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Simple Mixer for Remotes

C

ChiefOperator

Football season has arrived, and we're sending our sports guys into the field. We've been using a Mackie mixer in front of our Tieline.

We're now having a problem with our guys failing to dial-in the proper gain structure (just too many knobs to turn). I need to get a MUCH simpler mixer. I'm generally not a fan of Rolls, but management has asked me to evaluate these two. They definitely look simple. Does anyone have an experience with either. Which mixers are you folks using?

http://www.rolls.com/product.php?pid=MX410

http://www.rolls.com/product.php?pid=MX422


Thanks!
 
Our sports guy is a Steve Carrel charachter from his movie about a 40 year old.....man.

The JK Audio sport mixer at $600 or so is so simple even a 40 year old ...man can operate it. Anything requiring a portable gator rack is overkill. Once in the rack with no engineer at a remote site things become loose and the announcer doesn't see it. Stupid is as stupid does. It creates one more layer of problems.

Imagine this. Sports broadcast,table. On table the JK sits in an open plain. I can ask the guy on the phone if the mic is plugged in to the 3 input mixer. He can see it. If he has to turn it, it weighs about 3 lbs. Few knobs, They are all visible. Less knobs than the rolls. Runs on battery too f needed. JK can send an output to cell or the same low level input feeds an input on the laptop for Skype. Has a big plug to feed phone also. 3 headphone outputs with discrete level control. The Rolls will require more outboard components and is heavier.

We know weight and bulkiness are a problem. The broadcast equipment is the least of the interest of most Mr. Sports types. Jack Dutton thought he was having a heart attack. Had an odd feeling. Almost dropped the sports gear. (The hot dog in his pants pocket(actual not euphemism) was leaking ketchup and relish into his pants. False alarm.)

10 years of service on the JK. Runs around in a pelican case about the size of a shoebox. Go to frys for Pelican cases cheap. have never had a Rolls anything last this long. Couldn't make up my mind initially and we owned a Shure mixer at the non com. A lot of money for us. I have used it over and over and over and have never regretted the purchase.

Beats the Zercom we used for years being powered by a women's shaving device power supply.
 
The Rolls is not what you want for the intended purpose. JK and perhaps at least one other mfr make products specifically for remotes, including cellphone, and dial-up.
 
Chief and Bill-

Thanks for the input, but we already have a Tieline Codec that we're using for the remotes, so we don't need additional remote gear with dial-up and cell interfaces. Instead, we need an easy to use, basic mixer to be used with the Tieline. (Basically a front-end to the Tieline to mix headsets, crowd mics, etc). As I mentioned, the Mackie is too complex for our folks.
 
From personal experience I can tell you that the Rolls product cannot be used within 10-15' of most cellphones and Marti xmtrs due to interference and is perhaps the least hardy built device on the planet. Sending a Rolls device into Press Boxes is asking for trouble IMO. If you only need to mix mics together, get a Shure mic mixer.
-D
 
Yep on the Shure mixer. We have one. If talent can't figure that one out, they won't know how to start their own car. In fact, we use one as the front-end for our Tieline Patriot when doing remote talk shows.

The Shure mixer is the same width as the Tieline. If you put longer screws in the top of the mixer, the Tieline will sort of snap on to the mixer.
 
I was wondering what happened to the venerable Shure mic mixer for remotes. The old ones were as rugged as you can get. Haven't seen a new one - the old ones are still in service.
 
SirRoxalot said:
I was wondering what happened to the venerable Shure mic mixer for remotes. The old ones were as rugged as you can get. Haven't seen a new one - the old ones are still in service.
Click to expand...

Me too. I had an old M267 that I had gotten off eBay that I used to carry in case the RemoteMix Sport needed some more inputs.

For an easy codec mixer, I'd recommend one of the JK series, RemoteMix Sport or the RemoteMix 4. It saves you from having to carry both a mixer and a headphone DA. We run the output of a RM Sport into our Comrex Access, and then the headphone out of the Access back into the cue input of the RM Sport. If the Comrex dies, plug a cell phone into the RM Sport to get on the air.

