I just got back from Thornbury where we played for about 300 people in the park by the water.
We used 3 Bose systems with 5 players. The covered area we were playing in was huge so we tipped up three picnic tables to act as dividers and a back wall it worked great.
I had a friend of mine who did a fair bit of recording in his time (so he knows sound) go out and check to hear the band from a distance. He walked out into the park until the Bose started to sound thin then took these pictures. He said that the sound from this distance was very close to what he heard sitting right in front of the band stand. The band loved the sound and so did the audience.
Rick

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

Rick,

I only see one picture ... I'd love to see the far away shots too.

Steve

Hi starvin007,

If you are having trouble posting the pictures - it is probably because the system supports only one attachment per post.

There are are a couple of ways to handle multiple attachments, but the simple way is just to do a quick intro for each picture in a separate post.

Thanks ST

Another one

And finally the boys themselves

quote:

Originally posted by starvin007:
...We used 3 Bose systems ... we tipped up three picnic tables to act as dividers and a back wall it worked great...

Using the picnic tables to provide a "back wall" for the B1's is a great idea to help maximize the bass out to the front!

From what I can see on two of the Systems in that first picture, you seem to have a single B1 elevated on a supporting "box". Does the middle System also have a supporting box, or is it a double B1?

Hi Dan
It's a single B1 on a case. We were getting a real drone when the Bass or the Keys hit a "A” and the metal roof would rattle. Raising the subs seemed to help.
Rick

A cautionary note about the picnic tables:

quote:

Originally posted by Dan Cornett:

quote:

Originally posted by starvin007:
...We used 3 Bose systems ... we tipped up three picnic tables to act as dividers and a back wall it worked great...

Using the picnic tables to provide a "back wall" for the B1's is a great idea to help maximize the bass out to the front!
...

I can see that this would help with the visual impression of the stage. I wonder about the effect on the acoustics for the low end.

Before folks start hauling picnic tables around to reshape the soundscape at our outdoor gigs, I think (open to correction on this, and maybe Chris-at-Bose can help):

To have significant effect, ("bass loading" resulting from proximity to a wall) that wall has to be

• Reflective (that is solid or impenetrable) to the sound waves at the frequencies discussed,
  
• At least as tall and (perhaps twice as) wide as a wave-length of the typical frequencies involved (approx 11 feet at 100 Hz)
  

I'm not sure that these conditions would be met by the picnic tables. The picnic tables are pretty solid, but I don't think they are big enough to have a significant impact on bass frequencies. You'd probably need something closer to 11-12 feet in every direction from the source (B1).


Discussion:
I understand that this would have provided a convenient backdrop from a visual standpoint but we had a discussion at Big Sur about bass and the great outdoors. The question of augmenting bass (bass loading) on a wall came up. It seemed unlikely that a portable solution was possible simply because of the size and mass of a "wall" required to have any significant effect.

I understand that things may have sounded different with/without the picnic tables in the very near field. It may not have had a big difference farther out.

I am more concerned about the effort to move tables and the risk of injury from doing that and
serious harm from falling tables to all who might come near them.

quote:

Originally posted by starvin007:
It's a single B1 on a case. We were getting a real drone when the Bass or the Keys hit a "A” and the metal roof would rattle. Raising the subs seemed to help.

That makes sense...

When we flipped the picnic tables up it wasn't meant to project the bass further but rather to deflect the sound and stop it from rolling around inside the covered area we were playing in. It seemed to work well.

Good point St. We did secure the tables and no one was allowed behind us. Had it been windy we could have created a dangerous situation for ourselves.To be honest we never really thought about it. Thanks
Rick

quote:

Originally posted by ST:
A cautionary note about the picnic tables:
Before folks start hauling picnic tables around to reshape the soundscape at our outdoor gigs, I think (open to correction on this, and maybe Chris-at-Bose can help):

To have significant effect, ("bass loading" resulting from proximity to a wall) that wall has to be

• Reflective (that is solid or impenetrable) to the sound waves at the frequencies discussed,
  
• At least as tall and (perhaps twice as) wide as a wave-length of the typical frequencies involved (approx 11 feet at 100 Hz)
  

I'm not sure that these conditions would be met by the picnic tables. The picnic tables are pretty solid, but I don't think they are big enough to have a significant impact on bass frequencies. You'd probably need something closer to 11-12 feet in every direction from the source (B1).

Discussion:
I understand that this would have provided a convenient backdrop from a visual standpoint but we had a discussion at Big Sur about bass and the great outdoors. The question of augmenting bass (bass loading) on a wall came up. It seemed unlikely that a portable solution was possible simply because of the size and mass of a "wall" required to have any significant effect.

I understand that things may have sounded different with/without the picnic tables in the very near field. It may not have had a big difference farther out.

I am more concerned about the effort to move tables and the risk of injury from doing that and serious harm from falling tables to all who might come near them.

I agree with safety concerns ... although the tables pictured look pretty stable (not all outdoor tables would be stable on end as those seem to be!)

re: reinforcement
While I might agree in theory with the "big wall" need, I suspect that's not quite true if the B1 is right next to the "reflective surface" ... when the B1 is right up against the "wall", I suspect it acts more like it becomes a part of the "source", rather than being a simple reflector.... That is, if the tables were 7' back, they would probably have no aural effect.

While panels of wood (as used in rooms) have the peculiar property of being more reflective of higher frequencies than low frequencies, I also suspect those tables helped the B1's -- and the gaps between the "planks" are irrelevant. The cross-bracing underneath would tend to make the entire table top vibrate as a single, very hard surface (I would guess)... maybe not 3db worth, but some.

... another opportunity for controlled experimenting!

quote:

...It seemed unlikely that a portable solution was possible simply because of the size and mass of a "wall" required to have any significant effect....

I "wood"n't call large wooden picnic tables "portable"

Rick

Thanks for posting those pictures at a distance.

I believe you because I too have experienced this

- stunning projection outdoors -

But to those who have not - it really seems to push the bounds of credibility.

Thanks for the pictures - they really tell the story.

quote:

He walked out into the park until the Bose started to sound thin then took these pictures.

I really wasn't ready for that kind of a distance...that's pretty amazing.

Thanks for posting those great pics Rick.

Would have loved some live clips of the band,
you guys make some of the most tasteful music I've heard in a long while.
Awesome drumming!

Hey Starvin,

What a cool idea with the picnic tables. I love this kind of ingenuity. Could we use the first picture on our Picture of the Week feature on the front page of the main website?

My guess is that the picnic table supplied yummy reflections to the stage area. Concert hall designers spend BIG BUCKS trying to do the same thing for musicians.

Very, VERY nice work.

Ken Jacob
Chief Engineer

Absolutely Ken!
I am sure John-Allen would be thrilled to have his picture on the "Picture of The Week”. I’ll call his wife right now.
Rick

Great!

If you could, please look at the POTW archive by clicking here and write me a little blurb in a Private Message, okay?

And thanks,

Ken

quote:

I really wasn't ready for that kind of a distance...that's pretty amazing.

Yeah Pete! I wasn't ready for that either.It amazed every body in the band and my good friend Dave the photographer.
P.s.IF you want to hear a sample of the band

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

ROUTE_66.mp3 (3,908 KB, 84 downloads) Click Here

Okay folks,

Look up and click on that link to the Route 66.mp3 link. It's worth every second it takes to download.

Rick - this is wondeful!

Great song... I don’t know why, but it brought back a memory I haven’t had in a long time…. Back in the late 50s I use to watch my grandmother in amazement, while she played Rag time on the piano... is was so effortless for her…