Hi Guys, I'm out on my first solo vocals gig on Saturday with my L1, using a laptop to run wav files, using an external FX unit for vocals and taking my mini mixer outputs into channels 3 and 4 on the powerstand, anything I should know or look out for ?

Joe Black (UK)

Hi Joe Black,

Welcome to the forums.

Have you had some time to experiment and rehearse with your setup? If yes, how is it working for you so far?

Are you running your vocals through the mini mixer as well as the laptop?

How many vocal microphones and are they all the same make and model?

Based on the information you have provided and the fact that your gig is in mere hours, considering you are in the UK, I would make the following suggestions:

I would likely combine all the microphones via the mini mixer, hard pan them to the left and connect the left output of the mixer into channel 1 of the powerstand. I would select a microphone preset on channel 1 for the microphones, for example, I have 4 EV N/D767a microphones so I would select that preset. I would connect the external FX unit to the Insert connection for channel 1 of the powerstand. Be careful with your gain staging so you don't overload the powerstand input or the FX unit.

I would pan the right and left signal from the laptop hard right on the mini mixer and connect the right output of the mini mixer to channel 2 of the powerstand. You could use preset 00 or one of the music presets but the main reason I am suggesting to use channel 2 to is so you can use the controls on the R1 remote if that is useful for your setup.

I hope this helps a bit. Be careful with mic technique; keep your lips as close to the microphone will really help with gain before feedback...

If you have more questions, please include model numbers for the microphone, mini mixer and FX unit as this will help forum members answer questions as well.

What type of music do you play?

What type of gig?

In any case, all the best with your gig.

Oh yeah, have fun!

Hi Mark,

Wow, plenty to think about there !

Ok, I'm gonna be doing solo vocal shows in pups and clubs, just about as varied as you can get the last 6 decades or so of popular songs, I am taking a choice of mics with me, SM58 of course, Beyer TGX 48, and a Senheiser Radio mic just in case.

I have practised a little with the following setup ............

Mic into XLR input of Studiomaster VMS FX unit

VMS FX XLR out into XLR input on Behringer 802 mini mixer

Laptop into Tapco Link USB Stereo Soundcard

Stereo outputs from Tapco Link USB into Stereo inputs on the 802 minimixer

1/4 L/R output jacks into channels 3 & 4 of my powerstand.

I have done all the gain staging (I think) and I am running the L1 volumes at around number 4.

802 minimixer seem happy running at around 50% gain

Sounds good but I thought I should run it past people who know about this kind of top end gear.

I will print off your advise and have a look at the setup again tomorrow.

Many Thanks for taking the time to help me, greatly appreciated Sir.

Kind Regards ... Joe Black

Hi Joe,

A few suggestions in response to the additional information you provided:

If you have a comfortable amount of time before your gig, by all means try some of these suggestions. If you don't have enough time, since you like the sound you have so far, use your current setup. I prefer to be comfortable with any changes I make before trying them at a gig.

If you like the tonal qualities of the Beyer TGX 48, it will likely have better gain before feedback, being a supercardiod, than the SM58 which is a cardiod. I suggest that at some point you try connecting you vocal mic either:

• directly to your L1 Model 1 channel on mic input and connecting your Studiomaster VMS FX unit to the channel 1 insert
  
• or your mic to your Studiomaster VMS FX mic input and then the Studiomaster VMS FX Balanced Output XLR set to MIC level to your L1 Model 1 channel 1 XLR mic input.

In either case, I would audition the Presets with the effects unit bypassed and select a preset that sounds the best to you with all the R1 remote EQ settings at 0. I would try preset 07 Beyer M88 (although this model is a Hypercardiod) and I have used preset 10 EV N/D767 successfuly for supercardiod mics other than my 767.

As for your Laptop setup, keeping your 802 mini mixer in the chain does provide you with a handy volume control.

Again, have fun at your gig,

Hi Mark,

Had a cracking good night with The Bose last night, ended up using the SM58 and put everything through my mini mixer, OMG ! it was awesome !, lots of nice comments, my agent was there too and was completely blown away with the quality sound, I will never go back to convetional PA systems now, I will do some investigation into your suggestions for setup before my next show on Friday, thank a million Sir

Tony