As a regular (daily) lurker here, and sometimes poster, and now 9 month user of the great L1 Classic system, I have noticed something...

I have less and less to say about my L1 here. Why? Because the "transition" phase is now behind me fully. Let me put it this way:

• I no longer MARVEL at my improved sound because I simply have become acclimated to full , rich, even broadcasted tone! It's not surprising - it's the norm now.
  
• I no longer find it amazing how easily I transport the system (3 double bass systems with an A1 Packlite, along with 2 Variaxes and a massive 65lb pedalboard) as putting the entire thing in the back of my Nissan Minivan just seems to be the most natural thing in the world! ("Hey, how'd we use to carry sound systems around - anybody recall - I think I've repressed those memories!!! )
  
• I no longer sweat setup time ("Dude, hurry up - we've only got two hours until soundcheck - we're never going to get this stuff setup in time!") as 20-25 minutes is a wonderful, slow, leisurely, laid back time to chat about the day, current events, the movie I watched with the family last night, or the new tune we should pick up - yeah, a nice time to chat with the bros in the band as we set this there, click, turn, plug in the color coded snakes (one per each tower that includes all the needed connections, power cables, etc), dial in the carefully marked remotes so we can call up that perfect mix that we've used for the last 8 of the nine months we've owned the system, etc.)
  
• I'm just not suprised anymore when we play a single verse and a single chorus of one tune for a soundcheck - probably 90 seconds tops - rather than three or four tunes stretching into 30 minutes or an hour as we used to. I am still surprised though, that we even do soundchecks at all - but I understand why: it's no longer about the sound - it's more about a "can i try this new drum/guitar/synth/VoiceLive patch out really quick (you choose - it could be any of the above or even a "hey, can we hit such and such a tune for a sec so I can see if this new vocal line flows like I think it will?)
  
• It's just expected now that the audience will come up and comment on the songs, the show, even the LYRICS - rather than " I couldn't hear ____________ (fill in the blank)" - and that the audience will be right up by the front of the stage smiling - even talking with us sometimes during a performance instead of running to the rear of the room - and speaking of the rear of the room - I just have come to think it normal that everyone - myself included - that we are all hearing and experiencing the same mix - hearing the same song the same way no matter if they are in the parking lot or two feet from the front of the stage. And why, why in the world was it that people went to hear music but had to complain about it being too loud or hurting - and hearing protectors at a concert? That's like arranging in advance to have your stomach pumped after going to a fine restaurant! Why did that EVER make sense in the old approach?
  
• I'm just not posting as much as I find it absolutely normal now that after a gig, I have plenty of time to stand around and chat with appreciative audience members - that I don't have band members shooting me irked glances because they are already at work at the old 2+ hr tear down routine while the wannabe-guitar-hero shirks his duties to "talk with his fans" (never cold afford too many roadies back in the day!) No, these days, we finish and restart the laid back chat with fans as we pack up the Bose gear - often answering questions in the process about how something so small could sound so big!
  
• No... I've just kind of run out of things to post about many gigs we're turning down now - because we just don't have the time to take up every opportunity that is coming our way now that the music is fully the focus, no that people hear everybody in the band, clear and clean - every melody, every harmony, every run, riff, lick, hit, inflection - which leads to another observation...
  
• I'm no longer surprised that we're a band - or that I am now (somehow!) in 3 different bands sharing a combined membership of nearly 20 people - and it's all been because people finally heard what I've been trying to do musically for years - and the interest in collaboration has skyrocketed!
  
• It's just so obvious now, that what I'm experiencing is what it should have been all along - that I've grown more musically in the past 9 months than in the past 9 years (been playing since '77). And why? Because I know what my sound is going to be - and I don't get distracted fighting feedback, or tweaking mixes, or trying to recapture the tone I had in the last room. I plug in and pick up where I last left off - resulting in a continuous, unbroken musical progress both for myself and for the bands I'm in as well. I'm a better singer today than nine months ago too - better on lead vox and definitely better on bgvs! And all the people I'm working with - every single one without exception - they are each and all better musicians, sounding better, playing better, communicating and collaborating better than ever before because we can hear, because we are focused on the music not distracted by the mix.

So, as you see, I've finally been rehabilitated from the PTSD I'd suffered for so long (Post Truamatic Sound Disorder) - I'm no longer amazed - I'm simply focusing on why I got into music in the first place - and the gear is fading into the melodies and harmonies. Really - the old approach is a distant memory - like worrying about cassette tapes being "eaten" in the middle of my favorite song, or scratched LPs, or twisting the rabbit ears to try and clear up the reception before my favorite show comes on tv, or sewating that I didn't get home in time for the start of the season finale! These days I can watch Star Tek on DVD from Netflix! That's all past and the purpose - the focus is right where it should be and should have been all along - on the music.

But why am I sitting here typing - Rehearsal is coming up & I've got a song to write!

Well said Brian.

This is one case where

"no longer MARVEL"

Means that you can "take it for granted" without having become complacent.

Relieved of the burden of what are now mundane concerns, you can focus on the higher order goals.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts in transition. And while I have missed your posts, I'm happy to know that you are off playing music.

Have a great rehearsal.

quote:

PTSD I'd suffered for so long (Post Truamatic Sound Disorder)

You know, there is a treatment for that, and it is spelled Bose L1.

Thanks for the great post.

Brian,

Thanks for all that. You made my day!

Tom

Brian,
Our band has been using L1's for three years and your post perfectly describes my experience with the Bose philosophy. Gone are the days when I needed a trailer to haul around the band gear or struggled to get an acceptable stage and main mix or I dreamed about being able to hear what the audience hears. I do not dwell on all of those issues because they no longer exist. I just enjoy the experience of performing to a much greater extent. I know that I can depend on the Bose and it has become fully integrated into my musical life. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Charlie

Hi:

quote:

"I'm no longer amazed...."

For some reason I continue to be amazed, even though I know what I can expect (quality sound everytime, etc).

Also, I do still enjoy when people come up and marvel at the sound quality and "how can all that sound come out of that thing" or words to that effect. I doubt I'll ever tire of showing people around the L1.

I'll never get used to it! But I will continue to enjoy it.

Stu

Thank you, Brian. This is what we live for. Your post is evidence of a dream come true.
Chris

What an excellent Post Brian.


Ted

B

What Chris said. This is our dream for all musicians come true. Thanks for a thoughtful message. We all love it.