I hate to ask this basic question and waste people's time, but I searched the forum and could not find an answer. Do I need a special USB interface cable to download updated presets from the Bose website? I have the LI Model2 with T1 Tonematch unit. However, is there some additional cable or something I need to buy to hook the T1 up to my computer so I can add downloads/updates from Bose? Or does any USB cable work?

Hi Tumbling Dice,

Standard USB cable (probably the same as you have for your printer or similar full sized device).

Check out T1® USB Connection in the wiki to see a picture of the ends.

Awesome, thanks, ST!

Okay, now that I tried plugging in, I remember what the issue was that was floating in the back of my mind. Unless you have some special power pack or something, you have to have the T1 connected to the full system to power it up when you do the download? Is that right? It can't be powered from the USB cable? I need to connect it to the full L1 system in order to power it so that I can then download the updates?

Hi TD, basic questions are good here and there are no dumb ones. I'm sure you see that you'll always get the same courteous reply.
Besides, there may be other folk that wanted to ask the same question, but didn't want seem so 'newby'.
I connect my laptop via USB but I also use a software "dongle", a small box that is part of my stage software and I use a retractable USB because it stays neat on my music stand, but mostly because it is so flexible.
I once had an issue, after many, many gigs using a real thick USB cable. It caused some wear and tear on the small box for the dongle.
The retractable ones are very flexible but are the same cable you asked about, it's a USB "A" to "B" and as ST pointed out, are real common for printers etc.

Leo

Hi Tumbling Dice,

Yes, you do need to power the T1® from either the Model II Power Stand or the optional T1 ToneMatch® Audio Engine power supply.

It is COMPLETELY OK to run the Model II Power Stand without speakers attached. That means that you can use it to power the T1® for doing updates if you want. Sure - it is a mighty heavy power supply, but it will be fine. I did all my updates exactly that way before I got the external power supply.

Reference: Model II - No Speakers Attached.

Does that answer your question?

And I completely agree with Leo. "basic questions are good here" for all the reasons he gave.

quote:

Originally posted by Tumbling Dice:
Okay, now that I tried plugging in, I remember what the issue was that was floating in the back of my mind. Unless you have some special power pack or something, you have to have the T1 connected to the full system to power it up when you do the download? Is that right? It can't be powered from the USB cable? I need to connect it to the full L1 system in order to power it so that I can then download the updates?

Thanks to both of you guys! This really is a courteous, positive, and extremely helpful forum. With some forums out there, people will take your head off for asking newbie questions!

By the way, Theleo, why are you hooking your L1 up to a laptop via USB during live performances? I take it you are doing more than downloading presets to the T1. Are you using the laptop to process your sound, add backing tracks, or things like that? If so, is USB the best way to get the signal from the laptop to the L1? Does the L1 convert the signal from digital to analog? I have posted a related question about this in the technical forum but your comments made me curious about how you are using the laptop and connecting it during live performances.

quote:

By the way, Theleo, why are you hooking your L1 up to a laptop via USB during live performances?

For several reasons. The first one being because I can. I was talking to a curious patron a few nights back as he was asking about the Bose. I explained that when you work 4 to 7 gigs per week, thats 8 to 14 times just that week that things get plugged and unplugged plus wound/un-wound and packed/un-packed. Things get wear on them, even my Bose.

I always figured the earphone out on my lapper was the weak link and there was only one, whereas I have multible USB.

Also in my mind I have a cleaner sound, I don't really know, after 40 years of too darn loud, I can't really trust my ears for high frequencies anymore.

I don't use a lot of effects. I may add just a tad of 'verb to my tracks and and maybe a tad of chorus and/or delay to my guitar. Even tho 90% of my gigs are outdoors I find a little goes a long ways.

I mostly use midi, but of the 1,500 or so songs I keep loaded for stage, I have 25 or 30 mp3 and this number is growing as I convert midi to mp3 and add other live instruments and vocals to the track.
I use an older IBM Thinkpad > USB >Bose T1 >model II, plus wireless guitar and wireless Crown CM311 headset.
At some venues I may set up a stand mic and mic my steel drum.

Good luck and keep us up to date with your progress.---leo

Okay, thanks - lots of good insights and wisdom here. Are you a solo performer? Do you use Midi to control external instruments or to play "software instruments" on your computer? When you convert MIDI files to MP3 files, are you talking about playing a song that contains backing tracks like bass, drums, etc? And then you add your live guitar playing and singing on top of those backing tracks? That is what I would like to do.

Yes, I am a solo act (keep it small and hog it all!)

I use a Yamaha SY-XG50 software synth in my laptop and have for well over 10 years. It works great and I can send you a copy if you like.

When I convert I usually use a Roland Sound Canvas, again software. But I mute the instruments I want to add back live. Usually drums and some guitars. It's converted to a .wav file. This I enter into Adobe Audition and record my other parts, sometimes I convert the whole thing and do a little tweaking like reverb and compression.
Then I save it as an MP3, usually a 192 bit rate, and I use ShowPlay on stage, it allows me to change the key if I want and it syncs and scrolls the lyrics.
Email me if you need a hand --leo