Posted: 5/14/2015 3:12:31 PM EDT
|
I have a medical office with some ancient Music and Sound intercom. I'd like to replace it and I have a spare Mac Mini that I could use to run internet radio through the existing wiring.
I'm not sure how to split the signal out of the Mac Mini to speaker hookups. I'm not even sure what to search for. Basically I'd like to come from audio out on the Mac Mini to the speakers wired throughout my clinic. I'm not sure what the "splitter" or amplifier should be in between though. thanks much. |
| Is the existing hardware still in place? If so, I'm guessing there is an amplifier of some sort, and a mixer to set sound levels for the pages and music. Systems that use allow paging from any phone have some sort of box hooked between the PBX and amplifier, and that might be where the music actually feeds to. |
| A little pricey, but I believe you could run a Sonos soundbar with the Sonos amplifiers and then control the sounds levels through the Sonos app. I have one hooked to my TV and then one of the wifi speakers. When I get around to it I am going to get the amplifiers so I can run them to the hard-wired speakers throughout my home. |
|
Quoted:
This is what I have. LOL. I don't know if there's any ports for anything. I'll have to pull it. I'm not keen on keeping it though. http://www.avsforum.com/photopost/data/2306650/4/40/40e8bd80_IMAG0439.jpeg Damn. Is that what Alexander Graham Bell used to call Watson? |
|
Quoted:
This is what I have. LOL. I don't know if there's any ports for anything. I'll have to pull it. I'm not keen on keeping it though. http://www.avsforum.com/photopost/data/2306650/4/40/40e8bd80_IMAG0439.jpeg From that picture it looks like it could handle phono or tape, not sure where your input jacks would be though. Anything on the back side of that wall? |
| I think I may have put my title in wrong. I'm 100% for getting rid of this 90s abortion of a intercom system. We don't use the intercom so I really just need to distribute music throughout the clinic. I may pull the thing to see if there is a port on the back. I will try to take some pictures because the system is actually very small on the back. |
|
Quoted:
I think I may have put my title in wrong. I'm 100% for getting rid of this 90s abortion of a intercom system. We don't use the intercom so I really just need to distribute music throughout the clinic. I may pull the thing to see if there is a port on the back. I will try to take some pictures because the system is actually very small on the back. Take a look at the Soundbar. http://www.sonos.com/shop?utm_campaign=ggl_us_en_sonos_b_trademark_exact&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_content=ggl_us_en_sonos_b_trademark_exact&utm_term=sonos&gclid=CKG55d2TwsUCFcxkNwodhVUAFw&gclsrc=ds You can stream the music to the Soundbar and then the Soundbar can send the the music through the existing wired speakers through these amps. http://www.sonos.com/shop/products/connectamp If you have an iphone you can set it up so that each area can have different volume and even different music playing. |
|
Oh ok, it sounded like you wanted to just plug into it the existing setup.
I like Parts Express as a vendor, here is their section on multi room AV: http://www.parts-express.com/cat/audio-distribution-systems/1951 |
|
Quoted:
This is what I have. LOL. I don't know if there's any ports for anything. I'll have to pull it. I'm not keen on keeping it though. http://www.avsforum.com/photopost/data/2306650/4/40/40e8bd80_IMAG0439.jpeg That RADIO / TAPE switch would seem to indicate some line level inputs somewhere. You can use a 3.5mm stereo to 2 RCA plug cable to interface the audio unless they did something really funky. |
|
remove the face, There are screw terminals for the inputs. Use the Tape input. You can simply come out of the mac's audio output or headphone jack. The amp is already in the intercom unit, which by the way is a M&S MC350. Be advised however that what you are wanting to do, depending on the size of your clinic, is considered a public performance and royalties must be paid. You should contact the ASCAP or BMI regarding this. There is a small licensing fee based on the number of people/offices you are sending the music to. Muzak is probably the most recognized music service for this type of service. A portion of your Muzak subscription is used to pay those licensing/royalties. I'm not saying this isn't overlooked all the time. But it is the law. And there are exceptions based on size and equipment. And yes, I do this professionally (although semi retired) I have given this same info to many hospitals and clinics, some who have opted for a pay service and some who have ignored the info. I do install the equipment, have them sign off that I informed them of the law (CYA) and showed them how to use the system, but I always use a recording I have of royalty free music to do this with. When I leave the system is turned off and the decision is left to the owner. ETA: this may help shine a light on it. http://lsglegal.com/index.php/articles/42-uncategorised/256-legal-limits-of-music-in-the-workplace |