Hi everyone!
So I have some stupid news. It turns out that the church
does not generally use their audio system for weddings .
BUT, all is not lost. Just take everything about what I said about plugging in to the church's audio system and apply it to the reception!
That's right. The reception hall has EXACTLY the type of audio system that I was expecting the church would have. Here are a few pix of the reception hall system:
______________
The primary setup rig with the main mixer on top:
The main mixer (Allen & Heath AH-WZ3:12:2 Mix Wizard WZ³ 12:2):
Under the main mixer:
A second mixer ...for some purpose unknown to me (Behringer EURORACK UB1832FX-PRO):
I tried my best to get pictures under the Allen & Heath WZ³ 12:2, but it was in an awkward location and those are the best pictures I managed to scrounge. As for the Eurorack, I couldn't photograph underneath.
At any rate, it does seem like they should have some kind of line level outputs, but maybe not. I'll look through the manuals, but maybe some of you already have experience with these types of units.
Remember, I'm planning on taking the main line level output from the necessary mixer and transporting the signal about 100 feet (~30.5 meters) away to an itsy
Nady MM-242 set up on the balcony, which will further split the signal by sending it to a
Behringer HA400 MicroAmp.
Thanks for your help!
~~~~
Now, for actually transporting the signal that 100 feet to the rear balcony.
Nothing wrong with foil shields for audio Dude!
In fact foil gives 100% coverage against RF whereas braids and laps do not. You cannot screen a cable against MAGNETIC interference (traffs, mains cables) that is why we "balance".
I have several leads made up with Belden V9534 2pr and it is lovely stuff! Wish I had another 100mtrs!
It is true that foil shielded cable is not as flexible as good quality braided and so is not the best choice for "road" use but a VERY cheap way to get long runs of 4pr shielded cable is CATx FTP cable. Even the solid core stuff will last quite well if on a drum and only reeled out a few times a years.
Transformers and balancing. If going this route best to buy the right boxes (Art, Orchid Electronics) and do as it says on the tin.
For long, unbalanced runs a "shielded return" setup will help keep out etherial crap.
Dave.
By "shielded return", I assume you mean grounding the cable shield at one or both ends. (Sorry. Newb, remember.

)
Yeah. I have a lot of FST (foil screened twin) cable in my set up for permanent install stuff or short interconnects. The last TV studios I worked in had many miles of the stuff!
However, you really need to do your site survey and see what you're getting into....
Does this mean I could use the
Belden 8451 as an audio cable for 100+ feet? (I'm not sure how short are short interconnects.

)
What I'm planning to do is plug one 1/4" TS or TRS on one end of the cable into the reception hall's mixer's line level ouput (if it has one), then duct tape the whole 100' cable to the floor and up the wall to the balcony, and plug the other end with the one (or two) 1/4" mono TS into my Nady mini-mixer.
Also, can I use the Belden 8451 for unbalanced
stereo signals?
I'm not sure if the 'drain wire' in the technical specification is one of the two twisted conductors or a separate conductor attached to the shield. (Again,
amanisdude == newb.

) If so, I assume that the wire would be fine for unbalanced stereo connections.
Again, thanks for your continued help, guys!
‒
amanisdude
__________________
EDIT:
>
From Page 11 of the MixWizard WZ³: 16:2 and WZ³: 12:2 User Guide Issue 5:
Where long cables runs are required, balanced interconnections should be used. However, line level interconnections between more affordable 2-wire (signal, ground) unbalanced equipment and the console are unlikely to cause problems if the cables are kept shorter than 10 meters or so. Refer to the wiring diagrams on the opposite page.
Wow, I feel dumb. So I guess my 100-foot unbalanced stereo or mono run won't work with the Belden 8451 without some special wiring.

Might have to heed the instructions in
RaneNote 110 that
bouldersoundguy linked earlier and make a good assembly or find a good balun.

__________________
EDIT 2:
Okay. I thought about it a bit, and I think I figured out why they have two mixers.
One is for all the mics and vocal inputs, and the other is for all the other device audio inputs. (They have a karaoke machine, a DVD player, HDMI connectivity, computer VGA/3.5mm connectivity, and more.)
From the setup, I assume the
MixWizard is for the accessory
device audio (DVD player, etc.), and the
EURORACK is for vocal inputs from microphones and whatnot. (I can't say for sure, though. I'll have to go back and take a look at the wiring, but it's a good bet that I'm right.)
If this is the case, I might need line level output from BOTH devices and have TWO 100' cables going up to the balcony! (
Oy vey.) Alternatively, I guess I could take only mono signals from each and ram both through the 100' cable. I'll have to think about that one.

__________________
EDIT 3:
Well, I feel dumb, again. The uses for each mixer are
clearly labeled under the gain controls of the mixers themselves.
And it turns out that they use
BOTH mixers for
BOTH purposes (devices and mics). That certainly complexicates things...
Looks like I'll have to either be sure which mics they are using and keep them on the same mixer, or I will need to send two signals, one from each mixer, to the webcast control station on the balcony. This is to say of the mixers aren't connected to
each other. I guess I'll have to go there again and take a closer look.

___________________
EDIT 4:
Sorry for all the edits! I figured it'd be less confusing than making new posts.
One final question. I've been thinking about the Belden cable and how simple it seems. Do you think the same effect could be achieved by, or would any of you advise against, me just buying some
22 AWG stranded wire from
Fry's Electronics, twisting it together, and wrapping it in a non-insulated stranded copper wire?
Or better yet, getting one of
these and smoothly wrapping it in aluminum foil with a non-insulated drain wire?
Would that be much different? Thanks!
___________________