I've just been reading the September Genii regarding the Virtual Soundman Remote Commander sold by Majiloon. Is there anyone out there using it, and do you feel it is a good 'real world' device?

I believe the Genii article is an unfair comparison of two different systems. I have never used the Majiloon device however I do have Wireless Wizardy's Mini-Tech, which is a more appropriate device to compare to the Virtual Soundman. I have just finished a 146 show run at a theme park and used the Mini-Tech in each show with absolutely no problems. It is easy to use and reliable. The transmitter is small and the buttons are easy to hit each time, and with the ankle transmitter it makes for a hands free triggering of the music. It is more expensive but I think the quality speaks for itself.

Chester,

I haven't read the "Genii" article. Can you summarize it?

I haven't worked with Virtual Soundman Remote Commander, but I have worked with another system (Cue-Master Pro) and have been around numerous people who use the Show Tech.

To be honest, if you have the money, the Show Tech is the way to go. The Mini Tech is definitely the next best option. Especially since you can get full value on it when trading up to a Show Tech.

I went for a less expensive set up and it works great for the money, but had I been able to justify it, I would have got a Show Tech.

There were a lot of angry people over that article, especially Show Tech users. It really was an unfair article. A $700 item compared with a $2,400 item. It's almost like comparing David Blaine and David Copperfield.

Check out: Remote Controllers for the Entertainer

Thanks a lot for your comments on the Virtual Soundman. I've been reading some raves here in the Café about ShowTech; I have not seen a negative review. At this point all I need is a device that can handle sound cues; ShowTech seems like a more comprehensive package. It is also much more expensive. What I am trying to determine is what can best suit my needs and my budget and still do the job.
Is there anyone out there using a Virtual Soundman?

I'm going with Virtual Soundman 7.5 based on cost, features, and past performance.

Here's a review of the Virtual Soundman 7 by Bryan Dean of Magic Reviews.

If you have ever been onstage and tried to control your own sound, you know how nightmare-ish that could be, right? Running off-stage to hit the button and again to move it to the next track, etc. What a recipe for an unprofessional-looking show!

Well, the answer to that is the Virtual Soundman 7 by Majiloon. Kelly Duro is the electronic genius who put this device together. Unlike the expensive Sho Tech, the Virtual Soundman 7 doesn't control things like a flashpot or lights; it controls the sound (and some special FX triggers, which are extra). And, that's good, because if you don't need the bells-and-whistles, you won't be paying for features you don't (or won't) need!

I had the Virtual Soundman 6 for the past year and loved it, but it needed a few features added. The Virtual Soundman 7 is fantastic as (for me) it has all the features I need to control my sound:

Auto Remote Start-Up - When ready, just press the "Play" button on the remote and it sync's the MiniDisk player with the VS7. So easy!

Auto Pause - If you ever need to pause your music and your hands are "full" (if you're doing card fans or juggling, for instance), you can program in a pause right into the music.

Auto Mute - Some CD or MiniDisk players have a "beep" played when they play a track. The Auto Mute hides this beep automatically.
Auto Cue Advance - No more guessing (I hated that about the VS6)! When you fade the music (or pause it) the VS7 will cue to the next track. (With the VS6, I could never remember if I advanced to the next track and I'd get all screwed up with the music order. Now, I don't have to think about it!)

Anti-Sleep - Some MD's tend to "sleep" when inactive. The VS7 will keep this from happening allowing you instant access to your music.

Auto-Fade - A great feature from the VS6: Just press two buttons simultaneously and the music fades, advances to the next track, then brings the sound up to the regular level and holds the track at "Pause".

NiMh Rechargeable Battery - A no-memory battery that charges in just a few hours. You can also power the VS7 with the power adapter (included).

A Built-In Speaker - What a wonderful feature! Instead of pulling out your entire sound system to test out your tracks, just use the built-in speaker. I love this!!

Optional LED Display Box - This is great, and a feature I requested and needed. The LED Box is a large display that shows the current track playing or on pause. Excellent, if you need to skip a track and need to know the next tune you will play will be the correct one.

The 6th Button - (Okay, it's called the M.I.C., the Music Interrupt Circuit.) It's a feature I asked Kelly for and he put it in! (What a guy!) You see he had an auto-ducking feature built in. This is where the sound would "duck" or fade out if the microphone was used. But, I told him that my Passport has that already and I would like to have control of the ducking since I had to actually run to the Passport to disengage it. The 6th Button will turn it on and off. Yay! (This is extra, by the way.)

Choice of an AM or FM transmitter - You'll need to visit the Majiloon site for the details about this, but I have the FM transmitter as I think it is more reliable. It's $50 more, but you get better distance.
Instructional video or DVD - Definitely watch this as it will get you up-and-running in just minutes!

The basic price for the Virtual Soundman 7 is $749.99. Additional items like the LED box, FM transmitter, ankle switch, special effects triggers, etc. are extra. Visit the Majiloon site for details.

Manufacturer's Site

Bryan Dean Site:

Today, I received an email from Kelly Duro, who apparently sent it to me telling me to refrain from commenting on a product I don't have in my possession, his Virtual Soundman.

He did not like the fact I wrote about what the many others were saying about the reviews in Magic magazine or my opinion, and that I was misrepresentating his product because I don't like his ad which infers it is better than a $2,400 similar product.

