RMC Fanout box

BobTheDog · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:15 pm Post subject:

Hi Bill,

Just seen your post.

Latency is not really an issue for me, its probably 7-8ms total which I must admit I don't really notice.

When I add the Pacarana in this is going to go up a bit, probably double in fact. We will have to see how that goes.

DES · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject:

Uh, never mind....

bugfight · Joined: Aug 02, 2007 Posts: 188 Location: Arlington, TX USA

wow, did you even read the thread??

DES · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject:

ha, ha, well, I guess the old Evelyn Woods speed reading failed me on this!

I just caught glimpses of the RMC mentioned and flew across the rest of it...trying to catch up after a VERY long absence.....

Btw - did I ever show you the link to this neat home-made break-out box?
Shocked

bugfight · Joined: Aug 02, 2007 Posts: 188 Location: Arlington, TX USA

hehe no problemo, it happens...

miketheman · Joined: Oct 12, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Gothenburg, sweden

BobTheDog · Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Mike,

I do not know how the dip switches work internally, my guess is that it isn't a microprocessor though.

I am sure if you emil them they will tell you, RMC are pretty helpful.

Cheers

Andy

miketheman · Joined: Oct 12, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Gothenburg, sweden

Hi Andy!

Yeah, you are probably right about that. Gonna write them. Wonder why they haven´t produced any FanOutBox for years though? Got that confirmed from a german distributor some weeks ago.

Even though it probably isn´t the case, it makes one hopefully wonder if they´re about to make a successor with some additional features... (like string mixer/routing control via MIDI).

I´ve got a lot of DIY ideas, but I think that I lack too much skills in electronics/programming...

/Mike

BillBax · Joined: Jul 28, 2010 Posts: 5 Location: London

Hi Everyone,

I think we've all contacted RMC pickups about availability of their Fanout Box. They keep saying one will be available soon, but nothing ever seems to happen.

I have a few Breakout Box designs for V-Guitar, that you might want to check out...shameless plug!

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GK STUDIO EXTREME.The dedicated Breakout Box, preamp and pickup. Separate string dynamic-range 105dB
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Here's a couple of sites that might be of interest.

http://www.separate-strings.co.uk

http://www.youtube.com/user/BaxBreakoutBox

regards,

Bill

BobTheDog · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:41 am Post subject:

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forum.

Interesting stuff.

Ever thought of doing a usb one?

Andy

BillBax · Joined: Jul 28, 2010 Posts: 5 Location: London

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the welcome! I have indeed investigated the usb route, and found it would be a little on the expensive side. It would be great to do away with all those cable though, no matter how pretty they look. If it was to be a usb only device, than that would cut off all those people who use multi-trackers, and mixers to record etc. So it would have to the best of both worlds...an active usb powered breakout box with optional standard breakout cables. I think it could get messy and unwieldy, not to mention the component costs and final product price....£350.00GB+ easily.

If that isn't bad enought it gets worse. I don't think there is a reasonable demand for a state-of the-art breakout box that does it all. Look at RMC Pickups, if their Fanout Box was in demand, then they'd be available to buy. I suppose it seems most V-Guitar players just aren't into recording and playing separate strings, except the select few.

I don't use a breakout box to record separate strings. I redesigned the GK3 with hi-end audio components. Chose component values that were on the 'cusp' so to speak, and ended up with a signal-to-noise-ratio well in excess of -105dB (on individual strings) That's a full 10dB quieter than the Roland GK3, and it's also a breakout box.

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regards,

Bill
http://www.separate-strings.co.uk

My latest Breakout Box on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQsQ-izqji0&feature=channel

BillBax · Joined: Jul 28, 2010 Posts: 5 Location: London

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know, my V-Guitar Breakout Box Standard now comes in 5 colour finishes.

Available in a Roland GR-55 turquoise Blue, Burgundy, Battle Green, Black, and the popular Metallic Silver. All colours are now in a hi-gloss laminate finish.

YOUTUBE MOVIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFPzgPX8Jaw

EXTRA MONO GUITAR OUTPUT (a sort of MK8 version)

The latest Breakout Box sports an extra jack socket output, for those who want to record their mono guitar at the same time or separately. Also using the mono guitar output, you will be able to impedance-match a mic/line-input, unlike a passive guitar output.

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SHIPPING CHARGES TAKE A TUMBLE
I am happy to say that I have recently switched my trackable shipping service to a new and less expensive provider. A typical orders shipping cost will now be in the region of £15.00GB - £25.00GB, unlike my previous shipping supplier’s charges that were around £50.00+GB. So now a typical active Breakout Box order to the USA will cost no more than £195.00GB, give or take a few pence (hi-end custom cables an optional extra).

