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Virtual SoundMan
From Majiloon (Kelly Duro) USA
Reviewed by Jez Rose
This
thing is great! The more you look at it and play with it, the better it gets. I
love it!
Sound Investment
Basically it is a remote controlled unit, enabling you to control your own music
and sound effects, by remote control. Just think - you turn up, plug the unit
into either your own sound system, or simply ask for a live line in the venue's
system, and do your act - that's it! No complicated cue sheets, no need to spend
time with the Mum or the sound guy, no rehearsals, no need to pay a mate to go
along with you and not even any need to plug it into the mains! Yes, it comes
battery operated - great for rehearsing at home without having to plug
everything in; great for checking your cues or tracks backstage or in the car
and great for when you're late and you just need to get on with it. It even has
an on-board speaker which is great for rehearsing at home without having to
unpack all of your sound system... and even greater for children's parties or
smaller indoor functions as it's a clear, quality speaker which gives "full"
sounding sound and is pretty powerful, too. So, you don't necessarily need a
sound system. Budget? This is your answer.
Technically Speaking
YOU are in control. The Virtual Soundman Remote Commander is a small radio
frequency transmitter and receiver built to work with a mini-disc recorder or
Sony CD player. During playback, you can control volume, pause, cue forward, cue
backward, track forward, track backward and fade out features with all the
advantages of instant random access. You can time the sounds, too. If you use
sound effects in your show, as I now do, you can activate the effect with a
delay of say 10 seconds, leaving your hands up in the air and away form anything
when the noise happens. This is real magic, how magic should look.
What Do You Get?
Well, you get the unit itself, which is highly portable. This is what your mini
disc or CD player plugs into. You also get the best bit, which is the remote
control. This is tiny - small enough to be palmed, clipped onto your belt or
onto your costume somewhere. Variations include an ankle trigger (designed to be
strapped onto your ankle so that you can activate the various functions by
bringing your feet together) and as a foot pedal. But the best bit? You get a
DVD video explaining how, why, when and what if, plus full-colour instructions,
a mains charger (you will need to go and buy a voltage converter though as it's
a US plug) AND ALL of the necessary cables and leads so you can start using it
straight away. It's simple, does all of the work itself and as you start using
it you find more and more and more applications for it, and more things that it
does.
R&D
Kelly Duro has thought of everything, and you get a very impressive and well
thought-out package. Right down to the on/off button being recessed so that you
don't accidentally knock your sound off half way through the show. It looks
professional, works excellently and I have had NO problems with it at all. If
you do have problems, he'll fix it for you, to the same high quality that he
made it. It is obvious that this guy cares about his products and that they
aren't just churned out for profit.
One of the issues I have about buying things from the US is that you can't see
it and play with it before you buy it - which is why I decided to take time out
and write this review; I always find it helpful to hear other people's opinions
on their purchases. Informed decisions if you like.
If you contact Kelly or do buy one, tell him you saw it on MagicWeek reviewed by
me (Jez Rose). I don't get anything for it, but I said I'd review it for him as
I was so impressed.
© Jez Rose, March 2004
Available from: www.majiloon.com