OllieT

Avitel MPS 3302 Modular video distribution unit- would be nice if its useful to someone Contains: 4x VDA 3214A 3 channel component video distribution equalising amplifier 1x VDA 3310K Video equaliser DA 3x PDA 3317 Pulse distribution delay amplifier 1x VMA 3216 Video YUV- RGB(s) Matrix amplifier 1x MPS 3302 Mains power supply Pictures here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-Hx7EftTY3t4oUeD1dG2c7K1ESzEQqh2?usp=sharing Untested, sold as seen £70 ish Collection from University of Bath

Allen and Heath GL3 that has seen far better days, certainly not working. Would be nice if it could go for spares, or a very intensive repair, rather than the bin. £50 (the fader caps and knobs are surprisingly valuable and it still has most of them) Pictures here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ovg4bN56PinZn1j44tsZPRNiEkMWgSWS/view?usp=sharing Collection from the University of Bath

An Arri imagine 3 (a rebadged ETC Expression x2) than no longer turns on, this is suspected to be power supply failure. Would make a nice project is someone would like to try and nurse life back into it, the alternative is sadly the bin. Has a nice flightcase which is in decent condition. £60 inc flightcase £20 ex flightcase Collection from the University of Bath

This seems to be what is recommended by manufactures. DPA did a good article on it here: https://www.dpamicrophones.com/mic-university/proper-mic-hygiene

I think it is really down to the designer: for the show I saw it done they needed a set piece to be very low to the ground and very stable, so it made sense for the wheels to retract/extend. The set piece had a CO2 cylinder inside of it which provided the pressure to run the system, which was controlled using disguised buttons on the outside of it.

If this isn't ok then Mods please remove! I am currently selling an MC^2 T1500 on Ebay, which to me looks like it fills all you needs (data sheet: https://www.mc2-audio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/t1500_datasheet.pdf), and is well within your budget. It is certainly an incredibly robust, good amp, at a price well within your budget. PM me if you are interested

Stage electrics certainly offer the service, I don't know if they will do it in the North West, or how competitive on price they would be They have always been very thorough and good to work with in my experience (in an education setting)

Yeah it is absolutely maddening, the only way round it is to print lots of labels at once using the "chain" function, and cut using a pair of scissors

Thanks everyone for your replies, I think I will go with the one suggested by Dicky (Brother PET 300VP) as it seems very good value for what it is. Any recommendation on what type of tape to use? Consensus seems to be that the off brand ones are fine, but do the the flexible, heat shrink ect work are are they a gimick?

Has anyone got any suggestions of useful features to have in a label printer, and secondly any suggestions of make/model? I am looking for a handheld unit, that won't be too expensive to run Thanks

I think long term Tungsten is toast, so I have told the school that I am involved with to start saving because in a few years they are going to need to take a big hit. There are big savings by going LED, not just the energy. LED removes the need for PAT testing huge quantities of socapex, removes the need for lots of dimmers and their maintenance ect, massively reduces the amount of heavy power you need to run in for an event, removes lamp costs, in some cases removes gel costs, much safer as it doesn't get as hot ect ect. Yes it is expensive, but buying a tungsten S4 is not much cheaper than a colour source LED S4, and that cost will quickly disappear with the savings you will get out of led. You also only need one colour source to do the job of 2 or 3 Tungsten S4, so the flexibility you gain is huge

The problem I see with this is that if you start heating a rig up to the point where cable droop/lx tape failing is a problem, then the cables are quickly going to be the least of your concerns. We would then need to look at how the rest of our kit holds up to being heated up like that- I can't imagine hemp bars would take it well! Neither would slings or strops, and you would have to look at how large, plastic cased items (projectors, moving heads ect) would respond, along with pretty much every other component of a rig. It does make a lot of sense to have cables well supported over fire exits- the easiest way to achieve that is for venues to install cable tray over each exit, which would have the added bonus of making our lives much easier when running cable. Because its easier than the alternative it also means it will get used, rather than some rule (everyone must use stainless steel cable ties ect ect) that isn't enforced and is therefore widely ignored. I think what is actually needed is better fire fighting plans for a theatre/stage environment. I certainly wouldn't want to have to go into a theatre that was on fire, because there comes a point when things are going to start falling out of the sky. At first it may be the cables, but eventually bars, drapes, lights, set ect are going to start falling, and as the person on the ground in a smoke filled room its probably impossible to tell when that exact moment will be. The ideal is to avoid putting anyone in that situation of having to go into that environment.

I would be very surprised if you can't find a torch bright enough. Have a look at the torches aimed at the shooting/hunting market (search "Lamping"). These often have different coloured LEDs or filters that fit the torches to change the colours, and are used at 200+ meters so are very bright. Have a look at the LEDLenser brand

Do you want something tightly focused or a wide spread? If focused have a look at the LED (with zoom) torches on ebay/amazon. Some bodergy could be done to arrange a power supply rather than using a battery. If a wide spread hen have a look at LED floodlights from the same sources.

Thanks everyone for all the help with this. Massive thanks also to graemeftv of Ultralightsound, who very kindly sent me (for free) a headset and some other bits that he had lying around, it was massively generous of him, and is very much appreciated!