Small Board that Even Idiots Can Run

[Foxinabox10]

I'm looking for a small (cd, 4 mic) rack-mountable sound board that is easy to use, reliable and can be used by someone that has never seen a sound board before. This is going to be used for a backstage control system for small assemblies and rentals so that no one has to be there to run sound. Any ideas?

Also, I have to figure out a switch for the speakers so that we can switch between the small and the main board. I would like it to be switchable in the booth and in the back. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

[AVGuyAndy]

Rolls makes a few 1RU rack mixers. I forget the models, but I can let you know what I think in a few weeks when we get the PA installed in the library.

[koncept]

i would look at the dj boards or inline rack mixers.

i guess take a look at this link they might have something along the lines of what you are searching for

[sound_nerd]

You can use any 1RU board. Just something simple. Behringer makes a few if you aren't into spending much money.

[mbenonis]

You might look at Rane. They make some nice small mixers that take up 1RU of space and are simple to use. I bought one about a year ago for a portable wireless rack, and it's worked very well.

[soundlight]

Bogen 4+1 mixer

This appears to be exactly what you're looking for in the mixer, and you can get the rackmount kit for it.

[soundlight]

This is another option, Whirlwind this time.

[saxman0317]

Well, as far as switching speakers, are you going to make it so even an idiot can run your amps?...Those arent really something you want to keep on all the time.

[Foxinabox10]

We are going to have our amps back in the booth and so my thought was to put an old amp on this dummy system, because this only needs to run to the center cluster and not all of the speakers and I'll have the amp available when we get new ones. So, I would need to be able to switch the signal to the speakers...or could I run both to the speakers?

[koncept]

there are some electronic current based switches so that when that board is on it will turn other devices on in a set order or you can have a master switch to do the same thing. bascialy they turn one switch on and it starts the system up in a set order and then reverses it for shut down. someone on here knows the name of this product. I wish i could think of it, i know it has been brought up in discussion a few times and is in use at my old high school. If i remember it i'll post a link. but something like that might be of use in this situation.