Thread: Multiple Sound Controller

I am in need of some recommendations regarding a sound board or controller. My plan is to have 6 skeletons talking to each other and then singing. I want to be able to control there sync (talking) via one board or pc, and by six different sound tracks. I thought I would be able to find a sound controller with 8 outputs. So far, I have not been successful. Does anyone have a suggestion?

I was looking at the http://www.bpesolutions.com/conprodu...l#anchor213739but it wont be available for a few months.

Graveyardmadness

Wow, $215, that's some serious scratch just for the board. For that money you could probably pay 8 homeless people to dress up as skeletons and sing for you.
I know its a bit more low tech, but have you looked at X-10 to see if they have anything.

Yeah... I know what you mean - $215. I am pulling my hair out trying to figure this out. Really not fond of X-10 products - and that is not to say anything negative against them... just not for me.

I am even looking at have mulitple sound cards installed in a pc to control these props... now it is starting to add up.

Any one!?! Help?1?

Thanks
Graveyardmadness

checkout the Visual Show Automation (VSA)...$56
http://www.brookshiresoftware.com/vsa_overview.htm

Use audacity a record your 6 segments into one soundtrack and lay down 6 animation tracks (or more) and sync your skellies.

You'll also need a servo controller...I think PicoPic ...$50..might be the best one...
http://www.picobotics.com/PicoPic.html

As Randy mentioned, VSA and PicoPic are a great combination. I use them to lipsync 9 different characters in 1 scene. I'll try to describe my setup and maybe it will be of some help.
The soundtrack or "audio file" is loaded into the VSA routine. [must be MP3 or Wav format] The output from the PC's sound card is then split to 2 outputs going to 2 separate PA amps [both mono].
Amp "A" plays the soundtrack at set volume through speakers at the back of the scene.
AMP "B" is set slightly louder and plays through 9 speakers wired in parallel that are switched on when that particular prop is activated so the sound is actually coming from that prop.
The lipsync is done using VSA through a PicoPic servo controller connected to servos in the props.
I chose VSA because it will control up to 64 devices through any type port in any combination. I use 3 Parallel ports controlling 3 relay boards of 8 relays each and 2 serial ports controlling 2 PicoPics with 20 servo outputs each.
I chose PicoPic because it's the only one with 20 servo outputs.
Hope this has been of use to you.
The scene with 6 skeletons singing sounds great, post pix when it's done

THOV...do you have any video of your scene?

How easy is it to master VSA and PicoPic? I am already about two months behind with this year's Halloween project. With regard to pictures, I am currently building a website and will post projects from the last two years on it along with the completed project for that year's theme. It will be a few more weeks before I have it completed.

Joel

No Pics yet, this is a new scene for this year, but I will take video on Halloween.

I've found VSA very easy to use, and trust me, I'm no computer wiz.
The PicoPic user manual downloadable from their website is a bit out of date. All PicoPics now come with the DB9 serial connector and voltage regulator which used to be options. Other than that, it's use is very simple with VSA. The only thing you need to do to the PicoPic to make it work with VSA is reprogram it to emulate a mini SSC. Very simply done with a downloadable windows program from Picobotics.
Check Randy's post above for links to Picobotics and VSA. They even have a trial version you can download for free to play with.

How many sound tracks can VSA handle at a time?

Is there a way to trigger individual routines at a given time, say with a key press?

Let's say you have a 5.1 speaker set and you want to use 1.1 of the channels for background sounds and the other 4 for various props. Will VSA let you send a sounds to just one of your speakers.

My setup is doomed to be small until I have a my garage built, but I have big dreams.

thov,
as it stands now, I have all the skellies done, or installed with the ST100 cards. Can I pump the sound to these cards, as to get the jaws moving in sync with the audio file, and then use the ST100 sound output to the amp? I like the idea of how you controll the sound via the VSA and PicoPic. It seems to give me more lead way to do other things...like controlling some head movements and raising a sword. Ah, so much to do and so little time...