Would someone please help?

Lynne Alston · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007, 18:32 (GMT) Post subject: Would someone please help?

I have been following along with the phone patch posts, but it seems to be written in a foreign language.

I am a visual/ tactile learner, so when Efrain posted pictures in jest, I actually understood a little of what was said.

What am I asking, well, is there anyone who is willing to explain with pictures and text as to the set up and use of a phone patch? Maybe something along the lines of a cooking recipe.
You need/ with picture these ingredients,
sounds silly, but it would really help.

For now have to run, am playing car pool mom, massage practitioner, chief bottle washer and anything else thrown my way today!

Thanks in advance,
Lynne

Victor Harris · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007, 22:42 (GMT) Post subject:

Alright, a phone patch is a way of allowing a director who is not in the same place as you, to hear you and talk to you back. Now there are actually devices made called a "phone patch". It allows you to plug your phone line into it and allows you to plug into your mixer or audio interface thus allowing the director to hear exactly what you are doing on your microphone and allowing you to hear his directions thru your headphones.

Its simple. If you do not have this piece of equipment, don't worry. You can use a cordless phone with a combination earphone/microphone...you know the kind you use on cell phones. In a worst case, you can use your phone by holding it up by your face. Then he can hear you and you him. I have had to use a phone patch numerous times. However, I do not own one of those phone patch pieces of equipment. I use a cordless phone with ear piece/mic. I have never had a problem yet. As time goes on, I may get one if I see a good deal on eBay. Word of caution though...do not use a cell phone. It gives off too much microwave signal garble around your mic.

Hope that helps.

Lynne Alston · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007, 23:36 (GMT) Post subject: insightful

Thanks for the info about cell phone use.

I kind of understood the concept, but needed to know the "how to" on
phone patch equipment.

A short while ago I had an audition by phone, the leave a message on my voice mail type. I would have found it a great help to have re-listened to my audition, for self-critique.

From what I have understood, having phone patch equipment would have: given better audio quality to the listener, allowed me to use my mic/headphones and pro-tools to record what I actually sent.

Due to my learning style, I need the pics/text to walk me through a set up and use.

I appreciate you response Victor, and am hopeful to find someone who can "hold my hand" through the what to buy and set up for phone patch equipment.

lynne

Joe Whistler · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007, 19:07 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Lynne... the phone patch is not that difficult to set up once you get the idea, and depending on what equipment you are using. Not knowing what you have, I'll show you my setup..

From D/A Converter, monitor output goes into one of the mixer channels. This provides "Your voice recording" to the mixer.

From the phone patch, in my case Symetrix TI-101, the Caller input goes to another channel on the mixer. On this channel, the Aux output volume needs to be turned OFF. This removes the callers voice from being fed back to them, but leave it in the rest of the chain to go back to your monitor/headphones.

You send your voice, and any playback out through the Aux Sends and back into the phone patch. Remember, this will not have the callers voice, so they won't be hearing themselves when they talk.

The attached PDF is a diagram.

Regards!

Lynne Alston · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007, 16:50 (GMT) Post subject: thank you.

Joe, Thanks for the diagram, it's helpful. I haven't yet purchased a phone patch unit.

What I have is; Mac laptop, m-box, amp, mic, headphones, monitors, fire-drive. looking at the diagram am I missing more than just the phone patch unit. Is there any way you could take that diagram and convert it to show what I have, and what I need. Many thanks for the help so far.

Lynne

Joe Whistler · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007, 18:02 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Lynne... It sounds like the only thing you're "missing" besides the phone patch, would be a mixer that has an Aux Sends channel. I'm guessing the attached diagram shows your current configuration at the top. What's missing is below the dashed line...

Compare this diagram to the first diagram I posted to see how the mixer/patch fits in to your current configuration.

Does this help?

Lynne Alston · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007, 18:50 (GMT) Post subject: great help

That's it, the fog has cleared. I really appreciate that help, once it was related to what I have, am now able to move towards what I don't own, with a better understanding to it's role in the set-up.