Hi, all. I've read the various posts on connecting to house systems so I know the recommended method is to use the Master Output on the T-1, and as an alternative, to use the line out from the back of the Compact. I guess my question is whether one is preferable over the other or can I just use whatever method suits my configuration for the gig?

Here's the deal. I am playing for an audience of 900-1,000 in a large hotel ballroom, 3/25. I have an L1-MII + 2B1's and an L1 Compact with an ES8 sub (thanks, Cap). Surprisingly, this set up has been more than adequate for similar indoor venues with up to 500 people. I do Swing-era vocals with backing tracks so, as long as I have good distribution of sound, I don't need to have knockdown volume.

When I've used this set up with that size crowd, I have found very good sound dispersion with have the two systems separated, running the Compact wirelessly up to about 50 feet away (with no noticeable delay, I might add). Ideally, I'd like to add another L1 + 2 B1's but one is not available locally and a purchase for this one gig is not an option. I could also pay a local sound guy to come set up a system that would easily fill the room but we all know that would be ear-bleed time in the first 50 feet and would run counter to the kind of crystal clear ambient sound they want and what I have come to expect from the Bose systems.

Due to logistical considerations (not really important for this discussion) I won't be sure about where to place the L1/M2 and the Compact until early that day when I set up. I will be going into their system via 1/4" jack into a mixer (they are setting up other A/V stuff). depending on which system will be closer to that mixer may make a difference in how I set up.

Thanks to you guys who are regular posters. I spend a lot of time in these forums and have received a lot of benefit from your experience.

Michael Lyon
www.michaellyon.info

Hi Michael,

Thank you for joining the Forum.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Lyon:
Hi, all. I've read the various posts on connecting to house systems so I know the recommended method is to use the Master Output on the T-1, and as an alternative, to use the line out from the back of the Compact. I guess my question is whether one is preferable over the other or can I just use whatever method suits my configuration for the gig?

Thank you for the information in your post.

If I am understanding you, you have:

T1®
L1® Model II with 2 B1s
Compact

If you connect the T1® in the normal way to the Model II with the ToneMatch® cable, you will have two analog connections available from the T1®; The Master and the Aux.

If you connect the T1® Master output to Compact (wired or wireless), then this leaves with two ¼ inch jack outputs available for the House system.

1. Compact Line Out
   
   
2. T1 ToneMatch® Audio Engine Aux Output
   

If you want to create a separate mix for the House then you can do that with the T1 Aux. Note: there will be no reverb in that mix but you probably don't want that in this situation anyway. Note too: The Aux send level is independent of the Master Volume of the T1® so this means that you can make changes to the Master Volume independently without affecting the signal that goes to the House.

If you want exactly the same mix as you are getting out the Model II and the Compact, then you will need to connect to the Compact Line Out.

quote:

Here's the deal. I am playing for an audience of 900-1,000 in a large hotel ballroom, 3/25. I have an L1-MII + 2B1's and an L1 Compact with an ES8 sub (thanks, Cap). Surprisingly, this set up has been more than adequate for similar indoor venues with up to 500 people. I do Swing-era vocals with backing tracks so, as long as I have good distribution of sound, I don't need to have knockdown volume.

...

Due to logistical considerations (not really important for this discussion) I won't be sure about where to place the L1/M2 and the Compact until early that day when I set up. I will be going into their system via 1/4" jack into a mixer (they are setting up other A/V stuff). depending on which system will be closer to that mixer may make a difference in how I set up.

Thanks to you guys who are regular posters. I spend a lot of time in these forums and have received a lot of benefit from your experience.

Michael Lyon
www.michaellyon.info

All of the outputs available to you are balanced and you can run long cables with balanced connections without significant signal degradation. Closer or farther away (T1® Aux or Compact Line Out) we are talking maybe 50 feet difference and the cable run to the House system from one of the other shouldn't matter in terms of performance.

SO "closer or farther away" wouldn't be high on my list in terms of considerations here. I think that the connection from the T1® Aux would be more robust because it would not rely on the wireless link between the T1® and the Compact. The Aux can be independent of the Master so someone running the House system will need to be aware of that. You will too... there is no convenient way to Mute the Aux.

I think that the output from the T1® Aux will be cleaner than the output from the Compact. (e.g. if the wireless system picks up any noise, this will be sent to the House system).

The Compact output will be under your control from the T1® mirroring what you are hearing from the Model II and the Compact. The Aux out will have to be controlled by the House system.

So no, Michael, I don't have a specific recommendation, but I hope that these musings have helped.

Does that help?

Thanks a lot, ST, for a very comprehensive response to not much of a question. I think I will go with the output from the Compact if I can because that will give me the ability to back off any tracks that may not be adequately equalized and have that be reflected through the house system also.

Hi Michael,

Please allow me to share some thoughts.

First, do you know what the system will be that you are connecting to? Will it be a FOH system, speakers on a stand, or will it be a multi speaker system with ceiling or wall mounted speakers like we often see in conference rooms.

Anytime I have to include others in getting my sound to my audience, I like to keep it as simple as possible.

Having a total of three systems delivering your sound, with a stranger controlling the one that is supposed to make the difference between partial coverage and total coverage, when his system is probably intended to supply total coverage is, well, asking for disaster.

There are far to many variables to cover all of them, but I can imagine that he might be near one of the L1s and think everything is adequate and not supply enough difference to other parts of the room, or he might think his mix is better and try to outdo your mix. There will be three areas of coverage, hard to say how well they might blend or how even the coverage might be.

When I have had to work in this type of situation I have only used one L1. I set it up for me and those who I can cover in my usual manner. I give the sound man one line with my mix on it and ask him to only add what is necessary for adequate coverage.

In a case like this where certain info is unknown until setup time, I would take both my systems. Upon arrival I would assess the situation. If I felt the supplied audio equipment was up to the task, possibly being a quality FOH system I would use the Compact and create my own little cocoon of sound around me and give the FOH guy one line off the Compact.

If the supplied system looked sketchy, I would use the Model II, and cover as much room as possible and hope the line I gave to the soundman wasn't used against me.

Regardless of what one might find when they get there, I would approach with an open mind and two or three possible setups, depending on what I find at the venue.

O..

Some good food for thought, Oldghm,

I have considered some of these things and decided to view the house sound as more of a peripheral boost. I will be on for three 45-minute sets at an employee appreciation event. I have confirmed with the sponsor that my overall sound should be ambient so, as long as the house people do a fair job with filling in any far reaching gaps, I believe my two L1 systems will be adequate for the majority of the sound based on my experience with relatively large and similar indoor spaces. I plan on using both the L1 Model II and the Compact.

I have followed many postings on here about the adequacy of sound in various venues and have gleaned a lot of helpful info. I'm fortunate only to have to deliver solo vocals with backing. The carrying power of the Bose systems is far superior to the fairly hefty standard PA system I used to use. It's always interesting at a wedding after I finish up with dinner and cocktail music, for example, to hear the band start up (or sometimes the DJ) with massive systems that are just, well, loud and muddy. Many people have commented on that to me.