Electronics & Marching Band A How To Guide
Pete Sapadin Digital Mixer
• More Expensive • Ability to use Scenes • Mix from the Box w/Wireless • Built in FX • Start with 16 channels and add 16 more if needed later.
Yamaha TF1 Expanded to 32-Channels $2,300 Yamaha TF1 Digital Mixer $850 Yamaha TIO1608-D (16 Input Dante-Enabled Digital Snake) $350 Yamaha NY64-D (Dante I/O Expansion Card) $3,500 Total Estimate
Analog Mixer • More Affordable • Marginally Easier to Use for Novices • More Choices
Mackie 2404VLZ4 24-Channel Mixer $1,300 How many channels / mics do I need?
• 2 channels / mics per Marimba
• 1 channel / mic per Vibe
• 2 channels per Synth/Sampler
• 2/5 channels / mics per Timpani
• 2/6 channels / mics per Drumset
• 1 channel / mic per Soloist
Some ensembles start with a 16 channel mixer, and as they grow, replace the mixer for one with more channels. Digital mixers are great for adding more channels. With an analog mixer, if you want to add more channels, you need to get a new mixer.
Audio Snakes
• Makes it easier to connect microphones to the mixer
• Active speakers can plug into XLR returns
• Passive speakers need to connect directly to the amplifiers
• 50’ Length is good for flexibility
• 16ch - 4 XLR Snake runs around $300
• 24 and 32 channel available, but also possible to use multiple snakes Keyboard Microphones Shure SM-57 Condenser Microphones
These are the most widely used microphones in the activity. They aren’t too expensive, and they are built to last. $100
I recommend windscreens for all microphones. Most of the time you wont need them, but when you need them, you’ll be glad you have them. $10
Microphone Case SKB iSeries Waterproof Mic Case $250
Protect your microphones!
Many groups store their microphones inside the mallet bags that hang from the mallet instruments, that can work well, but its nice to have a case so that all your microphones can be in the same place for big trips, or over the summer. Keyboard Mic Costs:
Shure SM-57 Microphone $100
50’ XLR Cable $30-$60
Bungee Tie Down $2
Windscreen $8-$15
Approximate Start Up Cost $250 per Marimba $150 per Vibraphone P.A. Speakers / Sub Woofers Yamaha Club V Series
Main PA Speakers Power Handling 500/1000/2000 (Continuous/Program/Peak)
Other options with similar specs are available from different manufacturers
Passive Active
Yamaha C215V PA Yamaha DSR215 $1,400 pair $2,400 pair
Yamaha CW218V Yamaha DSR118W $1,540 pair $2,000 pair
Yamaha PX10 Amp $4,400 Total $1,600 pair
$4,540 Total
Honda EU2200i 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator
• Small • Quiet • Powerful $1,010 Speaker Carts
Buy Them Pagentry Innovations has options for $750-$950 per side
Build Them Alternatively, you could have parents / volunteers design and fabricate a cart for about $500 each side Synthesizer / MainStage
Roland F-08 Music Work Station $1,675
Pros: Cons: No laptop needed, all sounds are built in, Interface can be difficult, small screen, built in sampler functionality sounds are more limited than MainStage
Midi Controller / Laptop with MainStage
Macbook Pro: $1,800 Pros: Midi Controller: $200 Vast library of sounds, easier interface, Audio Interface: $160 easy to layer sounds, can connect more MainStage Software: $30 than one keyboard to MainStage sounds, can easily load samples and Total: $2,190 assign them to any key, software updates regularly. Cons: Laptop can be delicate, more pieces of gear. Macbook Pro
13” Macbook Pro 2.3 GHz i5, 16GB Ram 256GB SSD Storage $1,700
Mainstage Software $30 Optional: Logic Pro $200
USB Audio Interface Connects the laptop to the mixer. Lots of great options on the market. Focusrite 2i2 USB 2.0 Interface. 2-in/2-out, 2 Mic/ Line/Instrument Inputs. USB Powered. Cost: $160
USB Midi Controller M-Audio Keystation 88 $200 • Connects to the laptop via USB Cable. USB Powered. • Any USB midi controller will work. • More expensive models have weighted keys Sampler • Great for narration, or other sound effects. • Any sound can be loaded into the sampler for playback by pushing a button. • Roland SP-404SX. Cost $390 • Standalone Sampler makes it easier to adjust narration volume relative to synth Volume • Possible now to use an iPad 6th Generation $330 + app ($10-$30) • Can use a MainStage setup to have same functionality, plus all the synth sounds.
UPS Battery Backup
• 1500va Battery Backup & Surge Protector $160 • Mixer, Router, Laptop plug into this so they stay powered up from the lot to the stadium • Lots of great options on the market Wireless Solo Microphones
• 1 Shure QLXD14 Bodypack Wireless System, G50 Band Version per mic $980 • Shure UA844+SWB Antenna Splitter / Power Distribution $490 • 2 - Shure UA874US Active Directional UHF Antennas ($614) • Shure Beta 98/H Clip on Instrument Mic $150 • BNC Cables $15 • Startup Cost for 1 solo mic Total $2,250 • Add more solo mics for $1,130 per mic.
Router • Wireless mixing from the box instead of from the track (w/Digital Mixer)
• Linksys Max-Stream AC4000 $240
• Netgear Nighthawk X10 $385 Mixer / Synth Cart
• Parent / Volunteer Fabricated approximately $700-$1,000 • Pagentry Innovations $3,600
If you want to keep the mixer on the track and have a separate synth cart:
Mixer Cart on the track $1,000-$3,000 Separate Synth Cart $1,000-$3,000 Notes:
• It’s all in the hands of the adults, but effects the entire organization, so it’s gotta be run like NASA! • Ask questions, check out Marching Arts Audio Discussion on Facebook! • Always plug in at warm-up and test everything. • Be ready to troubleshoot and replace cables as needed. • Better to wait and buy the right gear, than to try and push the limits of what is possible with less expensive gear. • Make sure front ensemble rehearses setup and tear down, and uses velcro strips, or zip ties to loop extra cable and keep things as neat and organized as possible
Special thanks to Kevin Shah for his extensive help to me over the years, and specifically for his help on this project. He is who I go to when I need help with all things electronic. Thanks Kevin!
Pete Sapadin [email protected]