We are considering purchasing a Bose L1 system. We are a goup of four vocalists singing to soundtracks. Occasionally we use a keyboard and a bass guitar. Our current setup is a mixer, amps, minidisk, cd, effects, wireless mics, crossover, 2 eq's, driverack PA. Will we be able to replace all of this equipment with an L1 system? How many l1's should we buy? How can one person control all of the levels on multiple L1's? Thanks for your help, as you can tell I am new to this type of sound system.

Hi, High Meadow! Welcome to your first post on this L1 Forum.

I'd recommend that you do some more reading on the L1 Wiki site, particularly the "Education" section, about this whole approach to amplified sound ... you may have to 'unlearn' what you think you know about amplifying your voices & instruments.

There are several groups which seem similar to yours which often 'visit' this forum; based on their reports I would recommend that a minimum configuration would be two L1 Model 1's with 4 B1's.

That gives you 4 microphone inputs and 4 line-level inputs ... but no effects. -- However, most groups like yours don't use them much, if at all, with the L1s. They let the rooms' acoustics provide all the "effects" necessary.

The two Model 1's also would provide a Remote control for each pair of vocals; each mic input is separately controllable from the Remotes.

If those 8 inputs are insufficient, then I would add one or two T1's ... or some other small mixer. If you don't need more than 4 mic inputs, it doesn't really matter. If you need more mics, I'd get a T1.

I agree with Dan, for this application you will be better served by at least two L1s.

What is the make and model of your mixer. Knowing available ins and outs might help in offering suggestions.

Do you use a sound man?

Or...
Does one member of the group control start and stop of various components that are playing your tracks.

Do you find there is a need to make adjustments during the performance to Levels, EQ, Effects, etc?

If you think of the L1s as Powered Speakers, you could eliminate the cossover, driverack PA, amps, and both eq's.

You could continue to use your mixer, minidisk, cd, and effects.

There are any number of other hybrid setup possibilities using Model I's with your mixer and system inputs, remotes and, or T1s, or Model II with your mixer and or T1s.

I think it is important to utilize the Vocal presets, beyond that there are many options.

I listened to a gospel group in my Church this past Saturday. I was surprised at the effects that were used on the vocals. I thought it interesting that they knew to kill effects for talking but turned them back on for singing. I was unsure of the desired affect of the effects.

How important are effects to your singers? with Model I's it might be more difficult to get each treated vocal in the assigned speaker and still take advantage of the presets. With Model II's you would need T1's to take advantage of the presets.

O..