Trying to match new equipment with old

[matt_beal]

+1 for what Pritch said... The showtec DMUX is fine for use in a school.

 

Another thing to bear in mind is that unless you're a very dab hand with a Soldering Iron, you're going to need to get someone to supply you with the correct adaptors as well. The output of the DMUX will be a 25pin D plug, which will need to fan out to four 8-Pin Din cables and are a complete pain to make up... you can usually buy them for £70ish. There is some variability as to the exact pin outs too, so you'll need to be specific which DMUX and which Dimmers you are using when talking to your supplier.

 

Matt

[themadhippy]

which will need to fan out to four 8-Pin Din cables

It might be old enough to use those big ole octal plugs,think bulgin made em,very simaler to a valve base

[TechOllie]

What exactly is your involvement with this project, Ollie?

 

Well the school, after getting there budget cut, were struggling to get there equipment sorted. So they asked if I could pop in and find a solution. I couldn't think of an immediate one so I posted this thread.

 

+1 for what Pritch said... The showtec DMUX is fine for use in a school.

 

Another thing to bear in mind is that unless you're a very dab hand with a Soldering Iron, you're going to need to get someone to supply you with the correct adapters as well. The output of the DMUX will be a 25pin D plug, which will need to fan out to four 8-Pin Din cables and are a complete pain to make up... you can usually buy them for £70ish. There is some variability as to the exact pin outs too, so you'll need to be specific which DMUX and which Dimmers you are using when talking to your supplier.

 

Matt

 

I'm okay with a soldering iron actually but it may be better and easier to buy the adapters. Thank you.

which will need to fan out to four 8-Pin Din cables

It might be old enough to use those big ole octal plugs,think bulgin made em,very simaler to a valve base

 

Ah, I will look into that idea. Thank you.

 

Ollie

[MrBoomal]

I think you need to find out what is going on. You say the budget has been reduced from 25k to 10k.

 

You should be able to pick up an Orb for between £3k-4K, so there should be another £6000 worth of equipment to come.

 

I'd find out what it is before you start doing anything.

[simschr]

Ollie,

 

Do you know the name/contact details of your Stage Electrics rep? If I were you I'd find out this, and give one of the guys a call on Monday morning. I'm sure he/she would be happy to talk through what was supplied and why.

 

Chris

[TechOllie]

I think you need to find out what is going on. You say the budget has been reduced from 25k to 10k.

 

You should be able to pick up an Orb for between £3k-4K, so there should be another £6000 worth of equipment to come.

 

I'd find out what it is before you start doing anything.

 

There was also 6k of sound equipment.

 

Ollie,

 

Do you know the name/contact details of your Stage Electrics rep? If I were you I'd find out this, and give one of the guys a call on Monday morning. I'm sure he/she would be happy to talk through what was supplied and why.

 

Chris

 

 

Yes I think that is what I shall do.

 

Ollie

[jonhole]

If you've got Strand dimmers, chances are they're -10v controlled; the Zero88 demux only does +10v.

 

Besides, the Showtec one, despite its price, is quite well thought of round these parts; it'll do + or -10v, too.

 

The Zero 88 Demux can to + and - 10v, even though the Stage website only says + 10v.

 

There is more info here:

 

http://www.zero88.com/en/products/3/50

[Paul TC]

Does anybody have any suggestions on which one to get or do they know of a better from somewhere else?

 

Another example of the 72channel unit,

 

Botex ME72

 

Thomann Pricing

 

Do not forget to include costs for cables to convert from 25 pin D-types to your 8-pin DIN control cables

 

Google the Blue Room for "Botex ME-72" for more info.

[PaulDF]

Another one which looks the same but in a slightly different box:

http://cpc.farnell.com/elation/multi-data-...30320?Ntt=demux

[springgrove]

Another example of the 72channel unit,

 

Botex ME72

 

Thomann Pricing

 

Do not forget to include costs for cables to convert from 25 pin D-types to your 8-pin DIN control cables

 

Google the Blue Room for "Botex ME-72" for more info.

 

I agree that the Botex is good value for money, and Thomann sell it at a good price.

 

Some photos of your existing gear would have helped everyone identify it and offer much more specific advice. If you have further questions, TechOllie, how about some pictures?

 

Nigel

[WiLL]

As a user of the Zero88 Orb I can't fault it, but it does sound to me that if your budget is now 10K, 6K of which is sound, then the orb will pretty much be the other 4K. Now a £4000 desk may look very smart but without the dimmers or any way to control the existing rig it is just something shiny that the headteacher can look at and say, "my that does look smart, this will improve my theatre no end." When the reality is that it is rendered useless. I would talk to Stage Electrics and explain the problem, maybe they can take the Orb back and give you a smaller, cheaper desk which is still adequate for your needs, freeing up a thousand pounds or so which would enable them to fit in a working interface with your existing rig.

We can talk about appropriate desks endlessly, and indeed there are about a hundred threads on the subject at least on these forums. But I should think that a Zero88 Jester, possibly with a moving light wing if your school hires those in would be more appropriate.

 

 

And before I get flamed, yes I have an Orb at my venue, yes that venue is a school, however I'm employed as a full-time technician unlike many other schools so I know how to use all the equipment I have spent the last 4 years buying for my venue.... and every technician needs a toy.