I use jazz backing tracks to provide music for my vocals. What is the proper way to connect my digital Shure ULX Beta 58 digital mic and a Mackie Pro FX 8 mixer and my Macbook Pro. How do I decide if I need two compact units or just one?
Hi Rene,
Thank you for joining the Community. This is a fun question: fun to consider I mean.
Working backward: One Compact or Two?
This depends on if you need your jazz backing tracks to be heard in stereo.
How large are the venues where you perform (number of people)?
What kinds of events (what is happening when you are performing)?
Having rambled a bit, I have a very good friend who sings jazz standards with tracks 50% of the time and live accompaniment 50%. When performing with tracks, for small, noisy events up to 50-80 people he uses a single L1® Compact. That same Compact works fine for 200 in quiet concert settings.
Performing with a single L1® Compact, your microphone, and your MacBook Pro, you may not need to use your mixer. That will depend on how much control you need over the EQ for the tracks and your voice.
So, do you think you'll need one L1® Compact or two? Let's start there, and then with answers to the other questions above, we can talk about connecting everything. It should be easy.
ST
Thanks for your reply.
What I don't know is what the difference would be in sound with the backing tracks in stereo vs. mono. I do have one other question with the T1 make the vocals sound better than the Mackie Pro FX 8 mixer?
I'm not sure I would need to eq the tracks. I definitely need reverb for my mic.
I feel as though I should purchase two to have in the event I need s 2nd one.
Would it be better to buy one unit of the next models up or two up of the compacts?
The venues would be 150 people or less w/ a mixture of audience listening and milling around. A mix of indoor and outdoor shows.
Thanks!
Rene
Hi Rene,
You've raised some great points.
Renemtaylor31 posted:Thanks for your reply.
What I don't know is what the difference would be in sound with the backing tracks in stereo vs. mono.
If you don't have a preference, then you're probably fine with mono. It makes things simpler in lots of ways. That means that you can set up your system the same way for small rooms and larger venues. Simple.
I do have one other question with the T1 make the vocals sound better than the Mackie Pro FX 8 mixer?
This depends on your skill with the Mackie Pro FX 8 mixer. The T1® has a Preset for your Shure ULX Beta 58 digital microphone. That takes out all the guesswork for getting great sound from your L1® (whichever model). You can read all about how that works here: ToneMatch Presets
I'm not sure I would need to eq the tracks. I definitely need reverb for my mic.
The T1® has several types of reverb and you can fine tune them.
I feel as though I should purchase two to have in the event I need s 2nd one.
Traditionally we have used two loudspeakers to cover a room because the horizontal dispersion of a single loudspeaker (typically less than 100 degrees) was not enough. All of the L1® models have close to 180 degree horizontal dispersion. For a solo performer, in most situations having two L1®s doesn't give you more coverage than one, if you have the right one.
Would it be better to buy one unit of the next models up or two up of the compacts? The venues would be 150 people or less w/ a mixture of audience listening and milling around. A mix of indoor and outdoor shows.
Thanks!Rene
If you had said "100 people or less" and "indoor [only]" shows, I would have said that an L1® Compact would be fine. To reach 150 people who are in motion and to good support for the lower frequencies without the help of walls, I think you would be better served with an L1® Model 1S or Model II.
You can use your Mackie mixer with any of the L1® systems, but things would be so much simpler with at T1®. You can connect your MacBook Pro to the T1® via USB.
Can you get to a Bose dealer where you can see and hear the L1® systems?
ST