Conference - PA System

[benz0]

Hi all,

I'm trying to integrate a laptop running Skype into a conference/PA system that's fitted into a boardroom.

The boardroom has a large table with a conference microphone system built into it. It's got a 5-pin microphone connection for each seat at the table, see below:



I think this is 5pin XLR but I'm not sure. Any ideas?

My plan is to try to connect our laptop directly into to the mixer equipment, which is in another room several metres away. To make matters more complicated it is in a listed building and it will be difficult to get the cable in there, however, I'm hoping we can maybe improvise by using one of the cables that is already present to pull the new cables through the wiring channel.

So, my first question is what is the best option for connectivity between the laptop and the mixer? I was thinking that I have these options:

1) Soundcard in the meeting room, connected to the mixer by long balanced audio cables run under the floor.

2) Soundcard in the room with the mixer, connected to the laptop by a long, active USB cable.


On to my next question.. The microphones that are built into the desk are directional microphones for each person sat at the desk. However, we frequently have people seated all around the edges of the room and they need to be heard as well. What are the best options for capturing their speech as well? I was thinking I have these options:

1) Connect some omni directional mics by cable into some of the desk inputs, and place them around the edges of the room (I think about 5 might do it)

2) Connect a wireless mic system into the mixer and use a few omni directional mics spread around the edges of the room.

Also, there is a Bose PA system with speakers in each corner of the room. I'm concerned about adding in extra mics and the possibility of feedback.

I'd be grateful for any thoughts on the above!

Cheers!

Edited by benz0 on Friday 9th October 11:48

Edited by benz0 on Friday 9th October 11:49

[TheRainMaker]

What mixer do you have? do you have any free channels.

The best option, if you can fit it would be something like this, as you could be running off two different mains supplies.

http://hiveindustries.com/audio-products/soundconn...

Or

http://hiveindustries.com/audio-products/pcbalbox-...


Can you do us a drawing of the room layout?

Also the 5 pin XLR is only for the PTT mics on the table, don't plug anything else into them

[benz0]

This is a very rough diagram of the room. Its about 8m by 13m.



For those devices, I would need to have one for laptop sound into the sytem, and one for sound going to the laptop, correct? Or instead use their USB one?

In another room we connect into a PA system using a Behringer UCA202 USB soundcard which has RCA ins and outs. That seems to work out without hum..

Also, I'm not currently sure what the state of the mixer is.. It's locked away in another room and I won't see it until next week.

Edited by benz0 on Friday 9th October 12:18

[megaphone]

Unless it's a long cable run, you can probably run your laptop direct out of the headphone output into a line input on the mixer, get a pic of the mixer and post it up.

If you do have hum/grounding issues, or the mixer doesn't have line inputs, then run it through a DI box, http://www.samsontech.com/samson/products/processo...

Re the mics for the surrounding seats, omni mics may well cause you feedback issues, can you use a few hand held wireless mics, they could be passed around when someone needs to speak?

[benz0]

Thanks both.

I've now got the mics connected and I have a headset output which I can hear the audio through using headphones with a 3.5m.. jack.

I want to use this output to the laptop so that Skype uses that as the microphone source. To do that I've plugged in a 3.5mm headphone to two RCA cable. However, when I plug it in it switches the output off on the desk and I get nothing. I've also tried using a 3.5m to 3.5m cable, to the same effect.

It works perfectly with two different sets of headphones but other 3.5mm cables appear to switch it off. I literally plug it in and then the screen with the channel number on goes blank.

Any ideas? Below is a pic of the offending output.



Update: I've tried plugging the 3.5mm to RCA cable into the output again, and this time I've connected it into a Yamaha active monitor. Now it works, so it's not the cable. I don't understand though why it doesnt work when I then plug it into either my RCA input on my soundcard, the output just switches off. Is it impedance related? Puzzled!

Edited by benz0 on Monday 12th October 15:25

Edited by benz0 on Monday 12th October 15:30