I do drag a Gator case for football games, but I built the thing myself. I used one of the Shure 1U rackmount mixers (SCM800 I think), plus a headphone DA, wireless mic receiver, and cue transmitter for the sideline guy. Sure, maybe it's overkill for a high school game having 2 booth mics, guest headset, shotgun mic on top of the press box, sideline reporter on wireless, plus ref mic patch from the PA system, but it sure sounds good on the air! ;D
 
A Mackie board is easy to use. I've used a VLZ-1202 for various projects since the mid 1990s without any issues. I'm confused that you would have people that wouldn't be able to use a Mackie board for a live remote...there's really not much to it.

A Shure M267 is about as easy as it gets, but in my use of them for live sound, it is my understanding they just broadcast in Mono. Not sure if that makes a difference for your broadcast or not

As Bill mentions, if your talent can't figure out the Shure M267; then they need to get their heads checked. It's really not difficult to use.

Still, though; for the sake of your broadcast- What about the Mackie board, does your talent not know how to adjust. Most knobs on it should be pre-adjusted, so the only thing that your talent should need to fool around with is the Fader for the specified channel of audio....

Just my thoughts.
 
Places I've worked have used both of the recommended products (JK RemoteMix; Shure 267). Never had to repair one. Never had to explain one.

I prefer the RemoteMix because it takes care of hearing the studio and the other mic inputs. Not sure if its compatible with a TieLine, as far as hearing the return audio goes.
 
techie2 said:
...Sure, maybe it's overkill for a high school game having 2 booth mics, guest headset, shotgun mic on top of the press box, sideline reporter on wireless, plus ref mic patch from the PA system, but it sure sounds good on the air! ;D
Click to expand...

Overkill? Add another small mixer and headphone amp for the locker room, and you have the kit I did my last Big 12 game with!
(well, except for the shotgun...I used the TV effects feed for field mics ;D )
 
We’ve had problems letting anyone other than an experienced remote tech run a Mackie. They are not "simple" to the average jock. Just one button out of place or an effects pot up where it shouldn't be will cause all sort of mayhem. Especially with program, mix-minus, and PA feeds coming out of the same mixer.

The RemoteMix works good with almost anything. BlueBox, Access, XPort, cell phone.
 
I do drag a Gator case for football games, but I built the thing myself. I used one of the Shure 1U rackmount mixers (SCM800 I think), plus a headphone DA, wireless mic receiver, and cue transmitter for the sideline guy. Sure, maybe it's overkill for a high school game having 2 booth mics, guest headset, shotgun mic on top of the press box, sideline reporter on wireless, plus ref mic patch from the PA system, but it sure sounds good on the air! ;D
[/quote]


I use all of that plus ISDN for home games, Bluebox on the road with a JK for backup, a rack mount mini disc for logging plays (still the best use ever for MD) and a part 15 xmtr for in stadium feed, the booster club demands that! And unfortunately our home booth is the size of a sardine can.
 
The problem with the Mackie is that many folks can't set a proper gain structure, which the Mackie requires. I've sent the Mackie into the field pre-configured only to have later problems: someone will try to make an adjustment only to start "tweaking" other levels once he or she can't get the levels adjusted properly.

I'm tired of the late night calls, so we'll be looking at a Shure that has simple level controls.
 
With absolutely no disrespect aimed at jocks (been one myself as needed over the years), I've only met a couple in nearly 25-yrs capable of operating anything more complex than a Shure or JK. And if you do find one with those skills, you probably will want to keep an eye on the mic processors... ;D
-D
 
The current model Shure is more compact than the old ones, and it's still very simple. Four mic inputs, all transformer-coupled, an aux input, and a transformer-coupled output... it's model SCM268, about $250.00. Also has phantom power. Very cool, very simple.
 
I've used a little Behringer mixer in the field a lot, and it's travelled pretty well for a few years now. The price is so reasonable that you could replace one a year and not feel much pain. But if they can't figure out the Mackie....
 
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