Hello a newbie here. I have been checking out this forum for a couple of days now. I'm in a band where I play V-drums, with two female singers, a guitar player and a keyboardist. We use midi's to fill out the bass and any other instruments. Me and my guitar player were out last Saturday to check on the place where we're going to play a wedding gig on September 9th. He asked if I knew anything about these Bose PA speakers systems. I told I haven't heard of them and he told me a few things about this and that, but I kind of foo foo him. Later that evening our sound guy called me and told me he saw some guy doing reggae music at this club, playing guitar, singing and using an Ipod with backing music on it through this tall slim Bose speaker system and he couldn't believe how great it sounded.
So now I'm interested and start doing research on the web about these Bose systems and I'm getting excited about what I read. I talk to Gary, the husband of one of my female singers and the guy who owns most of our PA gear ( 4 giant JBL speakers, tri-amped, a 3 way crossover, 3 1250watt amps, 1 600watt amp for the monitors and two very large Ross systems monitors) about the Bose system. Gary may own the PA equipment, but I'm the one who humps it from gig to gig. I tell him what I have heard and read about the systems and what the sound guy told me, but he thinks it a bunch of crap. Anyway I got him to go do some research on the net. After doing the research, he is interested enough to give them a try. Last night we went to Guitar Center and listen to the system. They say they would give us a 60 day trial period. We have decided after the wedding gig, we're going to get three systems and give them a try. I hope it works out as I don't what to be humping those speakers and amps anymore. I'm thinking may we should put the drums and midi through one system, the guitar and keyboard through another and the vocals through the other. I figure we'll work with them for about 3 or 4 weeks and then do a gig with them, even if we have to schedule a free one somewhere. The one question Gary has is, with these systems being around for a few years now, how come more people aren't using them? I think it's 1. price, 2. lack of knowledge of them, 3. price, 4. too many old school people thinking bigger is better. Just my 2 Cents.

Hello eastwdsq (phew! what a handle!)

First of all, welcome to this community.

There are many, many generous and knowledgable people here that can help you with your evaluation.

To start, how many L1™ systems were you thinking of using? The ideal is one per player but in many situations, two or sometimes even three players can share a system.

In a moment, I'll sketch out a starting point system for me. I encourage you to spend more time exploring this Message Board and asking questions here.

I applaud the fellow that owns the conventional system and yet is willing to try something totally new. That takes a lot of open mindedness. Please encourage him to follow and contribute to this discussion.

As to why more aren't using this new approach, well, there ARE a lot using it. Like tens of thousands. Why not even more? The biggest reason is paradigm change. It takes time. Always.

I'll be back with a sketch.

Ken Jacob
Chief Engineer

Okey dokey,

Here's a quick sketch but you can help me arrange the instruments more accurately. For example, I don't know how you're arranged on stage. Or if the guitarist is electric or acoustic.

Here is a link to This Layout in The Sketcher, a tool designed to help with layout and design of a Bose L1 system for your band.

You can click on the link and make the changes yourself (click send layout when you're finished) or you can just tell me here what to change and I'll do it. Either way, we'll converge quickly to a great try-out system.

In the sketch, I show two double bass systems.

The yellow-circles with numbers in them refer to the two systems. The white circles with blue numbers refer to the channel number to use. So, for example, the singer on the left, plugs her mic into System 1 (yellow circle) Channel 1 (white circle).

Please let me know what questions or comments you have.

I look forward to helping you.

Ken

Welcome, eastwdsq:

If you have more than two vocalists (two mics), then I definitely would trial the 3 Systems, not just two. It will be the separation of vocals which will really make your sound "distinctive" ... as well as distinct. (Which is what Ken-at-Bose shows in the sketch above ... based on just two vocal mics in your group.)

If two Systems turn out to be fine for your group's music and the places you play at, then you can just return the third after the trial period is over.

Short advice: Use the presets for the mics. Keep in mind that you had to take time to learn how to use your current "big rig", too -- so take time to learn this one, as well. Good plan you have in mind.

More setup info as this topic progresses.

Let us know more about your group's music and the variety venues you play at.