double" your tracks , let's say layer 1 and 2 is the FOH and layer 3-4 are the same tracks , disabled in the L-R , they can become monitor send with independant EQ comp etc.

Fader 1 is kick , input 1 , assigned to L-R for FOH only
Fader 57 is kick , input 1 , for monitors only

 

[Jimbob Jones]

How do you do that?

You can put the same strip into two spaces on the iLive, but it's just the same set of controls in two different places...how do you digitally split the audio?

 

[fokof]

I'll work on it next week , I'll come back to you with the answer.

( With Yamahas , you just assign the same preamp to another strip )

 

[walker rosewood]

OP, just get a Presonus Studio live 24 or 16. Then get another one when you need more channels, and you can firewire link them.

Or for that matter take any mixer you want, send the left and right outs into two channels on any other mixer (sort of like a subgroup/bus concept)and there ya go. Link as many mixers as you want.

 

[KingRazor]

$2000 is a bit much for a start up band

 

[seanm]

$2000 is a bit much for a start up band

And therein lies your problem. Multiple aux busses add a lot of cost. That is why the lower cost mixers have only one or maybe two busses. To meet the price point something has to give.

 

[walker rosewood]

not when you consider you get comps, gates, full parametric eq (semi parametric on the 16ch), limiter, hpf, verb, and delay on every channel and subgroup. Add some powered tops and subs and you've got a sweet compact bar rig.

 

[KingRazor]

Invalid Link Removed Then there's this for only $800 and it has 6 aux sends. And then I could add external effects/EQ units as necessary, I suppose.

 

[walterw]

if you're gonna buy cheap analog for a bar band, skip the cheese "also-rans" and get yourself an allen-heath mixwizard.

you can find them used for well under a grand, and they're built like "real" boards with individual channel strips. they also have 6 auxes, so you can run 4 monitor mixes, plus delay and reverb.

16 channels is enough for bands doing their own sound in clubs; any more, and you should just hire a guy with bigger stuff.

everything else in that class is either not nearly as good (mackie, carvin, behringer, whatever) or way more expensive (crest).