Guitar/Vocal (one vocal mike/one direct for guitar)
Guitar/Vocal (one vocal mike/one direct for guitar)
Cajon (one mike)
We run into an external mixer with all the inputs.
My question seemingly difficult to get an answer so far. We will be playing clubs, taverns, breweries, bars etc). Maybe 100-200 people or so. Would 2 Pro 8's or 1 Pro 16 suffice?
Bose says the 16 can work for 300 people but I can't find any consistent answer. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
The issue that complicates your decision is the number of mics you will be using. The more mics you put through one system, the chance for feedback grows exponentially. The original L1 systems were designed to be used one per musician/singer. The reason for this suggestion is to allow each musician to be in control of their own sound, and to allow them to be heard in their own space (the "Cocktail Party" effect.) One of the design characteristics was to put the tower behind the musician, eliminating the need for monitors. However, this only works well as long as you're using one mic per tower. This video is many years old now, but is still very relevant: The L1® Approach and the History Of Amplification
You will find lots of musicians who put multiple instruments and voices through L1 systems, mainly because of budgetary issues. Does it work? Of course it does, but with varying degrees of success (i.e, satisfactory volume and feedback control.) If they run the systems in front of them, then they can't hear themselves and end up needing monitors. The L1 puts out such a wide wash of sound that some musicians can still hear very well standing beside the tower(s) or turning them in towards the band a little.
The suggestions for audience limits are for the tower (i.e., 300 for the Pro 16) regardless of the number of musicians using it. There isn't a consistent answer because that's an estimate for one sound source. If you have 300 loud and rowdy patrons you'll probably have to push the volume up -- and almost certainly will experience feedback if you have four mics into it. If you have a quiet, attentive crowd, you'll probably be fine. One the other hand, if you run two musicians each into two Pro 8's, you'll reduce the feedback threshold a little, but may not have the power to reach a larger audience. Also the L1 systems are not "additive" -- two systems doesn't mean you can reach twice the people, unless you spread them widely apart (but that defeats the ability to hear each other). Four Pro 16's would let all four musicians reach 300 people easily with reasonable stage volume. It also destroys the budget but would sound totally awesome!
Based on your projected audience -- I'd start with the L1 Pro 16, but make a definite plan to add another as soon as you can afford!
Fish-54, that was exactly the answer I've been looking for! We do have monitors (mine is floor, singer has one small on a stand and other guitar has a small guitar amp as a monitor). So, hearing ourselves I think will be fine and I was already thinking that let's just try it (using one) and see how it goes. Thank you for taking the time to provide a great answer!