New to these forums and looking for some advice, hope i've posted under the right topic.
I depped for a band couple years back on NYE using the Model 2 L1 with B2 bass and was blown away. Unfortunately, i've not been able to afford to buy them but recently a pair of L1 model 1 with 4 B1 bass units became available to me for an affordable price.
My question is this, we currently run Mackie SRM 450s for our front of house with floor wedges for monitors. We're a 5 piece wedding band, x2 vocals, guitar, keys, bass and drums, usually playing to rooms of 200 to 500 people. We've probably never had the Mackies turned up much more than half way. Will the pair of L1 model 1s with 4 B1 bass units placed either side of the band be good for this type of band and audience size? I've read conflicting advice and the information on this site is by far the most full so I think you guys are the experts. Will this work out before I spend quite a lot of money.
New to these forums and looking for some advice, hope i've posted under the right topic.
Yes, you're in the right place.
I depped for a band couple years back on NYE using the Model 2 L1 with B2 bass and was blown away. Unfortunately, i've not been able to afford to buy them but recently a pair of L1 model 1 with 4 B1 bass units became available to me for an affordable price.
The L1® Model I systems are great and even though they've been discontinued, there are still lots of them in service.
My question is this, we currently run Mackie SRM 450s for our front of house with floor wedges for monitors. We're a 5 piece wedding band, x2 vocals, guitar, keys, bass and drums, usually playing to rooms of 200 to 500 people. We've probably never had the Mackies turned up much more than half way. Will the pair of L1 model 1s with 4 B1 bass units placed either side of the band be good for this type of band and audience size?
If you place the L1®s on either side of the stage, you can get lots of volume, but you'll still need monitors. If you put the L1®s behind you, you can eliminate the monitors. You'll run the vocals through the L1®s. Would you be running the guitars, keys, bass, and drums through the L1®s.
I've read conflicting advice and the information on this site is by far the most full so I think you guys are the experts. Will this work out before I spend quite a lot of money.
I'd be looking to run the two vocals, keyboard and kick through the L1s minimum. Maybe occasionally the guitars mic'd into our desk, so was thinking about putting everything into our desk and then using the desk outs to the L1s. Depending on the size of venue, i'm guessing the bigger the room the harder it'll be to match the guitar amps to the L1s. Would that be a good idea?
You're right, the bigger the room, the harder it will be to match the guitar amps to the L1®s - unless you run the guitar amps (mic'd) through the L1®s.
Thanks for that, I've watched it a couple of times.
i guess my brain is stuck somewhere between conventional setup and this (new to me) spread of sound.
after watching the video though I have a couple more questions
the suggestion is one L1 per musician, we have 5 members in our band and only 2 L1s available right now. Would it be advisable to run everything to our desk and then to the L1s or mix it up a little e.g. Lead vocals going to both L1s or just line instruments and vocals to the closest L1, spreading the load.
id probably place them to the side behind the band, not needing monitors would be awesome as long as feedback can be controlled, according to the video it's not an issue
Thanks for that, I've watched it a couple of times.
i guess my brain is stuck somewhere between conventional setup and this (new to me) spread of sound.
Yes, it's a brain bender.
after watching the video though I have a couple more questions
the suggestion is one L1 per musician, we have 5 members in our band and only 2 L1s available right now. Would it be advisable to run everything to our desk and then to the L1s or mix it up a little e.g. Lead vocals going to both L1s or just line instruments and vocals to the closest L1, spreading the load.
You want to run each sound source (e.g. microphone) to only one L1®; the closest one.
id probably place them to the side behind the band, not needing monitors would be awesome as long as feedback can be controlled, according to the video it's not an issue
If you run each microphone to one L1® (not both) you shouldn't have issues with feedback. With only two vocal microphones things should be easy to control.
Since you will be running the microphones (and everything else) through your desk, then you don't need a volume controller. You'll treat the L1®s like your SRM450 powered loudspeakers.
If you weren't using the desk, then you would use the R1 Remotes that come with the L1® Model I.
I bought the L1s at the weekend and we used them at a gig. It turned out to be a tough first out getting the sound right. We ran two vocals, bass, guitar and keys to our desk and the out to the L1s, setup as we'd use the Mackies. This resulted in quite a lot of feedback at quite a low volume. I battled with it a little bit and ended up panning one mic left and the other right from the desk, this helped a little. The L1s were at either side of the band against the back wall, with the drummer in between. It was a tight space.
Next gig is this weekend coming, i'm considering a different setup. It still feels counter intuitive to me to have our lead singers vocals only coming from one L1 but on the other hand, i've not went out front of the band to hear how the two L1s spread combines over distance.
If we have to stop using our desk and put instruments and mics directly into the L1 stands then so be it, I just hope we can get enough volume. My brain is telling me our singer will be louder if she's coming out of two L1s rather than 1, maybe the concept hasn't sunk in yet properly.
I'd still like to be able to run an MP3 player to both L1s, but a 24 channel desk feels a little overkill for that lol
Anyway, i'm reading more and more advice on here and have options to try.
