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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Sound System
Cee - Aug 18, 2005 - 10:15 pm
Hi,
I am opening a new store and would like to run the music system through the store computer.
I use a mac at home and like the convenience and flexibility of itunes and playlists etc.
I need a computer with internet at the store anyway because I will be doing alot of wire orders so thought I could do both and dispense with cds
Is this a foolproof plan?
If so,starting from scratch and not being a tech, what should I get to make it work?
How much of a computer do I really need?
and how do I go about setting it up?
I want to have the wiring for 5 speakers put in this week, but my electrician needs to know what gauge of speaker wire I need. I don't even know what kind of speakers I should be looking for.
Any help at all would be much appreciated.
Cee
I am opening a new store and would like to run the music system through the store computer.
I use a mac at home and like the convenience and flexibility of itunes and playlists etc.
I need a computer with internet at the store anyway because I will be doing alot of wire orders so thought I could do both and dispense with cds
Is this a foolproof plan?
If so,starting from scratch and not being a tech, what should I get to make it work?
How much of a computer do I really need?
and how do I go about setting it up?
I want to have the wiring for 5 speakers put in this week, but my electrician needs to know what gauge of speaker wire I need. I don't even know what kind of speakers I should be looking for.
Any help at all would be much appreciated.
Cee
Drumhum - Aug 19, 2005 - 10:05 am
Cindy,
You idea sounds perfectly sensible to me. I strongly recommend you approach an audio specialist for this job though. The average electrician will be able to wire things up, but little else.
For the system to work well its vital you get the right speakers, installed in the right place and connected to the right amplifier. What constitutes "right" depends on the size of your store, the shape of the room/rooms, decorative style and the atmosphere you wish to generate. (eg an art gallery would not have the huge speakers and deafening volume like the average HMV store!). Get a good audio specialist and tell him what you want and he'll tell you what you need!
With regards to the computer then you just need to think of your computer as music playing machine like a CD player. Your computer will have a socket on the back for sound output just like a CD player. All new Macs will be quite capable of playing music to your store while you surf the web or whatever. Even the cheaper macs.
Another way to do this though would be to use an ipod. Have a dock to put the ipod in, connected to your sound system (the docks have line-out connectors like CD players) and use a power supply too so that the ipod does not run out of batteries, and gets charged up if it needs it. This way you can manage your music in the same way, with itunes, but you are not limited in employing your computer in the shop all of the time. I've seen this done in many bars. It allows the bar staff to bring in their own ipods too, which has to be fun! Plus your ipod will take up less space than a computer.
To find an audio specialist I suggest you look in your local business telephone directory or do a Google for your locality.
feel free to get back to me if you need further help
regards
Tom
--------
You will be asked for feedback once this query is closed. All us techs love to get feedback:-) Thanks for using macosx.com
You idea sounds perfectly sensible to me. I strongly recommend you approach an audio specialist for this job though. The average electrician will be able to wire things up, but little else.
For the system to work well its vital you get the right speakers, installed in the right place and connected to the right amplifier. What constitutes "right" depends on the size of your store, the shape of the room/rooms, decorative style and the atmosphere you wish to generate. (eg an art gallery would not have the huge speakers and deafening volume like the average HMV store!). Get a good audio specialist and tell him what you want and he'll tell you what you need!
With regards to the computer then you just need to think of your computer as music playing machine like a CD player. Your computer will have a socket on the back for sound output just like a CD player. All new Macs will be quite capable of playing music to your store while you surf the web or whatever. Even the cheaper macs.
Another way to do this though would be to use an ipod. Have a dock to put the ipod in, connected to your sound system (the docks have line-out connectors like CD players) and use a power supply too so that the ipod does not run out of batteries, and gets charged up if it needs it. This way you can manage your music in the same way, with itunes, but you are not limited in employing your computer in the shop all of the time. I've seen this done in many bars. It allows the bar staff to bring in their own ipods too, which has to be fun! Plus your ipod will take up less space than a computer.
To find an audio specialist I suggest you look in your local business telephone directory or do a Google for your locality.
feel free to get back to me if you need further help
regards
Tom
--------
You will be asked for feedback once this query is closed. All us techs love to get feedback:-) Thanks for using macosx.com
Cee - Aug 19, 2005 - 11:19 am
Hi Tom,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.
I will go to see an audio specialist today to talk about speakers/amplifier etc.
I like your idea of using an ipod as well as my computer, as I presume they are interchangeable as a music library once the sound system is set up.
I feel much more confident that this will work.
Thanks again ,
Cindy
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.
I will go to see an audio specialist today to talk about speakers/amplifier etc.
I like your idea of using an ipod as well as my computer, as I presume they are interchangeable as a music library once the sound system is set up.
I feel much more confident that this will work.
Thanks again ,
Cindy
Drumhum - Aug 19, 2005 - 11:33 am
Cindy,
" I presume they are interchangeable as a music library once the sound system is set up."
Correct. You decide what goes on your ipod from your computer. I have an ipod with large storage so I just have all the music on my computer, also stored on my ipod - the libraries are identical. If I change my itunes music library (eg delete some songs, add some some songs, create a new playlist etc) then my ipod will get the changes as soon as I plug it into my computer. Its that easy;-)
The way I would do it is to create a new playlist on itunes (called for eg "my store music") and drag all the music I want from the itunes library to this list. once done I would plug in my ipod and let it update itself. Now with my ipod in the store i just need to select "my store music" playlist on my ipod and press play.
