Audio delima!

[rwrussom]

With Reaper do all of your tracks have to be identical in length so that they all cycle together? That's something I ran into a couple of years ago when trying to do a soundcard based solution..

In other words if one mp3 files was 27 seconds long and another was 30 seconds you would have three seconds of silence until the 30 second file looped.

Yes, Reaper is basically a multitrack mixing software that when combined with the M-audio cards can be used to pass the audio to multiple outputs instead of mixing it down. This is always the problem with mixing boards and most software that this setup overcomes.

So, to answer the question, all the tracks loop together. I just built out the tracks to something like a half hour long. Yes, they initially vary in length. With the software you can select all the items in a track and lengthen or shorten them (have them play faster or slower). This way the track lenths can be matched. The slight change change in pace lost over the half hour or more of an individual track is not noticed, especially with the type of audio most of us use.

[Allen H]

I use audacity to create, lengthen, layer, and shorten tracks as necessary for my shows. It s a great free program that EFXtek guys told me about. Its also my favorite color-FREE!
http://www.gofree.com/audacity.php?g...FUHr7QodolZtHA
Allen H

[rwrussom]

I agree, its one of the few other pieces of software on my audio dedicated computer. Yeah Free!

[Allen H]

Randy,
can the set up you describe below play 32 different mp3 tracks at once?

audio hardware is NOT my strong point.
Allen H

[DarkTikiEntertainment]

I researched this a couple of years ago and found a centralized solution that has been working great for us for a few seasons now. I had looked at Alcorn McBride and theme park based solutions and they were just out of our budget. I put together a 16 zone solution for about $6000 including speakers and it is awesome, I can direct any one channel to all 16 zones, (which we do to play the radio in the whole building sometimes) or one channel per zone or any combination thereof... really flexible. I am adding an additional rack this season as we have outgrown the 16 zones this year.

I use American Audio SDJ1 players (SD card digital) for sources and Samson Servo amps, and a Behringer mixing board and an Audio Matrix for switching. All of these items are out there inexpensive used and make for a really nice solution.

Here's our current system before wiring as I was installing it.

I'm a full-time video game Sound Designer/Composer (and a wannabe haunt owner), and I have to say... I am impressed with the sound system you put together! Prior to my game audio career, I used to do live sound, and I've worked with some pretty complicated rigs before (with audio stored on swapable hard drives, controlled by an automated digital mixing board, linked to lighting boards and stage automation, etc.), but for a haunt situation I think your solution is perfect! Your SD players should be rock solid, and you have total routing flexibility... All at a VERY reasonable price. Kudos to you! Out of curiosity, what model number mixer and audio matrix you are using? I can't quite tell from the picture. Again, I think your solution is great!

[DarkTikiEntertainment]

This year I put together the head unit for 32 channels of audio with used equipment for around $500.

Got an old athon computer and a rack case from craigs list. My main requirment was that it have 4 - PCI slots.

The audio output is with four M-Audio 1010lt cards that can be found for 80-120 on ebay. Each card outputs 8 anolog tracks to your basic RCA jack. (they also have 8 inputs if needed)

Software use to control it is Reaper, an open sorce free or low cost very powerful product.

Basically nothig else running on it. Never failed all season. Each track easily switched out and controllable.

Can be set up for on button mute and switch to mike input for PA (or whole haunt music during build season)

I've been hearing a lot of good things about Reaper lately, I might have to check it out. Kudos on an inventive solution!

[rwrussom]

Randy,
can the set up you describe below play 32 different mp3 tracks at once?

audio hardware is NOT my strong point.
Allen H

Allen,
Short answer - Yes., that was what I designed it for.

The cards can do 8 tracks each and the M-Audio software maxes out at seeing 4 linked but indendent cards, so the best I have been able to figure is 32 tracks is the max from a single box. It is hard enough to find a mother board with 4 PCI slots as it is so more is unlikely.

Reaper has basically unlimited tracks. You assign a track to an output, or multiple outputs. You can have multiple tracks assigned to a single output and switch on and off as desired with a click of a mouse. It is a full mixing program, way more powerful than anything else in the price range.

[Karl Fields]

Allan,
We have a similar system to Brett, but maxed out at 16 channels due to I/O slots available.

I am keeping the system as the M-audio and CuBase also control our outside yard show, via MIDI, but am setting up for 2011 with EFX-TEK's AP16+ boards. Each board gives me 20 RMS amps and two channels. I got 14 boards and this should work well for our room tracks. 50 watts @ 18vdc per board was a bitch, but overall I think I'll be happy with it. For a little over $100 each, I think the boards are a great deal - just add speakers and an SD card.

[beardedbil]

I just wanted to post some other solutions that are out there as well... I do understand that budget comes into play but sometimes haunts try to go with the cheapest method available but that isn't always the best method in the long run. I do like Brett's system as well as Karl's mainly because they stay away from computers. While you may never experience any issues with crashing or corruption on your audio computers, there is a much higher chance of failure using an old or used computer then with equipment that was designed to be running 24/7 as an audio repeater.

Alcorn McBride: (expensive but most reliable)
AM4 - Single Channel Audio Repeater
8TraXX - 8 Stereo channels or 16 mono channels of audio in one rack space.
AmpTraXX - 16 channel amplifier to power your speakers.
ProTraXX - 8 stereo tracks that can be triggered by a dedicated input, allowing for proximity sensor or switches, plus microphone/aux input for Zone paging.
Binloop - 32 Tracks of 16 or 24-bit audio (one of the most powerful repeaters on the market)

Gilderfluke:
SD-10 - One Stereo channel
SD-25 - One Stereo channel, with Amp.

While Gilderfluke does not offer any multi channel audio repeaters, the SD-10 is so small it is easy to create as many channels as you need. Just add an audio matrix to route any one SD-10 to any speaker in your attraction.

Hauntbots:
Standalone MP3 Player - One Stereo Channel, provides triggerable audio files

Again can stack these players, so you can have as many channels as you need.

Dark Tech Effects are dealers of all the above audio equipment and can assist you in creating the right audio system for your needs and budget. If you have any questions regarding any of these products please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Best,
Bill Rod

[bhays]

Out of curiosity, what model number mixer and audio matrix you are using? I can't quite tell from the picture. Again, I think your solution is great!

It's a 360 Systems Audio Matrix 16. They've been out of production for quite a few years, but still pop up on eBay fairly often. They are dirt simple and do the job so well, can't imagine why they discontinued them.. I have two for the active system and a backup unit in stock and will probably pick up another if the opportunity arises.

http://www.robertsonics.com/MatrixRV1.htm