I personally feel he didn't like the fact I linked

• 1. Show Tec ($2,400)
  
• 2. Mini Tec ($1,275)
  
• 3. Virtual Soundman ($700)
  
• 4. X10 Tranmitter/Controllers ($25 for one unit) ($75 for 4-unit)
  

so others could make their own informed decision, like I did.

Well, I guess I am not allowed to have an opinion, good bad or indifferent. I must own his product before I write or talk about it.

His email made it clear to me which product I am going to buy, and it isn't the Virtual Soundman.

PS. He also said, that I am in no way authorized to print any portion of his letter on the Internet, or to forward it to any person. It is my guess they may gain the same feeling I got from what I call a "Nastygram". Apparently, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE AN OPINION!

My understanding is that if you program in a pause, you must have the volume on your minidisk maxed out for the VSM to "hear" it. For me, that would be a serious limitation, as I now have no control over increasing the volume.

Could someone clarify whether or not this is true?

Tim

Hello, Tim-
This is Kelly,
With regard to recording the pause signal. All Sony mini disc recorders have this ability— any mini disc for that matter have the ability to set the volume before you record. Even if this feature is disabled for whatever reason— the manual record should still be sufficiant to record the signal properly. (I guaranty that it will work, as I have tested it on almost every machine they have made.) If you still have diffficulties understanding this— give me a call or e-mail me— kelly@majiloon.com I'll be happy to address this personally.

Tim,

Two things. First, if you have the VSM 7, you have control over the volume on the player itself. Also, it depends upon the player how loud the actual tone has to be. On my Sony CD player the tone will be 'heard' when the volume is at 5 (out of 10)or above. On my Sony MD player the tone will be heard when the volume is at 16 (out of 30) or above.

For example, I set my MD volume at 23 and sound check the system. This way if I need to add volume after the show starts I can and if I need to pull back the volume I have room to do that before the volume is so low the VSM 'slips' the signal.

I hope this helps.

Kelly, David, thanks for the clarification. The review I read on a private message board *did* state the volume must be maxed to "hear" the tone. I re-read it to be sure. I'll contact the person to make sure that info is corrected.

Tim

Asianwarez.com for high end audio and graphics software. Very reasonable. If you like it and use it, buy it.

Watch out for proprietary software that requires a "dongle".

Look also for VST plug-ins. Vast majority are free or Shareware.

A smart dog may be taught new tricks ... a stupid dog is just ... well ... you know...

Fill us in here, what is VST?

After careful consideration and extensive conversations with individuals who had Virtual Soundman and Show Tech. I made the plunge.

I purchased the Show Tech, and it arrived last week. It is so nice and the expansion capabilities are there so I can trigger some lighting and special effects.

It is better to put the money up front for a good sound controller now, then try to sell one system then upgrade to a better system.

I plan on going with the Show Tech as well.
I like being able to change lighting and trigger flash pots or a fog machine at the right time.

Hmmm...I see said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and SAW…

Interesting last two comments - however nefarious as they may really be.

If after visiting our Web page, you still have questions, we would invite you to call us so that you may become better equipped to make an informed decision. We promise not to be personally indignant if you decide to choose someone else’s machine.

You will find that aside from being an actual qualified engineer, able to answer your questions, we will strive to make the tech/talk as easy to understand as you need it to be.

As with all our customers, you will find that software upgrades are given freely, and that you get only what you want when you want it, be it wireless foot pedals, special effect triggers, other accesories, or an LED display. If there is something you need that you do not find, then call us and we will see to it that arrangements can be made for you. We are professionals, serving professionals for over 21 years.

Respectfully,

The Virtual Soundman Staff.

Professionals do not send nefarious "nasty-grams" to potential clients, (I'm not the only one) and do not berate them for making an informed opinion. They also do not end with a nefarious demand, that they have no right to post, or print the comments you said to me!

No matter how nefarious it may be!

Here is a discussion on the Genni article about Virtual Soundman: Sound Advice? Don't Think So!

I have just ordered the MiniTech.

Hey...with the Stage Cue you don't have to record a digital pause signal after every track to auto-pause between tracks...looks real easy to use.

Who is this new guy? http://www.stagecue.com

Okay- magic guy,
I guess I will answer this question,seeing as you have asked it on several threads.

This Leskovar fellow is a birthday party magician who apparently hacked one of our systems- Mini Tech, or My VSM- and constructed a unit with his new label on it. He doesn’t have much of anything new under the sun to contribute the industry other than to try to undercut our prices.

When in fact it costs over $874 USD including his LED- when the LED comes free with my system, and is still cheaper than his. Unfortunately- he is using another AM operating system to trigger his commands.

This guy even cut and pasted text right off my web site/ brochure and put it on his web site to sell HIS product, if you can believe that. Believe it! I caught him and sent him an e-mail. He did not respond, acknowledge, or apologize, instead he immediately changed his text.

Not a person of much credibility, and certainly not someone I could trust with nearly $1000 of my money- let alone a system I can have confidence in.

I really don't like even giving the appearance of dissing someone on-line like this- it's not professional, I know, but this guy really shocked me. Sorry to bring bad news - but I think it is constructive.