Phil Palmer Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Been using a Thumper quite regularly on a show I'm just now completing. After so many rentals, I'm thinking of purchasing or building my own. The PCS unit that LSC rents out is not for sale...it's a build only for LSC and it stays in rental. Anyone have any suggestions or a possible line on an existing thumper system? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Steigerwald Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Hey Phil, Not sure what your exact application is, but I've always had great luck with this company's products: http://www.thebuttkicker.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Meyer Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Hi Phil, LSC's Thumpers were built just for them. I had made a thumper for them about 20 years ago while I worked for them. The unit survived in rental for about 15 years before someone finally did it in. I should have asked for a percentage of the rentals it generated over those 15 years I also built their newer thumpers, but they are based on LSC owned engineering designs. As far as I know,there are no commercially available "thumpers" as it is such a specific use device. You could probably find a programable function generator (piece of test gear) and get it to work, but it might be a bit clumsy to use. Ron Meyer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Palmer Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Yes, not into clumsy too much. I've seen and heard of some other Thumpers out there. Would really like to hear if there is another design out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBurnette Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 If you need a subsonic thump and have something like 20 grand (USD) to spend, take a look at the TRW-17. It is probably way overkill, but it is available at http://www.rotarywoofer.com/. The concept is fairly simple: A fan operates like a speaker: The blades change pitch to create high/low pressure waves, just like a speaker cone would create waves. I've never heard/felt one in person, but I know they've got an install base in very high end home theater systems and in some museum exhibits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Looks like a cross between a fan and kitchen blender! I'm sure it would churn up your intestines!!!!! Mike www.mikewestgatesound.co.nz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 that could probably produce "Brown Noise"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg sextro Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 though i'd say the subs that blue sky and genelec make probably put out some kind of good low end, they would most likely only fair well indoors...well, actually probably wouldn't be rugged enough anyways. what about a car stereo type enclosed sub? that or a pa system sub. couldn't recommend anything in particular, but thinking out loud i suppose. i've never heard/seen one of the LSC thumpers. are they huge? -greg- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 " are they huge ? " not really, but large and heavy; requires 2 persons and a van! Basically "thumpers" are professional PA system sub-woofer speakers, and they are available in road rugged models. Some, like the ones LSC rents out include a built-in powerful amplifier and low-pass filtering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmaho Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 I've been using this for years... http://www.mackie.com/products/swa1501/ Billy Sarokin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Palmer Posted July 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 I'm specifically speaking of the Thumper processor, not the speaker. I've got the subs covered. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Steigerwald Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 I'm specifically speaking of the Thumper processor, not the speaker. I've got the subs covered. Thanks. What would this consist of other than a crossover and a power amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 What would this consist of other than a crossover and a power amp? Something to generate a steady beat at a very exact tempo. A specialized metronome, in other words, and in a more sophisticated setting one that could change tempos in real time in response to programming (ie score following). Philip Perkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Steigerwald Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Drum Machine on ebay for $25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBurnette Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 I've used a basic signal generator to feed line-level to all sorts of things. You can often pick them up on ebay or surplus from all sorts of places for well under $75. I used mine to test fix parts of a Moog. It develops a sine wave, triangle wave, and positive-only square wave. It is possible to change Hz in a matter of seconds, but not instantaneously. For that, you need a signal generator with memory functions...But if you need tempo lock, thath is a whole issue itself. I would endorse the Roland Drum Machine, depending on how fast it is to switch songs (tempos). I guess I would wonder what system is being used to display the score, and if there is a way to output the tempo. If there is a digital score, you are lucky. My quick-and-dirty solution would be to take a metronome track from the digital score as a MIDI output, and use it to drive a synth or drum machine that accepts MIDI. This should work with both Sibelius and Finale, and would require no attention after plugging in. Pro Tools, Digital Performer and most DAWs I've ever seen used for scoring should be able to do the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmaho Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Call me crazy, but usually I'll just run the music through the sub. It provides enough info for the musicians/dancers to perform to. It's the actual music so you have all the tempo changes and it disappears under the music they will lay in during post so you can still record dialog. Usually I'll run the full music until the dialog starts and then duck everything except the sub to catch the dialog. Best, Billy Sarokin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 It's not crazy, but sometimes the beat of the music isn't clearly enough defined in the low end to provide a ref for the dancers, OR the real music that will be in the film doesn't exist yet and they only have a rough tempo map. Philip Perkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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