Using a mixer for HA

[IVB]

Had a thought, can't see any issues with it, but then again i've only been doing this for a year now.

I have 3 sources of sound that I want to play through my dedicated Elk speakers via the Elk-800 amp:
1) Elk M1 output1
2) Elk-120 (doorbell sounds, etc)
3) PC (TTS)

Rather than use the relay method here, which is a litle tougher as I have 3 sources, I figured I could get a cheap mixer off eBay. I could step M1 down to line-level using the 6800/680Ohm resistors & 10-uFcapacitors, use line-level output of the Elk-120, and the PC output to feed in as inputs, put all sources at equal levels in the mixer, and use a single output feeding the Elk-800 which then would send on the speakers.

Anybody think this is right or wrong?

 

[upstatemike]

Had a thought, can't see any issues with it, but then again i've only been doing this for a year now.

I have 3 sources of sound that I want to play through my dedicated Elk speakers via the Elk-800 amp:
1) Elk M1 output1
2) Elk-120 (doorbell sounds, etc)
3) PC (TTS)

Rather than use the relay method here, which is a litle tougher as I have 3 sources, I figured I could get a cheap mixer off eBay. I could step M1 down to line-level using the 6800/680Ohm resistors & 10-uFcapacitors, use line-level output of the Elk-120, and the PC output to feed in as inputs, put all sources at equal levels in the mixer, and use a single output feeding the Elk-800 which then would send on the speakers.

Anybody think this is right or wrong?

I recently came to the same conclusion. After years of doing relay switching with Stargate I have decided to use a PA mixer amp to mix Stargate, Homeseer TTS, and probably Elk messages also. No relays means no worries about detecting when the source wants to talk. I will still use relays to mute when a phone is off the hook or to disble certain speakers at night but that is very simple. No more worrying about detecting the start and stop of messages to get the relay timing right. I plan to make this change over the July 4th weekend so I have till then to see if there is any reason why I would change my mind.

 

[IVB]

cool. Well, I've still got a few hundred left on a paypal balance, so i'm going to buy a <$100 mixer today off eBay and mount before then, i'll let you know how it goes.

Did you do any research into the type of mixer you'd use? Wondering if there's anything I can leverage, or whether I"m the first one in the chute purchasing this stuff.

 

[upstatemike]

cool. Well, I've still got a few hundred left on a paypal balance, so i'm going to buy a <$100 mixer today off eBay and mount before then, i'll let you know how it goes.

Did you do any research into the type of mixer you'd use? Wondering if there's anything I can leverage, or whether I"m the first one in the chute purchasing this stuff.

I plan to use a 100 watt PA type mixer/amp. I have some Radio shack units with 5 inputs (although 4 of them are at Microphone level). I will use one of those or something similiar that has line level inputs.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

The only problem I see is if more than one system speaks (at the same time), the sound will be mixed together and you may not understand the message. Of course this probably isn't likely to happen a lot...

 

[IVB]

Well, I just won a Pyramid PM8501 6line in mixer, so i believe i'm covered input wise

I'll keep y'all posted as to how this works out. Actually jkmonroe had some interesting ideas about how to integrate TTS with RFID in CQC, I could do silly stuff like record my kids voices saying "Daddy's home" and announce that when I come into sight (ie, the rfid chip in my briefcase becomes visible), but that's a later thing. First I gotta get it working.

 

[Steve]

I am going to do the same thing - mix Elk and CQC and put it thru the Nuvo but I'm not there yet.

 

[IVB]

I am going to do the same thing - mix Elk and CQC and put it thru the Nuvo but I'm not there yet.

Are you going to use a mixer, and put it into your source 6 paging input?

 

[Smarty]

I too am watching this thread with interest.

I plan to push my Elk and PowerHome voices out through my DMC1 (M&S) intercom system. A mixer sounds like it may be he best way to go.

 

[Steve]

I am going to do the same thing - mix Elk and CQC and put it thru the Nuvo but I'm not there yet.

Are you going to use a mixer, and put it into your source 6 paging input?

Yup. Have been looking at cheap mixers and have bookmarked that one that Wayne pointed out in the chatroom. Already built the Elk line level converter and tested it. So, after I rewire/configure my closet, redo the M1, build my new CQC server, and install the Nuvo in the closet then I am all set!

