Control Room Audio Setup

[sokitumi]

Hey folks - got sort of a strange setup that I'm trying to spec out, and after some so-so advice from CCTV types I'm thinking it'd be better to turn to folks with a less utilitarian approach.

Basically, I need to set up two-way communication and recording for a patient simulator manikin that medical students and residents use for training (this picture helps get the idea across). There is a manikin in one room that students interact with, and a separate control room where the manikin is controlled. Someone in the control room plays the voice of the 'patient' and needs two-way communication with the students. These conversations need to be recorded, and individual mics for the students are not an option. Essentially, I'm just looking for a decent setup to get voice to a monitor speaker on the manikin's gurney, and record all audio in the manikin's vicinity.

Basic needs: [current candidates in brackets]
(1) Headset for two-way communication through manikin [Sennheiser HMD280-XQ]
(2) Preamp for headset mic [Behringer DSP-110]
(3) Monitor for headset mic [Yamaha MSP3]
(4) Microphone(s) for room audio [2 x Audio Technica Pro-45]
(5) Mixer [Mackie U420]

I already have a CCTV recording setup that won't treat the audio too nicely once it's out of the mixer, so I'm looking for the best bang:buck ratio on this. The main thing I'm worried about is getting the right mics for the setup and getting a clean mix. I'm really worried that the speaker at the manikin is going to cause all kinds of reverb in the headset, and even the recording if the headset mic itself is brought into the mix. The Behringer DSP-110 claims all kinds of feedback detection and elimination, so I could run the room mics through those if it'll actually work, I'm just not sure if I'm going about this ass backwards.

I also have to contend with an air compressor that drives the manikin's lungs - I'm most inclined to just go for two cardioid stage mics and hope to find a magical placement that works well (I can move the compressor around to keep it out of the pickup pattern as much as possible).

Anyway, if anyone can point me in the right direction on gear or correct any misconceptions, I'd appreciate it.

Cheers,
Scott

 

[Noiz2]

The behringer box works OK but you shouldn't need any feedback control in this situation.

I would just something like a Mackie 1202. Use the aux 1 to send the "controller" voice to the gurney speaker amp. Pan the room mics to left and the controller mic right. use the main outs to feed your recorder. The controller can plug into the headset jack. Smaller, cheaper, and easier.

You could mount a pair of gooseneck mics on the gurney or depending on the room and portability use a few PZM's in the walls.

Cheers
Scott in sunny San Francisco...

 

[sokitumi]

thanks for the recommendations scott... i wouldn't have thought of your approach and it sounds a lot more reasonable.

good to know feedback shouldn't be a problem... i just don't know enough about audio signals to confidently make a prediction.

i took the time to read up on boundary mics, and given the budget it seems like the best option is to just pull out the crappy omni sitting in the ceiling and replace it with a single decent pzm. this stuff is really just recorded for a debrief, and not posterity... teleconference quality would be a dramatic improvement over the present situation. i'm looking at the Audio-Technica U851R, but I could do a pair of a cheaper model if that's smarter. we're also picking up a wireless headset for the instructor or any situation where we really need an individual's voice.

the mackie 1202... sold. thanks for pulling my head out my ass.

and... it is sunny in sf today for a change. i'm working at ucsf so as nice as it is to live outside the fog, i think my days in oakland are numbered. hope this town's big enough for the both of us

scott

 

[Noiz2]

I grew up in Oakland. The key to SF is the micro climates. Some area's of the city are fairly warm and sunny, others are cold and socked in. If you aim more in the Mission and Excelsior areas you should be able to get some not so foggy areas and cheaper rent!