I helped with load in and load out at a volunteer concert last Saturday. Two bands, one 10 piece (Bio Ritmo, http://www.bioritmo.com/) and one 6 piece (Firecracker Jazz Band). About 850 guests at a fundraiser for our kid's school.

The sound crew, who graciously donated most of their services, was very professional and used brand new equipment with well thought-out equipment layout and packing in their customized 15 foot trailer. They used a pair of Mackie active SA1232z mains over four SWA1801z subs roped together to make a tower ($1600 x 2 + $1300 x 4) fed by a Mackie TT24 mixer ($6000), along with 9 JBL wedge monitors and a rack system to mix and power them, plus a gorgeous custom-made 150 foot snake for the mixer and monitors ($$??).

It took four of us 6 hours to load in, 2 hours to load out, and 1 1/2 hours to sound check. It sounded really good in the 10,000 sq.ft. hall, after we rigged a 20 x 20 foot sound-absorbing backdrop that the crew ingeniously rigged.

During set up, someone asked the crew if they could make it so that there was a place in the rectangular space where people could get away from the noise and talk if the wanted. All they got were amused smiles. I smiled, too, but only because I knew of a way, but could not say it out loud in front of the guys who had donated their equipment and services.

The crew got into the truck at 2 AM, and had to be at another venue to load out at 9:30 AM the next day.

I can't help but think 8 or 9 L1's would be easier, cheaper, and much faster. I bet we could have done the whole thing, load in, sound check, and load out in an hour.

I know one thing for sure; you could not pay me enough to do mobile sound with a standard triple system.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr. Dad,

Man - how true how true! I'd have ahted to have to be there all that time - for 850 people when as you say the L1s could have smoked the place and with a decent crew could have been up/down in under an hour each way (load in and load out) and I have plenty of experience now to document the L1's capabilities to fill that size room.

I'm with ya Dr. D!