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Regards,

Bill Baxendale

RECORDING SEPARATE STRINGS
http://www.separate-strings.co.uk

YOUTUBE
http://www.youtube.com/user/BaxBreakoutBox

GovernorSilver · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:40 am Post subject:

Congrats on what looks like a great new product, Bill! This may actually be of more use to me than Stringport.

BobTheDog · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:35 am Post subject:

Hi Bill,

Does the breakout box have any amplification in it to bring it up to line level output?

Thanks

Andy

BillBax · Joined: Jul 28, 2010 Posts: 5 Location: London

Hi Andy,

The output level of a GK3 for instance, is about -10dBm with an average playing strength, on individual strings. Heavy guitar solos will peak at about 0dBm. A soundcards line input is just about fine, with around 10dB of gain. It could be possible to pre-amp the signals within the Breakout Box, but this would add something like £20.00GB to the asking price of £160.00GB. AND pre-amping an individual signal would be very bad audio indeed. ie, a pre-amp into another pre-amp, then into another soundcard pre-amp. You'd be losing precious zeros on your total-harmonic-distortion figures, not to mention adding quite a few dBs of noise. It's a fuzz box!

The best solution, if you have to 'up' the signal is to change 6 resistors on the GK3 itself. A simple matter of swapping six 10k resistors to 33k. This will give you about 7dB of gain, and you won't effect your V-Synth sensitivity settings too much.

UP YOUR GK3! (A free modification to my Breakout Box customers...should they need it)

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UP CLOSE WITH ALL 6 RESISTORS CHANGED

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TOP E AND STRING B OP-AMP RESISTORS

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THE NEW GLOSSY SILVER BREAKOUT BOX AND CABLES

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BLACK BREAKOUT BOX AND CABLES
Oh no, it's the Black Dalek...I'm done for!

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Hope this answers your question.

regards,

Bill
http://www.separate-strings.co.uk

http://www.youtube.com/user/BaxBreakoutBox[/url]

BobTheDog · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:16 pm Post subject:

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the info.

I use mostly piezo pickups and the main problem I have with my RMC fanout box is extremely low signals when connected to line inputs at +4 dBu, and very low at -10dBv.

Maybe it is an issue with the RMC box.

Cheers

Andy

GovernorSilver · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:04 pm Post subject:

Bill,

There's some confusion on another forum as to whether your Breakout Box is a kit (that the customer must assemble) or whether it can be ordered built.

Could you clarify?

BillBax · Joined: Jul 28, 2010 Posts: 5 Location: London

Hi GovernorSilver Cool

Thank you very much for pointing the other forum out. I did see the misunderstanding, but it looks like someone kindly corrected the person.

All the best,

Bill
http://www.separate-strings.co.uk

http://www.youtube.com/user/BaxBreakoutBox

Antimon · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:34 pm Post subject:

I've started using the VT99 some again after having focussed on other things for a while. After playing around with MIDI, I am now itching to try out some separate string processing in ChucK. So a fanout box is needed. I've looked around and am unsure about how you actually acquire any of these.

So bumping this thread after a couple of years' sleep. Smile

Have any more products like these popped up since? Anyone able to offer a review besides BobTheDog on the RMC? Any tips on how you order e.g. a McMillen unit in the EU? I've written an email to Bill Bax asking about his product (maybe he'll notice this bump too).

/Stefan

BobTheDog · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:43 pm Post subject:

Hi Stefan,

Steer clear of the McMillen stringport it is a pile of crap that doesn't work, support is hopeless from them as well, total waste of money.

I had to email RMC to get their fanout box originally so maybe you could try that?

Cheers

Andy

Antimon · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 1:53 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice Andy! Smile

I'll send an email to RMC too.

Antimon · Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 6:56 am Post subject:

I emailed RMC and Bill Bax and got quick replies from both, which is nice.

I'm lost regarding one thing - I get the impression that the GK mic needs to be powered in some non-obvious way for both of these units (and others) - is that correct? In the RMC manual there's talk of plugging in something somewhere and remembering to remove the cable after using to prevent battery drain. That's when using an RMC mic if I read correctly, will it be the same for GK mics?

I really want a box that is powered off mains, that I can just plug into and start playing. If you have to remove cables to prevent battery drainage, then I will need a constant supply of batteries (I will not, however much I beat myself up about it, remember to remove cables to prevent battery drainage, I know this from experience with stompboxes and iPads).

BobTheDog · Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:04 am Post subject:

I Just looked for the manual and couldn't find it, but from memory:

The RMC fanout will take power from any unit connected, if you only have the guitar connected it will be powered from the guitars internal battery if it has one. If you have something like a GR33 or VG99 etc connected though it will power itself from them.

Thats what I think, but I could be wrong!

Antimon · Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:10 am Post subject:

Ah ok, yeah I get the impression that I need to have the VG99 connected too. Annoying but workable I guess.