I have just contracted to perform my magic show for an outdoor festival next week. The producer has a Yamaha Stagepas 600BT I can use or I can use my two Bose S1 Pros with my Behringer 1002b mixer. Which do you think would cover the crowd better? They're anticipating up to 500 people. I use a Sennheiser wireless system with a Que Audio DA-12 earset mic and I run my my music from an iPod Touch.
My thought is that neither one is ideal for this setting but, since I have a choice, which would you think would do the best job in this circumstance? I used a Stagepas 600BT about five years ago and it seemed pretty powerful but it's been too long to be able to compare it to my S1 Pros.
For 500 people I'd use both. Doesn't sound like either one of them alone would be loud enough to cover everyone. I usually use a pair of S1Pros to cover less than 50 people.
For 500 people I'd use both. Doesn't sound like either one of them alone would be loud enough to cover everyone. I usually use a pair of S1Pros to cover less than 50 people.
Looks like you're a DJ – you need a lot more power than I do because I don't need to make people feel the music (it only plays in the background of my performance.) I've successfully used a single S1 Pro for 200 people indoors and have no concern that two of them won't cover 300 to 400 people indoors. Outdoors is a whole another situation. I hadn't thought about using both systems together. I may have to explore that.
How big is the space? 500 people is a lot and the Stagepas has a lot of wattage to pump out sound to a large space.
Will you have to setup the Stagepas yourself or will it be setup for you?
I’m leaning towards using the Stagepas for your main PA to project further into the space, especially if they set it up for you. Then perhaps use the S1s as monitors or extension speakers out of the Stagepas monitor outs for audience members closer by or for you since you will more than likely be behind the Stagepas speakers.
CityFolk, that makes a lot of sense. It's a park but I haven't seen it yet. The Stagepas will probably handle it well enough. I'm sure they'll set it up but I don't mind doing it if needed. (The city just got the system and they haven't used it yet.)
The pre setup would just be a nice bonus for you and less hassle. Just be careful that either you or someone at the venue knows how to operate the Stagepas and that they have all the necessary cabling to properly set it up.
You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where they dump things in your lap while you’re trying to get your stuff ready. I’ve been there before where the venue had no idea how to run their own PA and I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to get their setup working and then get blamed for not starting on time. Boy did that hurt.
I would also consider using both... (Agree with City Folk and DJ Erv)
The Stagepas 600BT up high on stands to get over peoples heads
Line out from the Stagepas 600BT to the S1 Pros
I would use the S1 Pro's as front fills to thicken up the sound at the front of the stage, Hopefully the Stagepas 600BT will cover the limits of the audience
For 500 people I'd use both. Doesn't sound like either one of them alone would be loud enough to cover everyone. I usually use a pair of S1Pros to cover less than 50 people.
Looks like you're a DJ – you need a lot more power than I do because I don't need to make people feel the music (it only plays in the background of my performance.) I've successfully used a single S1 Pro for 200 people indoors and have no concern that two of them won't cover 300 to 400 people indoors. Outdoors is a whole another situation. I hadn't thought about using both systems together. I may have to explore that.
Michael,
We are a sound and lighting company that does a lot of corporate panel discussions too. That's about half of our rentals. We did a small one last month with about 150 people. I used the S1 pros on the stage and a pair of QSC 8s for coverage. I'm sure that you can crank up a pair of S1Pros and blast the people in the front, but by adding a second set, you can lower the volume to a more comfortable listening level and get more coverage. It's ear piercing sound vs warm enveloping sound.
I have just contracted to perform my magic show for an outdoor festival next week. The producer has a Yamaha Stagepas 600BT I can use or I can use my two Bose S1 Pros with my Behringer 1002b mixer. Which do you think would cover the crowd better? They're anticipating up to 500 people. I use a Sennheiser wireless system with a Que Audio DA-12 earset mic and I run my my music from an iPod Touch.
My thought is that neither one is ideal for this setting but, since I have a choice, which would you think would do the best job in this circumstance? I used a Stagepas 600BT about five years ago and it seemed pretty powerful but it's been too long to be able to compare it to my S1 Pros.
Michael M posted:
CityFolk, that makes a lot of sense. It's a park but I haven't seen it yet. The Stagepas will probably handle it well enough. I'm sure they'll set it up but I don't mind doing it if needed. (The city just got the system and they haven't used it yet.)
I'm going to swim against the tide here.
If the venue (the city) is going to set up the Stagepas 600BT (it's their system), and take the responsibility for the sound, then I'd let them do it. Give whoever is running the system the signals from your wireless mic system and the iPod Touch.
Or
Connect your sound sources to your mixer and give the person running the sound system a line out from the mixer.
And
Consider using your S1 Pro system(s) for stage monitor(s) - if you need to hear yourself. Of course this introduces the possibility of feedback.
