Guest Author - Dennis Regling

Product Review: Steve Jones Remote Control Sound

As a performer, one of the key elements to my programs is music and sound effects. Magicians find many choices when it comes to sound control.
They can use a boom box and turn their music on and off. They can use a soundman provided by the theater, and trust he won't make a mistake.
He can have his wife off stage, starting nad stopping his recording. He may even hire his own soundman.
One fantastic solution many performers use is the ShowTech system by Wireless Wizardry, (http://www.wirelesswizardry.com/showtech.htm). This wireless system is perfect for controlling your soundtracks. But, it also carries a hefty price tag of $2400. It is a great investment for those who can afford it.
Steve Jones (www.stevejonesproductions.com) has come up with an inexpensive compromise. His system can be seen at http://www.stevejonesproductions.com . It is a simple CD player to which Steve has wired in a foot pedal.
Now, you can have hands free control of your sound without the $2400 pricetag. With a tap of your foot you can start and stop tracks. With the handcontrol, you can skip tracks, and more. Place the foot pedal where it is convenient, have the hand held remote on your table, behind your props. The price is a very fair $135. Now any performer should be able to add music to his act and look professional doing it.
I bought one to use with my puppets. Now, with a tap of my foot, I can start a puppet track, a song, and sound effects. I am not very comfortable doing ventriloquism yet. But now, I put the figure's lines on CD. I can pick up the figure and with a tap on my foot, start the script palying. The audience never sees what my foot does when I slip it behind my table. The puppet starts talking, and I am not seen to turn anything on or off. Sweet.
I am sure you will find your own ways to use one of these gadgets.
This is a very handy little set up and I recommend it highly. Steve ships quickly and he does a great job rewiring the controls.