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Remote Controlling Your Sound Cues
OK...there are three contenders here.
(1) Kerry Pollacks Show Tech and mini tech.
(2) The Virtual Soundman
(3) The Cuemaster Pro
There's also a guy here who built his own, using an off the shelf remote and a laptop:
The showtech is prohibitively expensive for me. It does have the benefit of being able to control ANYTHING. However, Fog machines, lasers and strobes can be easily fitted to a simple on off remote. I see benefits to having multiple remotes in that you can put them in whatever prop you are handling during the cue. You can buy on/off remotes at www.X10.com
I want to set off a fog machine and a strobe during a floating table routine, so it makes sense to put those remotes IN THE TABLE, since both my hands will be busy.
OK heres what I see as being the benefits to buying an off the self system like the VSRC or Cuemaster.
1) RF remote as opposed to IR. THis means that the signal is broadcasted over radio waves, so it doesn't have to be aimed...the remote can be fired from your pocket...your lapel, anywhere. I THINK that you can get a mini disc player that comes WITH an RF remote.
2) Very good range. Majiloon claims the VRSC has 150 feet. The remote in the above link has only 100. (See the remotes homepage at http://www.l3sys.com/index.html)
3) An interface that is specifically designed to be operated by the performer on stage. However the cuemaster uses a standard garage door opener "keychain" remote. This has the benefit of being small and concealable. The genii guy liked the large remote on the VRSC, however, since it was easy to find the controls, and he claimed that it rode unobtrusively on his belt.
A couple of things.
(1) How much range do you need? Does the Player (CD, MD, MP3, whatever) have to be in the sound booth? If they can wire a microphone, they should be able to wire a small cd player to the stage. Then your player can be easily hidden in your propcase or on top of the speaker. I believe that there are cd players that come with RF remotes…then its just a matter of training yourself to manipulate the remote without looking (This may be easier said than done). You could also pipe your laptop out to the speakers and use the PC remote. If the playback device is on stage with you, then you only need the range to be as big as the stage.
(2) I suspect that a large amount of the expense in both the cuemaster and the VSRC is the software…this is a strong argument for the laptop solution. (Of course, if you don’t have a laptop, then its more expensive, but the laptop can be used for other things.) A laptop might get stolen at the venue, but then so could a cd player.
With additional off the shelf software and midi cables, you can control your lights, fog, etc from the laptop. A palmtop would be even better, if you can find a PS2 adapter for a palm.
X10 also makes a PC remote that is much cheaper. Its at http://www.x10.com/products/x10_mr26a.htm#
However, I’ve heard that people have had problems with x10 stuff. It may not be reliable at that price. Also, I was not able to find out if it would work with the small keychain remote, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t. But then I know nothing about this stuff.
(1) Kerry Pollacks Show Tech and mini tech.
(2) The Virtual Soundman
(3) The Cuemaster Pro
There's also a guy here who built his own, using an off the shelf remote and a laptop:
The showtech is prohibitively expensive for me. It does have the benefit of being able to control ANYTHING. However, Fog machines, lasers and strobes can be easily fitted to a simple on off remote. I see benefits to having multiple remotes in that you can put them in whatever prop you are handling during the cue. You can buy on/off remotes at www.X10.com
I want to set off a fog machine and a strobe during a floating table routine, so it makes sense to put those remotes IN THE TABLE, since both my hands will be busy.
OK heres what I see as being the benefits to buying an off the self system like the VSRC or Cuemaster.
1) RF remote as opposed to IR. THis means that the signal is broadcasted over radio waves, so it doesn't have to be aimed...the remote can be fired from your pocket...your lapel, anywhere. I THINK that you can get a mini disc player that comes WITH an RF remote.
2) Very good range. Majiloon claims the VRSC has 150 feet. The remote in the above link has only 100. (See the remotes homepage at http://www.l3sys.com/index.html)
3) An interface that is specifically designed to be operated by the performer on stage. However the cuemaster uses a standard garage door opener "keychain" remote. This has the benefit of being small and concealable. The genii guy liked the large remote on the VRSC, however, since it was easy to find the controls, and he claimed that it rode unobtrusively on his belt.
A couple of things.
(1) How much range do you need? Does the Player (CD, MD, MP3, whatever) have to be in the sound booth? If they can wire a microphone, they should be able to wire a small cd player to the stage. Then your player can be easily hidden in your propcase or on top of the speaker. I believe that there are cd players that come with RF remotes…then its just a matter of training yourself to manipulate the remote without looking (This may be easier said than done). You could also pipe your laptop out to the speakers and use the PC remote. If the playback device is on stage with you, then you only need the range to be as big as the stage.
(2) I suspect that a large amount of the expense in both the cuemaster and the VSRC is the software…this is a strong argument for the laptop solution. (Of course, if you don’t have a laptop, then its more expensive, but the laptop can be used for other things.) A laptop might get stolen at the venue, but then so could a cd player.
With additional off the shelf software and midi cables, you can control your lights, fog, etc from the laptop. A palmtop would be even better, if you can find a PS2 adapter for a palm.
X10 also makes a PC remote that is much cheaper. Its at http://www.x10.com/products/x10_mr26a.htm#
However, I’ve heard that people have had problems with x10 stuff. It may not be reliable at that price. Also, I was not able to find out if it would work with the small keychain remote, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t. But then I know nothing about this stuff.
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