 

[hult]

I have 3 sources of sound that I want to play through my dedicated Elk speakers via the Elk-800 amp:
1) Elk M1 output1
2) Elk-120 (doorbell sounds, etc)
3) PC (TTS)

Rather than use the relay method here, which is a litle tougher as I have 3 sources, I figured I could get a cheap mixer off eBay. I could step M1 down to line-level using the 6800/680Ohm resistors & 10-uFcapacitors, use line-level output of the Elk-120, and the PC output to feed in as inputs, put all sources at equal levels in the mixer, and use a single output feeding the Elk-800 which then would send on the speakers.

Anybody think this is right or wrong?

I'm partial to Ivie 774/884-style mixers that are often available on eBay for about $100. They
can be controlled by RS-232/485 or 0-10vdc analog, have gated auto-mixing for voice input,.
and accept mic or line inputs, and many other features.

Block diagram here: http://www.ivie.com/pdf/884Lit.pdf

Two Ivies can be ganged together to provide 16-in/8-out control routed/programmed in
most any configuration by the HA system to mix-n-match and control:

Voice control of home automation system
Background music
Paging
Intruder alerts
Door answering real time actual, and recorded including by fido ("Rex")
Telephone
Occupancy and device monitoring (washing machine, external sounds etc).
Home Theatre
and so on ..

One can also use DMX-512 or a potentiometer (motorized or not) or simple push-buttons to provide intuitively simple-to-use remote control (eg wall-mounted) via 0-10vdc analog control signals..

I have a write up about them here: http://www.ECOntrol.org/audio.htm

HTH ... Marc

 

[upstatemike]

I'm partial to Ivie 774/884-style mixers that are often available on eBay for about $100. They
can be controlled by RS-232/485 or 0-10vdc analog, have gated auto-mixing for voice input,.
and accept mic or line inputs, and many other features.

Block diagram here: http://www.ivie.com/pdf/884Lit.pdf
.
.
.
I have a write up about them here: http://www.ECOntrol.org/audio.htm

HTH ... Marc

Wow, great info Marc! I need to study this in detail!

 

[hult]

I'm partial to Ivie 774/884-style mixers that are often available on eBay for about $100. They
can be controlled by RS-232/485 or 0-10vdc analog, have gated auto-mixing for voice input,.
and accept mic or line inputs, and many other features.

Block diagram here: http://www.ivie.com/pdf/884Lit.pdf
.
.
.
I have a write up about them here: http://www.ECOntrol.org/audio.htm

HTH ... Marc

Wow, great info Marc! I need to study this in detail!

There are four 784PW mixers fro sale at this time on eBay for $25 + shipping each. Six have already sold. (Search "Audio Net Automatic Matrix Mixer 784 " )

This price is less than a nickel on the dollar compared to new.
Note that:
One would need to make the powersupply (not included)
Note too that the seller has posted a picture of 884PW, not 784PW as he writes.

784PW
884PW
884+PW has RS-232 and RS-485



In my first message I mis-typed "774" -- should have been "784"

 

[Helheim]

Isn't the AP800 you bought a mixer as well?

Had a thought, can't see any issues with it, but then again i've only been doing this for a year now.

I have 3 sources of sound that I want to play through my dedicated Elk speakers via the Elk-800 amp:
1) Elk M1 output1
2) Elk-120 (doorbell sounds, etc)
3) PC (TTS)

Rather than use the relay method here, which is a litle tougher as I have 3 sources, I figured I could get a cheap mixer off eBay. I could step M1 down to line-level using the 6800/680Ohm resistors & 10-uFcapacitors, use line-level output of the Elk-120, and the PC output to feed in as inputs, put all sources at equal levels in the mixer, and use a single output feeding the Elk-800 which then would send on the speakers.

Anybody think this is right or wrong?

 

[IVB]

Oh it's worse, I bought one of the MarcHult ones too

My concern about using the AP800 is:
1) I dunno if it actually works (as-is auction)
2) For the tiny amount of $$ that this is ($60 for the one I got, $25 for the MarcHult one) I'd rather keep 2 seperate systems until I get it all stable, then look into combining it.

#2 is actually the bigger issue - i've spent more time pissing around on things only to realize that the problems are inter-related and i'm stomping on my own feet. I'm sure I can sell off the stuff I don't use, I'm sure I can get most if not all of my $$ back (given how cheap this was).