Solo Audio on SAC

[Tony Marone]

Let's say you are mixing FOH in a live situation with SAC using a wireless laptop running the remote software with the main computer on stage with the audio digitizers. The stage computer would be used for mixing the monitors and the solo for the monitor engineer would be within easy reach. In a situation like this, where would the solo for the front of house come from? Can it be sent back over the wireless network connection to the soundcard in the laptop? Seeing as how we are eliminating the snake, FOH console, and all the outboard processing gear with SAC, I just think it would be terrible to have to run audio from the stage just so the FOH guy can solo an input. Let me know what you guys think :)

[Bob L]

Currently, you can use a small 4 chan snake back to FOH for solo and maybe talkback com links... in many cases, you will find that wireless to FOH is a little squirly still... so a hardwire ethernet cable may also be preferred until wireless ethernet improves its range and stability.

A small snake of this nature is still far cheaper and less hassle to run than a 50 pair expensive snake for handling all the audio inputs.

But... you can also use a wireless in-ears monitor beltpack and feed the solo back to FOH that way... look ma... no wires.

Bob L

[Larry Burger]

Could you use wireless headphones for monitoring and a wireless for talkback?

[Bob L]

I would guess you can experiment with anything wireless that you want. :)

Sometimes its just easier to go with what we know... and up to now, you HAD to run a 50 pair to FOH... downgrading that to a 4 pair or 8 or 12 pair should be a dream to get started.

Bob L

[Leadfoot]

in many cases, you will find that wireless to FOH is a little squirly still... so a hardwire ethernet cable may also be preferred until wireless ethernet improves its range and stability.

Bob L
Bob, What do you mean by squirly? Is there something I should be aware of?
I've tested it (wireless)a few times and it seemed fine, but I've never used it for gig yet.

Tony

[Bob L]

Well... so far here in Vegas Convention centers... large rooms... 300 feet or more when they open up the wall dividers... the wireless reach is just quite not there yet for us... wireless N... three antennas...

Also... when using it close to stage, there have been noticable dropouts as we move around... possibly due to lots of interference from many other wireless RF frequency interference... electrical interference from major air conditioning and other giant building electro-mechanical systems...

For me... not sure I am ready to depend on that for FOH... useful during setup and tuning maybe.. but I still need to see more consistency than what I have seen so far.

On stage... for personal monitors... its probably fine and who cares if it phases in and out... but it's also just as easy to put a hub or switcher on stage and run a few cat 5 or 6 cables around with the mic cables.

Bob L

[Leadfoot]

Ah, thanks for the heads up on that.

Quick question, when setting up these networked computers, should I use a switch/router type box, or would a simple hub be sufficient?

Thanks,
Tony

[Bob L]

I use switcher boxes usually... but I think a hub should work fine also.

Perhaps a network expert here could elaborate.

Bob L

[Warren]

Switches are faster, set nic's for full duplex

[DominicPerry]

Virtually impossible to buy a hub these days. You should use a switch. That's why they phased out hubs.

Dominic

[mycorn]

i'v toured th US extensively with wireless in-ears
500-760mhz

vagas is RF hell

"all" the one arm bandits in big casinos are networked

G band stuff "shouldnt" interfere with each other
...and bumble bees cant fly

your RF environment dictates how far
and how stable your wireless works

i'm using a walmart linksys wireless g
and have had good luck
but i'm not trying to mix 300' away

"N" stuff should be better at least till it gets congested

the simplest answer to the original question is
wireless in-ears

your's [foh] is not mission criticle so a bit
of rf interference is no big deal

and make sure you unlatch
"solo in place" befor showtime

[fwiw]
mh