How to transmit to multiple headphones?
December 17, 2010 1:10 AM   Subscribe

How can I transmit my voice, wirelessly, to 20 people at once, all listening through their own headphones?

I'm working on a flashmob-type outdoor performance piece. I need to be able to use a microphone to transmit real-time instructions, wirelessly, to a group of people all wearing headphones.
- I'll need a transmission distance of at least 30 metres.
- The group could be quite large, so I'd like to keep the costs of their receiver units as low as possible.

My first thought is using an FM transmitter, and have them wear cheap radios. But I can't find a decent transmitter. Only spy bug kits and iPod transmitters. Any ideas hive mind? :)
posted by pablocake to Technology (11 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Can you hire the kit they use for providing interpretation at conferences? That pretty much does what you want. First rental supplier I could come up with off Google.
posted by Abiezer at 1:34 AM on December 17, 2010


Could you use a teleconference system? All your participants dial in and put their own phones on mute so the line doesn't become fogged up with backchatter and delays.

They can then use their cell phones with earpieces or bluetooth receivers to get instructions from you.

Provided you have cell phone coverage the transmission distance would not be a factor.
posted by MuffinMan at 1:45 AM on December 17, 2010 [2 favorites]


If you're open to the receiver units being phones (or hands-free units) FreeConference dot com can handle way more than 20 callers and might be your cheapest option ($0.10/minute for each participant, who dial a toll-free number and pay nothing themselves). Not sure how good they are these days (probably still good).
posted by christopherious at 1:49 AM on December 17, 2010


Curses!
posted by christopherious at 1:50 AM on December 17, 2010


Looks like this device has a potentiometer inside that you can just twist up to get a range of 100 feet.
posted by suedehead at 2:15 AM on December 17, 2010


And here's the same device at Amazon (range tricks in the comments).
posted by suedehead at 2:18 AM on December 17, 2010


Okay, and other devices at Amazon: here and here that look better, are powerful, and can be powered with AA batteries.
posted by suedehead at 2:20 AM on December 17, 2010


"FM microphone". I would probably get one from your nearest big box store, possibly in Barbie(tm) pink.
posted by anaelith at 2:41 AM on December 17, 2010


Response by poster: All great ideas! Thanks heaps gang. Not sure yet if I'll go with the conference call or the transmitter. Might try both out. I'll let you know how it goes. :)
posted by pablocake at 4:34 AM on December 17, 2010


Yep, seconding a toy FM microphone. All you need is for the listeners to have a regular FM receiver. However, that said, the FM bands in some cities are absolutely saturated, so I'd run some tests with a regular consumer FM receiver in the spot where you're going to do this before making any purchases.
posted by crapmatic at 6:00 AM on December 17, 2010


(and check the FM frequency range of the toy microphone before buying to make sure it does the frequencies you have in mind)
posted by crapmatic at 6:01 AM on December 17, 2010


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