MOTUnation.com

I think I may have seen a post about this, but I was unable to find it by searching.

This is a weird question.

My wife's home office is directly above my vocal booth.
If she makes any noise or even moves her chair, it comes through the mic.
This is no big deal with loud music, but on soft, delicate, quiet recording, it can ruin the take.

She has asked me if there is a way to have a red light turn on in her office when I'm in record mode in DP.

Is there any way to have an external switch that would respond to the record function?

I think there are quite a few geniuses here and perhaps someone could offer a solution.

I know the situation is not optimal and obviously we would move her office or my studio if we could.

Dude-- that's a tall order which would require DP to be connected to an electrical device which would in turn send an electrical signal to your wife's office.

I'm sure it can be done because it's been done in recording studios for decades. But I would suggest that if you know you are going to be recording with an open mic to tell your wife that between the hours of 'X' and 'Y' the mic will be open.

The only other solution would be total acoustical isolation-- and that's quite an expense! The up side is that your wife could host a brick tossing party while you were recording the quietest of musical phrases. The downside is that Valentine's Day is in little more than a week and that soundproofing may have an impact on the price of roses and chocolates!!

That said, I don't dismiss that your wife is most understanding of your needs. It could be matter of having a simple remote rigged to a little red light which would illuminate whenever you'd hit the record button.... or (for that matter) a switch to be flipped a minute or two in advance of you recording something open mic, even if it's not directly connect to DP.

Here's a $90 solution:
http://www.truesoundcontrol.com/products/ONAIR1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Too funny!
I appreciate your humor and your excellent solution.
That $90 solution might be the ticket.
Perhaps a sensor in the vocal booth could activate it.
If somebody is in there, the red light would come on.
You correctly assess that the direct link to the record button might not be the easiest or even most appropriate answer.

As a somewhat geeky guy, I still wonder about the solution to the original question.
How could I send the record status to an external switch?
MIDI?

Thanks!

Shooshie has been controlling entire light shows for years with DP... I'm sure you could rig up a MIDI-controlled lightswitch using a few (or maybe one) fairly inexpensive off-the-shelf pieces of gear. A MIDI-controlled relay that could handle an amp or two @ 120VAC would do the trick. But I do sound, not lights, so someone else should weigh in here.

Of course, Frodo's remote manual light switch probably runs a close second, but like most such devices, it will invariably be left on when you are not recording, and off when you are.

You could dual-gang a footswitch (careful with that wiring) so one pole switches DP in and out of record (using a device like a MOTU 828 with its footswitch input) and another pole handles the light switching.

Whatever you do, you simply MUST purchase the red RECORDING light box. Whether it is hooked up to a power source or not!

Footfall isolation is impossible to achieve economically. Unless you simply cut off the feet, but that has other ramifications.

Mine knows when I'm recording because it sounds like a horror movie going on he he...

waterstrum,
Take a look at X10 stuff - you may be able to hobble a solution - http://www.smarthome.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or this? - MIDI Solutions Relay - http://www.midisolutions.com/prodrel.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Bad part is the price - $150.00 - yikes! You would then need a relay (maybe something X10) to control the line (120v) voltage via the low voltage (500mA) from this switch. Then add the "Frodo Box" making it expensive but way cool.
ross

.

I used to have a similar problem, and the only (and best) solution I found was to isolate the recording room. Now, it doesn't matter what people upstairs do. The room is so quiet that you can hear your hearbeat!

The red light thing could work, but it could become annoying for your wife after a while... Especially if you have a bad player (record... give indications. Record. Stop. More indications. Record 5 seconds. Take 10000000. More indications. Stop again. record...) You get the idea

Hello forum,
Check this one out:

http://www.secaudio.ch/side199.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

adriano wrote:Hello forum,
Check this one out:

http://www.secaudio.ch/side199.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sweeeet. Thanks!

Wow-- the Recording Lamp USB looks pretty clever!

Frodo wrote:Wow-- the Recording Lamp USB looks pretty clever!

Great Adriano! I need this one badly!

Just in case you're after some heavy solution :
http://www.midisolutions.com/prodrel.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hi frodo,
Yeah, pretty slick uh?

Hello Daniel, glad to help. I think I'm going to get one too.
No, wait! Make that 3, I have 7 kids and a wife

daniel.sneed wrote:Just in case you're after some heavy solution :
http://www.midisolutions.com/prodrel.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's so great to see that which is simple suddenly be so easy! Does it get any more thoughtful?

adriano wrote:Hello forum,
Check this one out:

http://www.secaudio.ch/side199.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ha ha! Well there you go... a perfect solution.

It would be even cooler if you also bought the one which says "Recording" and somehow rig this one to work inside the other.