I always travel with by Bose gear, even if it stays in the trunk of the car. It's always good to have backup even if I'm not responsible for the sound system for the show.
Additional Thoughts
If you are the not the only act using the system (outdoor festival) then I would make it as simple as possible for the person running the sound: Let them set up the Stagepas system and let them manage it for the whole show. I wouldn't set up the S1 Pro systems as part of the larger show. That makes you responsible for everyone's experiences, not just your portion of the show.
Using both systems (S1 Pro Yamaha) If you owned the Yamaha system and you were responsible for the sound for the whole festival and you were able to get there well in advance you could consider using both systems. In that case, I might set up the S1 Pro systems on the stage at moderate volume for the people near the stage. Then I'd set up the Stagepas loudspeakers farther away with digital delay to synchronize the sound.
For your magic show - what's the maximum distance from which people can appreciate your show? In other words, can they appreciate what you're doing at 50 feet or 100 feet? If people have to be within 50 feet to see what you're doing, that might define how far you need to be heard.
Lots of great input here! I appreciate. I'm probably going to follow ST's advice. I'll let them set up their Yamaha system but I'll bring my S1 Pros with me in case I run into any issues with their system. I'll make it clear that the S1 Pros are for my use only. (There is bluegrass band following me. I assume they'll have their own sound system but I don't know that for sure.)
I agree too. I didn’t realize that you would be part of a series of artists performing that day. I thought it was just your performance. Still you might be able to use the S1s in some way, but you’re probably going to have to get in and out quickly so the less you have to setup and tear down the better.
Here's what I've decided to do. After speaking with my contact with the city, I now know no one will go on prior to me and the band following me is not using the city's Yamaha system. The Yamaha will be set up for the movie they will be showing later in the evening.
With that in mind, I've decided to get there early and see what my pair of S1 Pros can do in this situation. I really need to know this for the future so this will be a great opportunity to see if the S1 Pros can handle it. If not, I'll switch to using their system. I am excited about testing them out for this. I'll report back after the show (the festival is on Saturday.)
Please have the city set up the Yamaha system and have it available for you. I would plan to use the Yamaha system.
Do a test with the S1 Pro systems before the audience arrives if you like as an experiment, but I wouldn't plan to use it for the show. I don't want to see you disappointed or hear some of the audience to missed the audio portion of your show.
Thoughts:
Bose conservatively suggests the S1 Pro is appropriate for 50 people. Two S1 Pro systems will cover more area (this is determined by the distance between them). That's still nowhere near reaching 500 people outdoors where there are no supporting early reflections to help the sound reach people. I wouldn't attempt this show with anything less than an L1 Model II.
Even if things sound great at sound check (without the audience), when there are people, they absorb sound from your sound system and the raise the noise floor you have to overcome to be heard.
Sounds good. I’d just be sure you’re aware of what the appropriate cabling (length, balanced or unbalanced, TRS/XLR etc.) will be needed to connect the Yamaha and the S1 if you want to try that. I wouldn’t risk depending on the city to have these extra cables on hand.
Looking forward to getting your post gig report. Good luck!
Please have the city set up the Yamaha system and have it available for you. I would plan to use the Yamaha system.
Do a test with the S1 Pro systems before the audience arrives if you like as an experiment, but I wouldn't plan to use it for the show. I don't want to see you disappointed or hear some of the audience to missed the audio portion of your show.
Thoughts:
Bose conservatively suggests the S1 Pro is appropriate for 50 people. Two S1 Pro systems will cover more area (this is determined by the distance between them). That's still nowhere near reaching 500 people outdoors where there are no supporting early reflections to help the sound reach people. I wouldn't attempt this show with anything less than an L1 Model II.
Even if things sound great at sound check (without the audience), when there are people, they absorb sound from your sound system and the raise the noise floor you have to overcome to be heard.
Sincerely,
ST
Makes sense to me. I'm not expecting the S1 Pros to be ideal in this circumstance but it good to know their limitations. In 30 years of performing, I've never really owned a PA system that was ideal for 500 people outdoors (and I've owned numerous systems, including Peavey, JBL, Fender, Carvin and a few others.) I, usually, rely on the systems provided by the sponsors but, occasionally, I have no choice.
There's, also, a good chance I won't have 500 people watching my show. That's an estimate from the city but they've never tried this at the festival before.
Sounds good. I’d just be sure you’re aware of what the appropriate cabling (length, balanced or unbalanced, TRS/XLR etc.) will be needed to connect the Yamaha and the S1 if you want to try that. I wouldn’t risk depending on the city to have these extra cables on hand.
Looking forward to getting your post gig report. Good luck!
Yep, I always have all the cables I need. I have a tote filled with cables that I bring to events where I'm using their system, just in case.