Spotify and SR or matrix decoding?

[Ryan Gallagher]

An alternate (and very inexpensive, around $160.00) mixer for your non sync and stage mic application is the Behringer ZMX8210 https://www.behringer.com/product.ht...lCode=0602-AAH

The mic 1 input has "ducking" which mutes the music from inputs 7 or 8 (Both stereo RCA) while someone is talking, then fades it back up when they stop. I use this one extensively for my announcing PA systems as it avoids "dead air" during my shows. All inputs and the three outputs (L, R, and AUX mono which is handy for booth monitoring) are balanced/unbalanced mini euroblock connections. Inputs 7 and 8 (toggling pushbutton selectable) are RCA unbalanced. It is very quiet and performs great.

Even if you are (as I'm pretty sure you would be) using a larger mixer, you could use the Behringer in front of two channels of your existing board (set to accept line level balanced signals) and now you have a separate, more flexible control of your stage audio and non sync that can be pretty much "set it and forget it." (A big plus for my mx tracks as they often use the system when I am not there.)

That is not a bad price, and rackable would be an upgrade to our little 8-chan booth mixer that eats up about 6U when you account for it's pull out shelf and room for vertical patch cables. If HDMI Neo6 upmixing audio was still desired either an AV processor or disembedder could pass through 2ch analog. Two formats could be used, one without stage mics and direct digital (assuming you don't use an AV mixer to break out 6 or 8ch analog inputs), and one with stage inputs available (and auto-ducked). Switch between songs if you anticipate out of turn announcements and have to walk away during doors.

Our current mixer has a bit more features and is friendlier to make connections with in the moment, but no ducking.
Here is one on ebay, the newer equivalent 8ch Mackies include some digital features.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/336030706767

But I don't think we use it for anything that Berringer couldn't do currently. Though to be honest I've thought if we upgrade we should aim for a digital rack mixer that supports a remote app. 6 flights of stairs between stage and booth sucks when you are trying to test the stage mic and forgot to restore the level fader.

I've looked at the Berringer X-Air models before for their digital and network control features, but until you step up to the mini desktop version, they completely lack controls at the unit, HAVE to use network/app. Yuck. Price point for alternatives seems to be in a different class entirely.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-digital-mixer

I've had a few days off, next film is tomorrow and I'll play with my hdmi disembedder to see if that keeps windows/spotify happy. Baby steps.

I certainly won't get any real purchases approved on this "improve walkin" music project, at least not until we redo the rack somewhat, or wait for the eventual upgrades with restoration efforts (years away).

[Ryan Gallagher]

I tried HDMI+Pass thru 2ch analog today with my disembedder to both the AP20 and Mixer. It didn't solve the digi-lock problem, but it did add better booth monitoring when the mixer was not the source.

But overall not a solution to the laptop vs AP20 problem, which now feels perhaps more on the AP20 side? Starting to lean towards it needing to be a permanent COAX, SPDIF, or analog set of inputs on the AP20 like Tony originally described, avoid the HDMI sync issues between formats.

Although this disembedder relays the EDID, it doesn't show up as it's own device. Perhaps something that did would maintain the connection better if the problem is on the windows side. But hard to say which side is buggered.

[Carsten Kurz]

We use a small X-Air 12. There are apps for phones, tablets, desktops. Can't live without it anymore. If you absolutely need local/hardware controls, you can hook up a small midi fader box to it. I never needed physical controls.


I remember we use a cheap EDID maintainer between our windows machine and the AP20. We never needed it because we are switching inputs on the AP20, but because some weird HDMI handshaking between PC/AP20 and the projector when the bulb ignites. I haven't touched it for 10 years.


You can't prevent news things happening because of existing workflow habits. Sometimes workflows need to change. That said, you could even buy a cheap HDMI audio embedder or toslink A/D from ebay fot 20bucks and feed the mixer to the AP20 with it, enabling neo6.