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dewdrop_world
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 858 Location: Guangzhou, China
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Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject:
Hardware advice for outdoor performance |
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I'm starting to work on some pieces to play outside in Washington DC, which leads naturally to the question of what to play them on. The sound source will be a MacBook Pro running SuperCollider. For the initial run, I will probably stick to two channels and use the built-in audio out; later on, I'm considering four, six or even eight channels fed by a MOTU Ultralite.
My constraints and wishes:
- Everything has to be self powered; I can't count on finding an electrical outlet outside. If the components are not battery powered (rechargeable, preferably), I would need to have a portable and quiet power source.
- I don't need high volume or audiophile quality. This is going to be in a noisy city environment and my sounds should blend into, and augment, the ambient noise. Somewhat lo fi is okay, but I also have to think ahead to events in more typical performance venues so I don't want the quality to be too bad.
- Money is a factor, as in I don't have a whole lot of it to spend.
- Size is a factor. I would prefer the speakers to be unobtrusive in the environment.
Any thoughts? I'm not well schooled in PA technology.
Thanks in advance --
James _________________ ddw online: http://www.dewdrop-world.net
sc3 online: http://supercollider.sourceforge.net |
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dewdrop_world
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 858 Location: Guangzhou, China
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject:
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Having looked at PA gear on sweetwater, I can pretty safely say that traditional PA speakers are not what I'm after here. They're all so big that they would call too much attention to themselves.
I'll keep poking around but if anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.
hjh _________________ ddw online: http://www.dewdrop-world.net
sc3 online: http://supercollider.sourceforge.net |
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kkissinger
Joined: Mar 28, 2006 Posts: 1354 Location: Kansas City, Mo USA
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject:
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Well, if your music doesn't have any bass then you can get away with less power and smaller speakers. Radio shack makes little mono amplifiers for around 14 bucks each... powered by 9 volt batteries.
http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=amplifier%20mini&origkw=amplifier%20mini&sr=1
Or, you might want to use boom boxes for better frequency response. Or small powered computer speakers.
In all these cases, you could run line level signals to your speakers.
You would have the option of using bigger speakers and amps for some channels that require it... your application as you described probably wouldn't require "studio monitor" quality.
Interesting project... keep us posted.
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Somewhat lo fi is okay, but I also have to think ahead to events in more typical performance venues so I don't want the quality to be too bad. |
just caught this line in your post... well, my solutions are definately low-fi.
For more traditional venues, my solutions would likely be too lo-fi with the possible exception of the boom box solution. Actually, would be interesting to hear what one could do with a load of boom boxes _________________ -- Kevin
http://kevinkissinger.com |
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dewdrop_world
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 858 Location: Guangzhou, China
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject:
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I had actually considered boomboxes. Still thinking about it.
You know what Phil Kline does with boomboxes, no?
Here is one thing, but not the coolest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_JMRwc5b_8
But Bachman's Warbler is amazing, using boomboxes and tape loops to turn blues riffs on a harmonica into a head-throbbing, pulsing, distorted exploration of room resonance, like "I am sitting in a room" on coke and speed. Totally low tech and shocking (in a good way).
James _________________ ddw online: http://www.dewdrop-world.net
sc3 online: http://supercollider.sourceforge.net |
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seraph
Editor
Joined: Jun 21, 2003 Posts: 12398 Location: Firenze, Italy
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 11:16 pm Post subject:
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dewdrop_world wrote: | "I am sitting in a room" |
you mean this one. right _________________ homepage - blog - forum - youtube
Quote: | Don't die with your music still in you - Wayne Dyer |
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dewdrop_world
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 858 Location: Guangzhou, China
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:08 am Post subject:
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Yes, that would be the one.
Thanks for the link... follow the one for UBUWEB on that page and you can download the entire 1969 recording of "I am sitting in a room." Got it on my iPod now!
James _________________ ddw online: http://www.dewdrop-world.net
sc3 online: http://supercollider.sourceforge.net |
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dewdrop_world
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 858 Location: Guangzhou, China
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:23 am Post subject:
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These are an intriguing thought... small, lightweight, and the subwoofer is not a bad idea either. Not entirely out of my price range.
Boomtube VS0200
The amazon reviews are pretty good, but I don't quite trust them... I once bought a cheap espresso machine on the basis of good amazon reviews, but it was total crap.
James _________________ ddw online: http://www.dewdrop-world.net
sc3 online: http://supercollider.sourceforge.net |
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dewdrop_world
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 858 Location: Guangzhou, China
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EdisonRex
Site Admin
Joined: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 4579 Location: London, UK
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Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 6:24 am Post subject:
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Virgin label, eh.
Yes, that would explain the "oh so cool" affectation. If Virgin made computers, then Apple would be out of business. _________________ Garret: It's so retro.
EGM: What does retro mean to you?
Parker: Like, old and outdated.
Home,My Studio,and another view |
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