I've been using the Compact in a variety of situations for the past couple of months. I play guitar and sing. I have a Guitar, Bass, Drums, Rock and Roll band. We setup 3 across with the drummer in the middle and I set the Compact on a monitor stand in the middle facing back at the band, (like you would use a floor wedge), and the dispersion is good enough that it covers the whole band with no other monitor required(using no extensions). I also use it for solo work, which is the main reason I got the Compact. When I do a solo, I play electric guitar and sing, and have tracks provide everything else. I do a lot of classic rock so I like a good solid bass drum, and bass guitar in the mix. For small gigs the Compact by itself will do OK, but for more than 50 people the Compact needs a little help in the form of a subwoofer. I think this has been the topic of several threads on this forum. I use the new QSC K-Sub. Not only does it pump out plenty of bass, but it’s compact and light enough for me to lift it in and out of a vehicle, or carry it up a few steps to a high stage. Yes, it may be a bit of an overkill for the Compact, but set up properly they work very well together, and I also use this same QSC sub for my rock and roll band with a pair of BOSE 802’s for the top end. Now I’ll describe how it’s all set up, including the mixer. I don’t use the T1. Not because it’s not a great unit, but because sometimes I need more channels. When I use tracks, I play them as MP3 files from my iPod. The mixer I use is the Alesis iMultiMix8. It has an iPod dock built-in, with analog style transport controls to run the iPod. VERY convenient for live use. The built-in effects are surprisingly good for an inexpensive mixer, and the mike inputs sound great. A very good little mixer. I take a mono output from the mixer and run it into a dbx DriveRack PA+. I have the crossover in the DriveRack set at 110Hz. The low output feeds the sub and the high out feeds the Compact through the 1/4” input jack with the switch set to line. With the Compact not getting anything below 110Hz, it’s amazing how loud the entire system can go and still retain it’s clarity and definition, especially in the vocals. From reading other threads on this forum, I think it’s pretty well documented that the sound from the Compact’s vertical array, “falls off”, or disperses a little quicker than the Classic or the Model I. What this means is, for a given volume level out in the room, the stage volume in front of the Compact where the performer is standing, has to be louder than a Classic or a Model I. When playing a larger room and need higher volume levels, I usually have to use the feedback controller in the DriveRack. I use Shure Beta 58 mics. The problem feedback region seems to be pretty high, around 8K and above. A word about the DriveRack. I highly recommend this unit. I’m not going to try to describe all it’s features, but just the feedback controller itself can be a lifesaver. Even if you don’t normally have feedback problems, you never know when you’ll get in one of those quirky little rooms with a high freq ring that you just can’t figure out what’s causing it, or on a stage where you can’t get your B1’s placed right and there’s a bass node driving you crazy. It may not happen often, but when it does you’ll be glad you can fix it. Sorry for the long post, but I hope this helps on several issues I’ve seen on this forum with regards to the Compact.

Excellent write up (not too long as it is good reading). I have been wondering about adding some bass maybe with a bass amp with the crossover and you got it figured out. Thanks.

Hi, anycaster! Thanks for your fairly detailed post about your uses and setup with the Compact L1.

You mention having some issues with feedback ... and in reading about your setup, I have some suggestions to complicate your setup (! ).

The basis of my thinking is that you are not taking advantage of the Compact's Channel 1 "Preset" (custom EQ) for microphones.

So, how could you do that?

If you only use one mic, it's real easy -- just plug it directly into the Compact Channel 1 --- as long as it doesn't need phantom power.

For any other circumstance (multiple mics, or need for phantom power), then we're back to turning the mixer into a dual purpose mixer:

(1) handle the microphones and provide a mic-only mix to Compact Channel 1

(2) mix all the other sounds, providing that mix (through the DriveRack to separate the low-frequency for the bass sounds, if desired) to the Compact Channel 2 (and bass speaker amp).

Now, if the DriveRack is a 2-channel device, you could also feed mix #1 (vocals) through the 2nd channel for additional feedback/tone control, but that may not be necessary.

The main issue you may run into with setting up "Mix #1 (vocal mics only)" is the gain ... the Compact Channel 1 assumes a mic-level input, and you might have to put a -20db pad between the mixer and Channel 1 to get the signal down to a reasonable level.

If you try this approach, please let us know what difference it makes in the sound and feedback-control ... and if you have any 'head-scratching' about how to do it, ask!

L1&trade Wiki

quote:

QSC K-Sub

Just a note: this 74 lb., $1000+ sub only specs down to ~44Hz ... whereas the B1's go to 40 Hz (about the same). Dual B1's and a Packlite run about the same price.

Best way to use a Packlite with a Compact and T1 for keys? Straight outa an aux or T1 to a crossover..or..??
Or is it even worth it?
Thanks kids.

Thanks for your responses Dan. I'm sure the Packlite and B1's would work great with the Compact, but I already had the QSC sub. I'm aware of chan 1's custom mike EQ, but it's only for 1 particuliar Audix model, and I don't think it has anything to do with feedback supression. For what it's worth, I think the "line array" is a great design. As a working musician I always find myself in a situation of nssding to be too loud for the people in the very front, just so the people in the back can hear. I think the line array concept goes a long way to solve that problem. The thing I've noticed with Compact and the L1 Model II is that the arrays out-project the subwoofer. Meaning, that as you move away from the system, the bass falls away much faster than what's coming out of the array. Maybe this is BOSE next big thing.

(quote)...the bass falls away much faster than what's coming out of the array. Maybe this is BOSE next big thing.

I totally agree with the bass issue.
If bose maybe done the same thing for the bass, with a similar array pattern, maybe the bass would reach a bigger area and not drop off as much as it does just now.

What if the Compact base is on a table using only one extension.
Would that let the bass carry farther?

Respect,

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Col. Andy,

quote:

Originally posted by Col. Andy:
What if the Compact base is on a table using only one extension.
Would that let the bass carry farther?

Respect,

I haven't tried that but I think one would lose any coupling of the bass with the floor, resulting in less bass in the room.

There is some good reading by Chris-at-Bose on this subject, of whether or not the array outdistances the bass, here somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.

I think it's different outside than inside, or with walls and without.

OK, it was Hilmar not Chris. It's in the wiki, here:

http://toonz.ca/bose/wiki/inde...ll_Off_with_Distance

O..

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