Auto-Volume type function on sound desk

[SA90]

Hi Blue-Roomers

 

I've had a request for a school sports day...the organiser has "had it before where the music gets quieter when speaking into the microphone"

I have only come across this function in nasty DJ-type controllers. None of my desks have this option. Is there an outboard solution that doesn't involve manning a desk for 4 hours trying to guess when the announcer (on a radio mic btw, wandering around the circuit) is going to talk over the music?

 

Thanks

 

S

[James]

Is there just the one radio mic in play?

 

I don't know what outboard or desk you have but you could do something by inserting a compressor across the music source - this needs to have it's sidechain input fed from the radio mic (or group of radio mics).

 

Compressor then needs to be setup with a fast attack, slow release and suitable compression to duck the music sufficiently so the mic can be heard.

 

Hope this helps.

 

James.

[pete10uk]

There is such a thing, the function is built in to many digital desks as standard but what you need to do it standalone is a compressor with a side chain input.

 

Basically the compressor compresses (Lowers) the music volume, the side chain part is what links the mic signal so it triggers the compression of the music.

 

if your looking to buy something I have a few 4 channel compressors for sale, I no longer require.

[TonyMitchell]

Insert a DS201 (or similar) in 'duck' mode across the music bus, triggered by the vox. Play with the threshold and release as required, according to the compere's mic technique (or lack of)...

 

 

 

[PeterT]

Rather than a compressor, I'd be using a gate for this. Set it up exactly as above by feeding the mic to the sidechain input of the gate and then play with your range, hold and release controls so you get a gentle lowering of the music with a gentle fade back rather than a sudden change each time.

[p.k.roberts]

Peter, surely that would work the wrong way round? A side chain input on a gate 'opens' the gate, so would let the music through only when the mic signal is present.

[paulears]

Compressors have been the way it's been done for a long time, outboard wise.

[Simon Lewis]

Peter, surely that would work the wrong way round? A side chain input on a gate 'opens' the gate, so would let the music through only when the mic signal is present.

 

Indeed... What's needed is an outboard compressor. Insert the compressor on the music channels, then run a direct out from the radio mic channel (or use an aux send) to the sidechain input of the compressor....

 

If you have a digital desk available, most will have a ducking option in the dynamics section and will allow you to assign which channel triggers the ducking...

[alistermorton]

Peter, surely that would work the wrong way round? A side chain input on a gate 'opens' the gate, so would let the music through only when the mic signal is present.

 

The blurb for the DS201 specifically says it can be used for "ducking".

[p.k.roberts]

But Gate or Duck are specific switched options on that unit; so without going through the manual/schematic, I would assume that, with the unit in 'Duck Mode'. it simply inverts the key signal.

[PeterT]

 

The blurb for the DS201 specifically says it can be used for "ducking".

 

I knew that's where I got it from and wasn't going mad. Back in the day when at Uni (1990's), we had DS201's in our studios which did indeed both Gate and Duck. That was the way I was taught to do it, but other options are clearly available.

[Simon Lewis]

That would explain it then!

[mackerr]

Rather than a compressor, I'd be using a gate for this. Set it up exactly as above by feeding the mic to the sidechain input of the gate and then play with your range, hold and release controls so you get a gentle lowering of the music with a gentle fade back rather than a sudden change each time.

 

I have had much better results over the years using a compressor to duck music rather than an actual ducker.

 

Mac

[bruce]

I have a 1U rack mixer (think it’s a HZ QMix) which has switchable ducking on one of the mic inputs. Works quite well - but caused all sorts of confusion once when it got switched on by mistake - it’s a little button round the back....

 

Pretty sure the Shure Intellimix can also do this - and they’re great wee mixers for all sorts of other reasons.

[sunray]

Hi Blue-Roomers

 

I've had a request for a school sports day...the organiser has "had it before where the music gets quieter when speaking into the microphone"

I have only come across this function in nasty DJ-type controllers. None of my desks have this option. Is there an outboard solution that doesn't involve manning a desk for 4 hours trying to guess when the announcer (on a radio mic btw, wandering around the circuit) is going to talk over the music?

 

Thanks

 

S

 

Surely for a school sports day the right kit would be one of the plethora of PA amplifiers (such as Toa 2120), the vast majority of these have mic 1 override included as standard.

 

Amp, 2 jelcells, music source, a few horns and a microphone - JD

 

Must be an unusual school sports day if you're messing about with mixer desks etc.