Here is the situation. My church uses 4 PAS in a PA system set up for the house speakers. The problem we are having is that the mics are very, very bright, to the point that they are pearcing to the ears. The instruments themselves sound good, but the vocal mics are clear, but hard on the ears. Any suggestions?

Hi joyful,

• What kind of microphones are you using?
  
• Are you running them directly into the Bose systems or some kind of mixer? If so, what mixer?
  
• What presets (if any) are you using on the Bose systems?
  

Mixer:
Tascam FW-1884 run with Digital Performer 4 with Mac G5 computer.

Mics:
2 Shure SLX wireless
3 GT55 (Grove Tube) mics for the choir (these sound fine)
4 Sennheiser e835 mics (these are the problem)

the bose settings are currently on 16

Hi Joyful Noise,

Did some digging on these:
Sennheiser E835

Tascam FW1884 DAW Controller/Audio/MIDI Interface

Read a bunch of reviews and the E835 looks to be be what would happen if Sennheiser made an SM57...

Assuming that you are running the version 1.0 presets, #16 is a 90 db gate.

Is your system noisy? But for noise, I think that most people running the Bose systems from mixers are using preset #00 (flat).

How are you using the mics? (hand held for vocals or speech or ...?)

I apologize for not having asked the most important question in the first response.

Can you describe what you meant when you say...
"clear but hard on the ears.

We are using the Shures for vocals only, but the Sennheisers are being used for vocals.

Yes, the system is a little noisy, and when I say "hard on the ears" I mean that the sound is very intense. It really doesn't sound natural, and sound like there are only highs in the mix. The only time we get any lows is when the the kick drum is up too loud, or if someone accidentally bumps the GT55's, or if we are playing a cd. Other than that, everthing else coming out is highs and mids.

Allow me to throw something else at you: Can the Bose be hung up side down? We currently have them sitting on stands but they are blocking the aisle space needed for walking. Can they be hung upside down if they are properly braced?

joyful noise,

Sorry, but I don't quite understand...

quote:

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We are using the Shures for vocals only, but the Sennheisers are being used for vocals.

---

Anyway, not that it *should* make a difference, but do things sound much different if you use preset 00?

Are you running everything "flat" through the Tascam FW-1884 and the Mac? If not, how does it sound if you do?

As far as hanging them upside down, I think that structurally it would be easier to hang them right side up if you were going to hang them at all.

You'd need a special wiring harness to run from the Powerstand to the L1 Cylindrical Radiator. Don't have the details about that but maybe one of the at-Bose people will respond.

I would recommend plugging your e835 directly into the PAS using preset 02 (old presets) or 01 (new presets). Set everything flat (12:00) except master at 0. Set the trim so its just before overload. Bring the master up to suit and see if you still get the intense high freqs. If so, its the mics.

If not, its something else. Add the other elements one at a time, trying not to touch the trim if possible. When the problem comes back, you know which device is the culprit.

Larry

Thanks Larry.

Good catch.

Got dazzled by the gear and missed the most direct approach.