Although you need to be careful with displaying your ipod in the shop (easy to steal!) if your customers knew that this is how you supplied music to your store I bet they'd think it was cool!
regards
tom
--------
You will be asked for feedback once this query is closed. All us techs love to get feedback:-) Thanks for using macosx.com
" I presume they are interchangeable as a music library once the sound system is set up."
Correct. You decide what goes on your ipod from your computer. I have an ipod with large storage so I just have all the music on my computer, also stored on my ipod - the libraries are identical. If I change my itunes music library (eg delete some songs, add some some songs, create a new playlist etc) then my ipod will get the changes as soon as I plug it into my computer. Its that easy;-)
The way I would do it is to create a new playlist on itunes (called for eg "my store music") and drag all the music I want from the itunes library to this list. once done I would plug in my ipod and let it update itself. Now with my ipod in the store i just need to select "my store music" playlist on my ipod and press play.
Although you need to be careful with displaying your ipod in the shop (easy to steal!) if your customers knew that this is how you supplied music to your store I bet they'd think it was cool!
regards
tom
--------
You will be asked for feedback once this query is closed. All us techs love to get feedback:-) Thanks for using macosx.com
Cee - Aug 19, 2005 - 3:17 pm
Hi again,
Sorry, one more question for clarification.
If I have all my music on my computer to start with and my computer is in the store, do I need to also get an ipod? (which I do not currently own- my son has a mini, but...)
What would be the advantages?
Thanks,
Cindy
Sorry, one more question for clarification.
If I have all my music on my computer to start with and my computer is in the store, do I need to also get an ipod? (which I do not currently own- my son has a mini, but...)
What would be the advantages?
Thanks,
Cindy
Drumhum - Aug 21, 2005 - 8:28 am
Cindy,
Hanging out of the back of your store "sound system" will be an audio cable with a "mini jack" on the end of it (the type of connector you have on those little "ear bud" headphones). Whether you stick this cable into the back of you computer or into an ipod dock just depends on how you want to work your system; what is most convenient for you.
My suggestion/idea of using an ipod is that it frees up your computer to do "computer things". Although there will be nothing to stop you from using the computer while its playing its music you will have to be careful with any system sounds - eg if the computer beeps (eg on an error message or "received mail" sound) then this sound may well find its way to your store speakers! You should be able to disable such system sounds but there still might be the odd sound that gets through for some reason! You will not be able to use your computer with anything that makes any sound. eg someone sends you a "funny" email movie. Play the movie and the sound will play in the store! If you intend not to use the computer while the store is open then there will be no problem of course.
I just felt the ipod idea was an elegant solution (and trendy - if this matters). It will take up less room than a laptop, much easier to hide away under the counter etc. More straight forward to use by any staff you have too. I would have thought the cost of an ipod is pretty insignificant compared to outfitting a store and setting up a sound system (I bet your electrician charges more per day than the cost of an ipod mini!).
If you have a "spare" laptop that you are happy to employ as a music player and nothing else and have the room for it then use that. But if you want to use the computer you will have to be "careful" not to mess up its sound. If will be taking it home or moving it about then plugging in for music will be much more of a hassle than just popping your ipod into a dock.
Please also bear in mind I am a tech support op and not an in-store music specialist! There may well be better solutions out there or implications I have not thought of!
Personally I just like the ipod idea. iPods are very easy to use and manage. Computers are much more complicated beasts.
regards
Tom
--------
You will be asked for feedback once this query is closed. All us techs love to get feedback:-) Thanks for using macosx.com
Hanging out of the back of your store "sound system" will be an audio cable with a "mini jack" on the end of it (the type of connector you have on those little "ear bud" headphones). Whether you stick this cable into the back of you computer or into an ipod dock just depends on how you want to work your system; what is most convenient for you.
My suggestion/idea of using an ipod is that it frees up your computer to do "computer things". Although there will be nothing to stop you from using the computer while its playing its music you will have to be careful with any system sounds - eg if the computer beeps (eg on an error message or "received mail" sound) then this sound may well find its way to your store speakers! You should be able to disable such system sounds but there still might be the odd sound that gets through for some reason! You will not be able to use your computer with anything that makes any sound. eg someone sends you a "funny" email movie. Play the movie and the sound will play in the store! If you intend not to use the computer while the store is open then there will be no problem of course.
I just felt the ipod idea was an elegant solution (and trendy - if this matters). It will take up less room than a laptop, much easier to hide away under the counter etc. More straight forward to use by any staff you have too. I would have thought the cost of an ipod is pretty insignificant compared to outfitting a store and setting up a sound system (I bet your electrician charges more per day than the cost of an ipod mini!).
If you have a "spare" laptop that you are happy to employ as a music player and nothing else and have the room for it then use that. But if you want to use the computer you will have to be "careful" not to mess up its sound. If will be taking it home or moving it about then plugging in for music will be much more of a hassle than just popping your ipod into a dock.
Please also bear in mind I am a tech support op and not an in-store music specialist! There may well be better solutions out there or implications I have not thought of!
Personally I just like the ipod idea. iPods are very easy to use and manage. Computers are much more complicated beasts.
regards
Tom
--------
You will be asked for feedback once this query is closed. All us techs love to get feedback:-) Thanks for using macosx.com
Cee - Aug 21, 2005 - 11:43 am
I understand.
All I needed was enough justification to get an ipod as well as a computer.
goodie goodie
C
All I needed was enough justification to get an ipod as well as a computer.
goodie goodie
C
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