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Last Updated: 01/12/2003
So how do you use the CDs, tapes, sounds within a Haunt and what equipment is needed? Well there are a lot of different ways to setup an overall sound system and also
have several stand-a-lone or pocket areas with their own sounds. Here are a few ideas...
MP3 Player
A cheap MP3 player is a good choice these days. Find one you can easily load Halloween music up with and connect to a set of powered speakers, like computer speakers. MP3
players are hard to trigger for prop effects, but are excellent choices for over all sound through out your haunt. I use a USB power adaptor to power my MP3 player so it will run ongoing, night after
night.
CD Player
The easiest setup is to use portable CD players. Everyone has one and borrowing a portable CD player from a friend is easier that borrowing their boom box or home stereo
unit. The CD player allows to at the very least, looping of one track. The better ones will allow you to program many tracks in the sequence you desire or even a random sequence. Portables can be powered
by AC or DC via batteries, which makes it very portable. A pair of AA batteries will last the night.
Computer Speakers
So how do I get sounds from the CD player? I recommend using self powered computer speakers. This will require the use of AC power to power the DC transformer. If you
have a need to place sound effects in remote locations where AC power is not easily accessible, I would suggest finding a pair of battery powered speakers sold for the sole purpose of supplementing
portable CD players. In either case, you will need a patch cable to connect the line OUT of the CD player to the line IN to the speakers. Most all computer speakers will have this patch cable with the
right size adapter, so no worries.
I paid less than $10 for a pair of computer speakers. You find a lot of abandon units at Goodwill. Make sure you get the power adaptor.
Another setup is basically the same, but instead of using a portable CD player, use a portable tape player. The tape player should have the AutoReverse feature so that
you can loop a standard audio tape. In this setup, you will have to record sounds on both sides of the tape, completely covering the entire length of the tape. If you do not, then gaps of silence will be
encountered. If you use a 120 minute tape, you have 60 minutes of recording to do on both sides. I suggest buying a 30 minute tape, 15 minutes on both sides. You can find these at Radio Shack for a
reasonable price.
Portable Tape Player
If you don't have access to a portable tape player that has the AutoReverse feature, then I recommend purchasing an endless or Looping tape. These tapes continually loop
without ever reaching the end of the tape. Only one side of the tape is used. These tapes are used for older answering machines. The tapes can be found at Radio Shack, but expect to pay $5-$7 for
each tape. Also, the recording time on the tape ranges from 10-30 seconds. Yes, seconds, so a long music track is out of the question. However, it is perfect for screams, lightning, moans, etc.
Again, the portable tape players can be used in conjunction with computer speakers to provide the audio output needed at any given location.
Boom Boxes
Boom boxes or other CD/tape players can be used in some of the same manners mentioned above. I still recommend using portable audio (speaker) pieces to be hidden and
located in multiple areas of your Haunt. This provides the most dramatic and dynamic effects.
Digital Recorders
I have seen some ideas on using digital recorders. The prices of these gadgets are dropping rapidly and might enable some creative uses. I have heard of ways to
"hardwire" a patch cable to the inside of the casing of the device to feed it to a pair of self powered speakers. I suppose there is a way to loop the digital player.
Triggering a sound effect
In my experiences, I always have a need to trigger a dynamic sound effect triggered by motion detector, switch mat, etc. One of the easiest ways I have found is to use a
Boom box tape player with an endless looping tape. I use a BoomBox because I want to trigger the effect using totally AC power. Boomboxes usually have a corded AC power source. The tape player was
chosen because I can press (engage) the play button and keep it in that position whether or not the BoomBox has power or not. When the tape is in the player and is playing, I can cut the AC power and the
effect goes dormant. When I restore the power, the play kicks in and I have momentary sound effects. (See the simple example on building a motion detector switch for AC power elsewhere on this
site.) The looping tape only has 15 seconds of screams or whatever. The trigger only powers the effect for 20 seconds or so. The Boombox has its own speakers and thus, we have a pretty tightly
integrated sound effect setup.
Speakers
Speakers need not be big or of high quality for haunts. See the section on computer speakers for my recommendations. Other ideas I am planning to implement in later years
include obtaining a large BASE speaker that would be feed thunder sound effects. The BASE speaker can vibrate and create a more impressive effect that the limiting frequencies of computer or
BoomBox speakers.
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