Multi zone audio

[mm01]

As much out of curiosity as anything but how is audio split from a (small) mixer to multiple zones? I have been chatting to a friend about his pub and the PA system isnt up to much so he was asking what could be done to split things into different zones for different areas playing the same source but just at different volumes. He has a mixture of bands, DJS, football and backgournd music. He has a contact with a local company that he is going to approach but I dont know how its done so thought I would ask the question. He has a small Behringer mixer with 2 outputs that he essentiall wants to split into 4 or 5 "zones" because of the unusual layout of the pub. Once set the individual zones wont need adjusting.

 

Is there something that can route the signal to multiple amps?

 

Many thanks for any information.

[Bryson]

You want a small matrix mixer, essentially. There's lots to choose from, here's a Behringer one that will likely do the trick: https://www.behringer.com/Categories/Behringer/Mixers/Rackmount/ZMX2600/p/P0B3P#googtrans(en|en)

 

2 ins, 6 outs. 90 Euros

[sandall]

Is there something that can route the signal to multiple amps?

The mixer can feed as many amps in parallel as you want, by "daisy-chaining" from one to the next. Most "professional" amps have jack & XLR inputs, so connect the mixer to, say, the XLR & connect the jack to the next amp's XLR. Alternatively, for a pub you probably don't need stereo, so maybe buy a 4-channel amp.

[sunray]

Is there something that can route the signal to multiple amps?

The mixer can feed as many amps in parallel as you want, by "daisy-chaining" from one to the next. Most "professional" amps have jack & XLR inputs, so connect the mixer to, say, the XLR & connect the jack to the next amp's XLR. Alternatively, for a pub you probably don't need stereo, so maybe buy a 4-channel amp.

I depends on the amps used, if they are unbalanced there could easily be an earthloop issue. Other than that this is a very common arrangement, certainly the way we did it in night clubs.

[sunray]

Is there something that can route the signal to multiple amps?

The mixer can feed as many amps in parallel as you want, by "daisy-chaining" from one to the next. Most "professional" amps have jack & XLR inputs, so connect the mixer to, say, the XLR & connect the jack to the next amp's XLR. Alternatively, for a pub you probably don't need stereo, so maybe buy a 4-channel amp.

I depends on the amps used, if they are unbalanced there could easily be an earthloop issue. Other than that this is a very common arrangement, certainly the way we did it in night clubs.

Many of the amps we used had a 'LINK' switch which was a plain simple link between the 2 input XLRs so it was quite common for me to sit and make a big batch of male to male leads 12 &18 inches long. I tended to make them whenever I had spare time at work and having 20-50 in stock was normal.

 

[J Pearce]

Keep an eye on eBay for Cloud stuff (search Cloud Zone), they had the market in pub/club multiroom distribution for many years, and their stuff is pretty bombproof. They also have accessories like wall mount switches (that fit a standard backbox) with input and volume control, so you can give bar staff/management control without letting them loose in the amp/processing rack.

[p.k.roberts]

As has already been said, for a single audio source, feed the mixer into multiple amplifiers or multi channel amplifier (one for each 'zone' or area) and the volume in each area can then be independently controlled.

If you're interested in more information, one of the other players in this field is Cloud and there is a ton of info on their website under both the 'applications' and the resource' sections.

https://www.cloud.co.uk/applications

[sunray]

Has always worked a treat for me.

As has already been said, for a single audio source, feed the mixer into multiple amplifiers or multi channel amplifier (one for each 'zone' or area) and the volume in each area can then be independently controlled.

If you're interested in more information, one of the other players in this field is Cloud and there is a ton of info on their website under both the 'applications' and the resource' sections.

https://www.cloud.co.uk/applications

[alistermorton]

Is he looking to distribute one audio source to different zones at different times, or multiple sources to multiple zones?

[sandall]

Is he looking to distribute one audio source to different zones at different times, or multiple sources to multiple zones?

"different areas playing the same source but just at different volumes."

[alistermorton]

Ah, missed that detail.

[TomHoward]

We've always used the Cloud stuff, eg a Z4 for 4 zone or a Z8 for 8 zones. Then you can adjust the volume for that area on the front of the mixer, or you can fit a RL1 wallplate in the remote area and change the level there.

They also allow for switching source per zone, so would usually be fed by audio from satellite box, CD player, radio input, etc, which you wouldn't need in this setup so you could do it more simply.

 

They also have useful features for simple setups like a mic input that automatically ducks the level of the music inputs, and that kind of thing.

 

The products are quite expensive new but there isn't a huge 2nd hand market for them (they're a bit specialist) so sometimes you get real bargains on eBay.

[sandall]

It was Cloud I was thinking of when I suggested a 4-channel amp, but there are (probably cheaper) alternatives out there.

[jacethebase]

As said above the cloud stuff is great. 15-20 years ago the Zone stuff was everywhere.

How ever after the zone days the Soundweb days came and ohh wow did that ever open things up.

 

1u unit 8 in 8 out full matrix and on board DSP made the 9088xxx units some of the most popular units sold by anyone.

 

The 9088iiss of which I consider to be one of the major technical advancements in the install industry for the past few decades. The 9088iiss can be picked up on eBay for around £100 these days.

Softwares a bit clunky compared to modern equivalents.

 

Modern days the Yamaha MTX series is mind blowing. I love the units!

[Stuart91]

1u unit 8 in 8 out full matrix and on board DSP made the 9088xxx units some of the most popular units sold by anyone.

 

A huge amount of them ended up in the Millennium Dome.

The shipment was split between two trucks, because if one truck was in an accident and wiped out all the units, the factory wouldn't be able to produce enough replacements in time.

 

The 9088iiss of which I consider to be one of the major technical advancements in the install industry for the past few decades. The 9088iiss can be picked up on eBay for around £100 these days.

Softwares a bit clunky compared to modern equivalents.

 

The thing that seems to be the struggle these days is getting a serial interface with the correct pinning etc. I remember keeping one XP laptop far beyond a reasonable retirement date, simply because it could talk to our remaining Soundwebs without issue.

 

If you can get round the interface issues, then they're an absolute steal at £100. We found that the 9088ii had a significantly lower noise floor than its predecessor, so it might be the one to go for.