Well, we have been using our band's L1 system primarily for the vocals in our band. It is hooked up to a mixer and has worked for a few months now in rehearsal. It sounded really good. We tested it last night in a room that should fit about 50 to 100 people and it failed. It distorted and with the volume only turned up about 1/4 the way on the L1, and mixing, we received a very discouraging performance. We were not playing that loud but the L1 did not compete with the guitars and drums even turned down moderately. Could we be doing something wrong of it just not strong enough. The light on the bass did not turn red but if we turned that volume up, we get feedback and more distortion. We have thought about adding powered speakers in addition to the L1 but had hoped that would not be neccessary.

Hi CBates,

Thank you for joining the Forum.

It sounds like you have a Model I. Different Models

quote:

Originally posted by CBates:
Well, we have been using our band's L1 system primarily for the vocals in our band. It is hooked up to a mixer and has worked for a few months now in rehearsal. It sounded really good. We tested it last night in a room that should fit about 50 to 100 people and it failed. It distorted and with the volume only turned up about 1/4 the way on the L1, and mixing, we received a very discouraging performance.

I'm sorry that you experienced this.

Typically, the L1®s do not distort as you turn them up, UNLESS you are turning them up at the source (in this case, the mixer) and as you do that, you overload the inputs. Normally you would see the SIGNAL/OL lights turn red.

I did see that you said, "the light on the base did not turn red", so I'm not sure what is happening here.

quote:

We were not playing that loud but the L1 did not compete with the guitars and drums even turned down moderately. Could we be doing something wrong of it just not strong enough. The light on the bass did not turn red but if we turned that volume up, we get feedback and more distortion.

In terms of keeping up with the guitars and drums, did you listen to the mix from the back of the room? The L1®s carry very well (throw really far, farther than most conventional amps or unamplified drums), so I wonder if the mix was better farther away. If it was, then this will give me a better idea of what is happening on stage.

quote:

We have thought about adding powered speakers in addition to the L1 but had hoped that would not be neccessary.

I hope you won't have to add powered speakers. This might make the feedback issue worse, not better.

Here are some tips on See: Microphone Feedback.


Were there red lights on - anywhere in your system (on the mixer???) for example?

Were you using the R1 remote? If so were the red lights on that flashing?

Are you SURE that the Power Stand SIGNAL/OL lights were not solid red?

Finally a hint: a good place to turn up the overall volume is with the R1 Remote Master. This is the last step in the signal chain and the place where turning up will not overload or clip anything else (except possibly, your ears).

If there are no red lights on the Bose.you must be feeding it a clipped signal.
Make sure each of the inputs to the mixer are not clipping. Do this by using the PFL switch on each channel individually and play or sing your loudest note, watch the mixer output and adjust the input trim on that channel to be in the orange only never red. One you have done this for each channel switch all PFL's off and then you'll see the mixer output levels on the meters, make sure this is not in the red, if it is turn the master fader down, and compensate by turning the Bose up.

One note, adjusting the eq on a channel strip on your mixer will change the gain structure for that channel so if you change EQ, re- look using the PFL

Let us know how you go.

Cbates

Did you get your problem sorted?