Crab Box, Time for a redesign-overhaul. Audio volume issues

I am having a lot of trouble getting enough volume out of a crab box lately when interfacing computers, tablets, and smartphones. Even with the volume control cranked all the way up.

Once at a building where we were having a YSA lip sync contest (iphone to crab box) . The other at a RS womens conference (computer mac or PC audio out to crab box)
Both cases are different buildings different crab boxes.

I have tried the mini to 1/4"
I have tried my own mini stereo to RCA cable. (This worked the best) Cranked volume all the way to the right, device audio cranked up all the way too. Audio was borderline loud enough. We should be able to get appropriate volume at less than 75% of volume setting.

Anyone else noticing this issue.
In my experience 95%+ of requests are for connecting 1/8 mini devices to the sound system - Laptop, tablet, smartpone, ipod, etc.

Perhaps it is time for a crab box overhaul- new design to meet the needs of the current generation. "-)

What are others finding.

Kevin Reeve
Logan, UT

What model are you using? The EJ-10 (gray case) is a bit weak and not as clear on the highs. I've seen the same issues trying to use a DVD player - you have to crank the volume all the way up.

The EJ-8 (black case) works great. It's only shortcoming is the lack of a telephone interface that the EJ-10 has.

EJ-10 in both instances. Good to know about the EJ-8 though.

Our problem is with the new building sound systems. When you plug the crab box into the microphone input, the main sound system damps it down to whatever was set as the "normal" volume, and it is not loud enough.

In the cultural hall, we have an override control that will usually bring it up loud enough. In the chapel, we go directly from the mini-jack to the RCA audio inputs at the side of the pulpit, bypassing the crab box, and we get full control that way.

Direct boxes are great for matching impedance and attenuating signals from headphone and line level (RCA jacks) sources to the church sound system's microphone jacks in the cultural hall and chapel.

You can purchase one for as little as $10 from eBay vendors (link).

They also have a selector switch for 3 gain settings - in case you do not get enough volume out of the building sound system.

Are you setting building volume to max too? Our aux input in the chapel has it own volume control as well master control over all sound levels. In the cultural hall going to manual mode and using the Aux input there works too while keeping mic levels good for the main inputs.

Unfortunately the chapel has no aux input volume control. The only audio volume is the main control at the pulpit control, and satellite audio volume.

My answer was to purchase a Rolls audio interface that has both RCA and 1/8 mini stereo inputs and a XLR mic level output and it works great.

KREEVE:

Will you post info on the device you bought please. I have the same problem when I hook up the headphone out from a laptop for a webcast. Set volume on laptop, crab box and at pedestal and volume still too low. My only interface in the chapel is xlr.

Thanks

I gound the crab to be overly cumbersome and replaced them with this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003M ... UTF8&psc=1

It works great.

Thanks for posting a response. I ended up buying the following which has an XLR interface and works really well as a crab box replacement. It does not have a telephone interface.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/555-7677

svreed wrote:I gound the crab to be overly cumbersome and replaced them with this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003M ... UTF8&psc=1

It works great.

For basic stuff that members want, like iPods and laptops, that looks good. But falls short for things like DVD players.

richphillips wrote:Thanks for posting a response. I ended up buying the following which has an XLR interface and works really well as a crab box replacement. It does not have a telephone interface.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/555-7677

Nice, but it needs a collection of cables attached to it so they don't walk off.

I have been salvaging the grey or black case of the crab box and putting my replacement inside....retaining the old cables if they check good.

richphillips wrote:I have been salvaging the grey or black case of the crab box and putting my replacement inside

I have yet to have one die. The gray ones aren't that great, but the black ones are fine.

The one I bought
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... +PResenter

Rolls AV Presenter. It has a 1/8 inch mini audio in and RCA jacks in. It has a XLR out, and two volume controls for left and right. It takes care of the stereo to mono for you.

I chose this one because it was something I was familiar with. The Crab box needs to be updated or eliminated.

I am having a little bit different problem with the Crab (I think). The audio cuts out for several seconds. Has happened during multiple webcasts and with trying to mic a music program through a separate mixer. Any thoughts?

Not imposable, but not likely unless it's a bad connector or cable. I'd check to see if it's a problem with that input.

I'd like to add, a note of caution. It is squarely within the purview of the FM group to provide a "Crab Box" or equivalent for each meetinghouse. One of the benefits to the wards and stakes of allowing them to do so, is that they are responsible for the care and maintenance of that equipment. If you or the ward, stake buy the equipment, that may be a violation of the policies in place, but also, places the burden of care and maintenance of that equipment on the purchasing individual/organization.
If you have not already, contact the FM about your needs/wants. Also be patient, and try to be clear about what the problem is. Most FMs are not technical, and will need a clear understanding in order to explain it to whomever they assign repairs/troubleshooting too.

Also, In the newest systems (last 10 years or so) the need for a crab box should be minimal as most rooms with systems include provisions to connect external (stereo mini, and/or RCA) source devices.