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After working with a local artist who performs experimental music / "found sound", we talked about his ideas for future performances. He would like to do an immersive display with as many speakers as feasible all around the audience. I did some googling and turned up Niles line of 12 channel amps. SI-1200 (older model) SI-1230, SI-1260, as well as their ZR-9830. I'm sure there are many other companies and models out there. But here's the question: HOW does this get processed? From his source, to a 24 channel mixer, to a pair of these 12 channel amps (They seem to have an input on each channel, but I hope I'm not mistaken.), out to the speakers? Anyone have any experience beyond quadrophenic (lol) sound? I'm guessing he'll need special software capable of processing that many unique channels- but will *I*, also?

I read a bit about the Hamasaki protocol, and the benefit of overhead placement, so there's that to consider, too.

Do a search for "Foldback Systems" and you should find most info relating to individual mixes etc. and whats avaliable to achieve it.

You'll need a DAW based solution for playback, probably using RME or motu gear to interface with the pc so you can have an output for each daw channel. You'll then need processing and amps for each channel. To get enough channels of processing will be expensive. Something like the ashly 24.4 could do 10 surrounds plus two sub outs. Two of them could be cascaded to do 20.2 or maybe 22.2.

Great, thanks! We may decide to go with "only" 12 channels, depending on cost and difficulty.

8 speakers would be plenty... and you can get a Soundcraft Spirit Monitor 24x8 for around $600.

Ryan Sober wrote:8 speakers would be plenty... and you can get a Soundcraft Spirit Monitor 24x8 for around $600.

Is there something special about this particular model, beyond what most other 24 channel mixing boards have / can do?

Rich4349 wrote:

Ryan Sober wrote:8 speakers would be plenty... and you can get a Soundcraft Spirit Monitor 24x8 for around $600.

Is there something special about this particular model, beyond what most other 24 channel mixing boards have / can do?

Yes.
The Spirit 24/8 Monitor series have 24 channels assignable to 8 groups. This is to allow 8 seperate sends for onstage monitoring for bands.

It's not bad thinking to go that way. In fact, you should be able to find a monitor desk that does more than 8 outs....

The equivalent FOH desk, either the Spirit Live 4 or the Spirit Live 4.2 has 24 channels as well, but with 4 subgroups and 5 aux sends for the 4, and 6 for the 4.2.
The 4.2 has matrix outputs. Look that up...

Grant Bunter wrote: Yes.
The Spirit 24/8 Monitor series have 24 channels assignable to 8 groups. This is to allow 8 seperate sends for onstage monitoring for bands.

It's not bad thinking to go that way. In fact, you should be able to find a monitor desk that does more than 8 outs....

The equivalent FOH desk, either the Spirit Live 4 or the Spirit Live 4.2 has 24 channels as well, but with 4 subgroups and 5 aux sends for the 4, and 6 for the 4.2.
The 4.2 has matrix outputs. Look that up...

I suggested the Soundcraft because it's easy to navigate, sounds great, and is now relatively cheap.
IMO, if you're mixing 8-way sound, having 8 rows of knobs to control what's going where seems like a much easier solution than trying to remember which speaker is on which subgroup/aux/matrix, and how to pan a channel to get it to the precise place you want it.

I just came across this guy: https://www.facebook.com/maxcoopermax?fref=nf

He plans on going live with 10 channels. Maybe give him a shout and see how he does it.