Re: Automating Xmas!

["David Buckley" <db@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Also need to get the mike input back to node 0. Can I use a
> KAT5 unit for  that?

KAT5 is designed to take unbalanced line input, and convert it to
balanced line.  Not quite what you need.

You either need a local mic preamp, to make the balanced low level
audio into line level audio, and then get it to node0 as you would any
other line level audio signal or, send the low level mic signal to
node0.  List of mic preamps:
http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Microphone-Preamps--2891

As a mixer can knock out line level balanced audio, I suspect it will
be directly compatible with a KAT5 receiver at the other end, though
Mr Doxey will be able to confirm or deny this for certain.

Or.... as any half decent microphone will be low impedence balanced
you can run that directly over a single twisted pair in a cat5 cable.
At node0 you need a balanced mic input.  This will require at a
minimum either

1) a preamp (see above) or mixer, (maybe even one with effects) to
make the signal compatible with line level audio.

2) a (preferably USB) D/A converter to take the mic level balanced
audio, and get it into your PC.  A fairly comprehensive list of
suitable interfaces is
http://www.zzounds.com/cat--USB-Audio-Interfaces--2424

Once you've got audio into the PC, if you have decent gear you can
then you have it as a ASIO input, you can get something like
http://www.console.jp, add some (free
or paid for) VST effects, and
off you go.  Or you can use a real mixer, see above.

Given you are doing stuff with microphones, and kareoke tends to get
loud, and you dont want to stress your audio, the most important link
in the processing chain is compression.  Set it up on the mic for hard
limiting, and limit vocal excursios to prevent overloads....  Then you
can party, as opposed to preying your speakers will survive :-)

And have fun.