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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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I would like to use Bluetooth for transmitting from my mixer (keyboard plus BIAB tracks) to my home stereo system for casual home use. I have found a couple of Bluetooth transmitters that typically state "Not recommend for streaming live music (while playing guitar, keyboard, electronic drums etc."
Can anyone suggest a Bluetooth transmitter that will do what I want?
Thanks
Tony
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I have some experience with this. I have a Switchcraft 318BT plugged into my studio mixer, so anyone with an iPhone can pair to it and play back what they want to hear on good speakers.
There are problems, though.
1st, it's mono. It plugs into an XLR jack that supplies power (so no batteries; that's good) which makes it one channel. At least it sums the Left and Right coming from the iPhone.
2nd, it's Bluetooth. As such the range is severely limited. It starts to wink out even when I walk into the hall, with one bedroom wall separating the iPhone and the Switchcraft. Bluetooth specs say 30' but I don't count on more than 10. This Sweetwater ad says 100'. Nope, not even half at best.
Still, it's VERY handy to have this and never worry about it.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/318BT--switchcraft-audiostix-318bt-xlr-bluetooth-receiver?mrkgcl=28&mrkgadid=1233692239&rkg_id=0&campaigntype=dsa&campaign=aaDSA&adgroup=1233692239:DSA%20-%20Studio%20&%20Recording&placement=google&adpos=1t1&creative=316784071842&device=c&matchtype=b&network=g&gclid=Cj0KCQiAr93gBRDSARIsADvHiOqTbVQ-3y8f0pvZrdi6qJRiX34awrejhcRyvkWj-v7Hc3JHGV6yWyQaAhxVEALw_wcB
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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After posting my question I found several online discussions about using Bluetooth live. It seems that this is just not practical (yet?) because of the inherent latency with Bluetooth.
Tony
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What is it that you want to do - play live keys into the mixer while transmitting the audio to the stereo for monitoring? Audio over wired Ethernet could be a solution for you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_over_EthernetBluetooth just is not designed for live performance from a latency standpoint. Probably the cheapest solution, however, is to do low power FM transmission in your house. Be careful when picking a transmitter on Amazon. Some for sale there are powerful enough to cause concern with neighbors and even the FCC. https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/low-power-radio-general-informationhttps://wholehousefmtransmitter.com/
Last edited by rockstar_not; 12/20/18 05:00 PM.
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It has long been fixed but my church was broadcasting via FM a funeral to the elementary school next door.
...Deb
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For reliability and distance, FM is still the way to go. There are lots of options and in my opinion and experience, even the cheapest options most times are (or can be made to...) better than Bluetooth. I have used and recommended this device for years. Particularly for Churches in situations like broadcasting to additional buildings like Deb described in her post above. It's not hard to actually get or exceed 300' with the older units I have. These units can also send video but it is not required in order to transmit audio only or to transmit video without audio. They transmit stereo audio. Wavcomm Jr
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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What is it that you want to do - play live keys into the mixer while transmitting the audio to the stereo for monitoring?
Yes, I want to send the output from my mixer i.e. keyboard plus midi plus Reattracks etc to another room in our house and don't want to run any wires. The request came from my wife who asked me if I could play live music into another room for a Xmas party. We still remember the days when families used to gather round the piano at Xmas! Tony
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Looks like we provided an overkill solution to your problem. FM is still the way to go since it seems the party won't be around the piano at Christmas but the piano music will be piped to the party.
Success depends on the distance to broadcast. My first try would be a cheap FM Transmitter found in the auto section at WalMart, Target, Best Buy or an Auto Parts store. They are not expensive. Try to get one with a digital tuner. It will come with a cigarette lighter plug to get power in a car. You can connect two Nine Volt batteries in Parallel (+ to + and - to -) which will give you 9 volts but more current before discharging. Tape the plus wire to the tip of the cigarette lighter plug and the minus wire to the metal strip on the side.
This should power the unit for a couple of hours while the party is ongoing. Test it first to be sure! You may have to move the power chord around a bit as that also functions as the transmitter antenna. Set the transmitter tuner on an unused broadcast channel and any radio you want to receive the broadcast to the same channel and you should receive a stereo broadcast signal from the transmitter.
The FM transmitter will have a stereo 1/8" jack. WalMart or any music store sells a 1/8" to RCA converter plug so you should be able to take a line signal from your mixer RCA jacks if it has them. The RCA outputs should be the same audio as your main outputs. If your mixer doesn't have RCA jacks. Take your output signal from an AUX Output rather than the headphone or main output because that will give you a line out. You will mix your output signal using the AUX Send knobs on each channel you want to use rather than your faders.
You can transmit further and your transmitter will broadcast longer if you have a 12 volt battery of some sort. Maybe a lantern battery or car battery.
Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 12/21/18 04:04 PM.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Looks like we provided an overkill solution to your problem. FM is still the way to go since it seems the party won't be around the piano at Christmas but the piano music will be piped to the party.
You can transmit further and your transmitter will broadcast longer if you have a 12 volt battery of some sort. Maybe a lantern battery or car battery. I didn't think about using an FM transmitter. In fact I think I have one lying about somewhere, I will give it a try. I have only used an FM transmitter in a car and seem to remember it was hard to find a clear frequency. Perhaps it is easier in a static situation. For a 12v power supply I will use an old AC/12V 3A DC adapter. Thanks Tony
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<<< For a 12v power supply I will use an old AC/12V 3A DC adapter. >>>
Be sure to test first. Most adapters create terrible hum and normally have to have circuitry to filter hum and regulate the voltage.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Based on the help in this thread my new FM transmitter set up worked perfectly to transmit 30 feet through one wall from my mixer to an audio receiver. This is the transmitter I used. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01K4NI9RS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I connected the mixer directly to the transmitter from the "control room" outlet. Finding an unused frequency was no problem, perhaps I am lucky in my location. Using a AC/DC adapter to power the transmitter worked perfectly. I did get quite a bit of static initially but managed to eliminate this by repositioning wires. I also discovered that the transmitter needed to be positioned so that there is no human body close to the transmitter inline with the receiver, including my own. Tony
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Glad it worked out for you. It's a nice looking unit.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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