Blessed are those who believe, yet have not seen. Jesus was right. In my case recently, though, seeing/hearing was believing.


It was Mrs. BBE's gal group again, Saturday night. Last time when I set them up, I used a single L1 and borrowed our beloved Drumr's mixer to mic the 3 girls, and double mic a baby grand. A wonderful challenge and success in its own right. This time around, I knew I would be providing my dig. piano. Ordinarily, one system is fine, and it's worked very well for 3 mic's and the piano (split two on one channel, single mic on the other, then keys into 3 or 4). Drumr wasn't gigging Saturday, so I had one of his systems at my disposal.

(Ahem...cough...clear...)

WOW!

Okay. I know most of you know how this system was designed and what it was designed to do, but until you really do it, you really can't appreciate the one-system-per-player theory. Well, forget theory. It's actual!

I have used two systems before, but never had the time to really set them up right, or taken the time to really listen. Saturday, I was able to get the girls all squared away, then tweak. Sometimes, I can really appreciate the soundman, since I have been able to be one a few times now (sidenote - Regarding live sound all I have ever known is the L1 approach; traditional systems came second, and in my opinion, always will be second for me, if I have any control over it). The monitor/main combo that the L1 is, is tremendous as a performer, but it is still not 100% what the audience hears since our ears can't be turned backwards (well, maybe someone's can). I was able to set up with the two remotes in hand right in front of the girls. The lead and alto were in one system with 1-B1 and the piano and lowest singing gal were in the other, and using 2-B1's.

Initially, I had the L1's spaced probably 8' o.c., with the 3 B-1's stacked perfectly between. It didn't sound right. I had the house PA on as well (consists only of a single condenser mic and two crate cabinets - works really well, but set up basically just for speaking; I kept it available for the evening's speaker so I wouldn't have to give the quick lesson that nobody ever listens to about using a dynamic mic with the L1). The house mic was picking up the girls' natural voices, as well as the L1 amp'd sound. This sounded kind of funky. Not entirely offensive, but not great. I turned off the house system. The sound improved, but still wasn't quite right.

As the girls continued with their "warm-up set", I slid both L1's toward the center, towards the B1 stack, then went back out front to listen and adjust accordingly if need be. That did it. Closer is better. They ended up 4' o.c., and it was great. Their vocals continue to be matched up very well, but really, they've never sounded better. I got the piano down in the mix (something I am still learning), maybe a little too much, but it still was plenty clear. The last time I was able to sit in front of the group was in a church basement. We used my single L1 then. At that time, it was the best the sound had ever been (another sidenote - it was also that time that Mrs. BBE first used Drumr's OM5...she has her own now ). It was really good. But Saturday. It was better. As good as it sounded - as good as a single L1 sounds with multiple sources - adding the second system made a heap of difference. Did it sound twice as good? Ah, you can't quantify it! And you don't need to. Better is better. If it looks straight, it is. I don't need to get out my tape measure or slap a level on it. We're not a bunch of robots after all. What's more natural and honest than ourselves? The increased enjoyment of auditory experience that I had Saturday made me really wonder how they would sound through 3 or even 4 systems. I know a 4 piece goes into 2 systems very nicely (I say again, I know we can do a whole lot with just 1, and it sounds great), but the closer the ratio gets to 1:1, the better it becomes. Until you experience it for yourself - even if you totally buy the concept, which I did - you truly can't appreciate it. Of course, once you do, you start saving your pennies...

I realize this is old news, or even no news, to many. For those, let's just say, "I've graduated."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BabyBlueEyes,

It's true that you really don't know until you hear it the right way.
Really glad it worked out well for you.