Published 8/2/08
Affordable personal monitor controller
Whether you’re distributing a monitor mix on stage or to a band in the studio, the ultimate in flexibility is to give each band member control over his or her own monitor level. Until now, this has been the preserve of expensive pro-audio gear, but SM Pro Audio’s new Stage Buddy system could change that, and eliminate the need for separate mic preamps or DI boxes into the bargain.
There are two components: the Stage Buddy Remote provides a headphone amp, two mic/line preamps with phantom power, and a simple reverb. The musician uses the ‘More Me’ control to balance the input signal against a monitor mix arriving at the Remote via Cat5 cable. The Remote splits the two mic or line signals to four XLR outputs, so you can use it to feed separate front of house and monitor mixers.
The other component of the system is the Master unit, which distributes a stereo input signal to eight Cat5 outputs. Multiple Remotes can be daisy-chained from each Cat5 output, so in theory you could use a single Master unit to feed no fewer than 64 Remotes. Stage Buddy Remotes are available individually, and the core product packages four of them with a single Master.
Also new are the iNano, a simple passive volume attenuator in a smart box, the PR8DS eight-channel mic preamp, and the HP6E six-way headphone amp. SM Pro Audio’s sister company Violet Audio, meanwhile, were showing a new signal splitting and distribution system.
Like the Stage Buddy, the DX16I and DX16IT use Cat5 cable, allowing mic-level signals to be sent over long distances without the mess and expense of connecting multiple cables, and are significantly cheaper than existing rivals. Each provides a three-way split for 16 mic inputs, and operates entirely passively, with the IT version adding transformer isolation.
Electro Vision +44 (0)1744 745000
www.electrovision.co.uk
www.smproaudio.com
There are two components: the Stage Buddy Remote provides a headphone amp, two mic/line preamps with phantom power, and a simple reverb. The musician uses the ‘More Me’ control to balance the input signal against a monitor mix arriving at the Remote via Cat5 cable. The Remote splits the two mic or line signals to four XLR outputs, so you can use it to feed separate front of house and monitor mixers.
The other component of the system is the Master unit, which distributes a stereo input signal to eight Cat5 outputs. Multiple Remotes can be daisy-chained from each Cat5 output, so in theory you could use a single Master unit to feed no fewer than 64 Remotes. Stage Buddy Remotes are available individually, and the core product packages four of them with a single Master.
Also new are the iNano, a simple passive volume attenuator in a smart box, the PR8DS eight-channel mic preamp, and the HP6E six-way headphone amp. SM Pro Audio’s sister company Violet Audio, meanwhile, were showing a new signal splitting and distribution system.
Like the Stage Buddy, the DX16I and DX16IT use Cat5 cable, allowing mic-level signals to be sent over long distances without the mess and expense of connecting multiple cables, and are significantly cheaper than existing rivals. Each provides a three-way split for 16 mic inputs, and operates entirely passively, with the IT version adding transformer isolation.
Electro Vision +44 (0)1744 745000
www.electrovision.co.uk
www.smproaudio.com
