Stage Intercom System

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Soundtech98

25 posts

Geek

Topic # 123413 6-Jul-2013 17:45

Does anyone know how I can use a small mixer to make a stage intercom system?
We have one lighting guy, one sound/audio engineer, a computer guy who projects stuff onto the big screen behind the performers and one stage manager.
I want to be able to talk to them all and have the system controlled by a small manual mixing console instead of buying a complete intercom system.

There is an audio snake which runs backstage that we could use, but how many channels do I need if I want a talk back system like that (headphone and mic) for each person.

My theory was that the microphone which is attached to the headphone can just be plugged into channel 1 and the headphone into the AUX send. Would this work? What about the mains, can they be used or not?

Please help me out here.

knoydart

862 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 138

Trusted

Reply # 850217 6-Jul-2013 18:16

Hi,

I think your mixing desk is not going to work. You seem be to be looking for an intercom and you mixing desk will only offer a one to many system. If its for a small short production go hire? The value of good comms can't be underestimated.

Good luck

Knoydart

tomgeeknz

893 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Reply # 850250 6-Jul-2013 19:44

Hiring proper comms is definitely the way to go. It's relatively inexpensive, and will save you heaps of time and effort and make your show more likely to succeed.

Soundtech98

25 posts

Geek

Reply # 850255 6-Jul-2013 20:25

Yes, OK fair enough but I was thinking about a long term installation because the audio snake is always there and so I thought that there might be some way to do what I had wrote in my first post and having it so that it can be packed away and brought out again on a small system like I described.

If you say that it is easier to get a proper system (buy one maybe) are there any that you would recommend because I haven't worked with this sort of technology before and don't quite know whats good and what isn't.

It is only for a medium sized hall with a stage. The system needs to be for a lighting technician, an audio engineer, a stage manager and a computer person. but it would be nice to have a spare port on standby on case there is someone else. So a system for maybe 5 people would be appropriate. Any recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks again.

tomgeeknz

893 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Reply # 850260 6-Jul-2013 20:44

http://www.beltpack.com/bp1.html is the most common beltpack, and equipped with a compatible headset can use the existing audio snake to be distributed, just need to connect them in a chain going in and out, and attach a power supply, such as http://www.beltpack.com/ps1.html at the beginning. The company that manufactured them are out of business, but stock is still around, and there is sure to be cheaper alternatives/second hand systems around as well.