jim_n_virginia
Aug-12-2007, 7:12am
We had what should have been an easy gig. It was an outside block party with plenty of room to set up. Since they were only expecting 60-70 people I brought my Bose system which I have been using almost exclusively since I got it 4 months ago.
We did the sound check and the instruments (mandolin, upright bass, guitar and fiddle) sounded OK. I couldn't get much volume on them (my first hint something was wrong because usually outside you can get tons of volume) but was passably loud enough. The problem I had was with the vocals. They sounded terrible. Like static when you spoke or sang into a mic. I double checked my wires. I switched the mics to differnt channels. Thinking maybe somehow two mics went bad or something I tried another mic and still the same problem. It was MOST distressing. I couldn't enjoy myself at all.
After our first set I didn't take a break and double checked my wires. Like I said the instruments sounded fine so I switched the mics to the channels the instruments were running through and STILL got the same problem I even switched the XLR cables on the two mics. NOTHING helped. The sound was breaking up and had a loud buzz at the end of whatever you said. I was really stressed. After I triple checked the wires, system and the mics I started looking at the power source.
We were set up in the street. I had to run power from a house. I knew it was going to be a fairly long run (75') so I bought brand new heavy duty 12 gauge electric cords.
Thinking maybe there was too much of a power drop off I intially had two 50' 12gauge cords. I took one out and REALLY stretched and used a 25' footer so the minimum I had was a 75' run with the second fattest electrical cord you can buy (they make a 10 gauge)
I then took out the 6 way outlet I was using to run lights (two little 40watt bell lights), sound sytem and mixer power and used a direct three way plug. When this STILL didn't work I resigned myself (we had done 2 sets by then and only had one more to go) that this was as good as it was going to get. I guess the people didn't notice that much. We got a lot of compliments but also a lot of requests to "turn it up"
And the most important part we still got paid. Still I was stressed to the max because we are a good band and we didn't sound as good as we could have and this was a pretty high paying gig and I really want the client to get their money's worth. To make up a little we stayed a little later and played an extra 45 minutes which they seemed to really appreciate. I CANNOT let this happen to me again! I am not so experienced with sound reinforcement. I've only been running my own sound a couple of years and not so much because half the places we play had their own sound.
Does anybody have any idea what could have went wrong? Do you think that it was a power drop off from running 75'? Anybody got any experience from having to run long distance to get power? I am going to set up the same exact set up today out in the backyard using the same cords and see. I cannot let this happen to me again! Again the vocals had a crackiling sound, almost like when you have a blown speaker, you know that buzzing sound only when you sing or speak otherwise quiet, in other words it's not a constant buzzing. Also the power seemed like it was crackling off and on.
If its the last thing I do I am going to find out waht happened last night. If anyone has any ideas of tips I sure would appreciate it!
We did the sound check and the instruments (mandolin, upright bass, guitar and fiddle) sounded OK. I couldn't get much volume on them (my first hint something was wrong because usually outside you can get tons of volume) but was passably loud enough. The problem I had was with the vocals. They sounded terrible. Like static when you spoke or sang into a mic. I double checked my wires. I switched the mics to differnt channels. Thinking maybe somehow two mics went bad or something I tried another mic and still the same problem. It was MOST distressing. I couldn't enjoy myself at all.
After our first set I didn't take a break and double checked my wires. Like I said the instruments sounded fine so I switched the mics to the channels the instruments were running through and STILL got the same problem I even switched the XLR cables on the two mics. NOTHING helped. The sound was breaking up and had a loud buzz at the end of whatever you said. I was really stressed. After I triple checked the wires, system and the mics I started looking at the power source.
We were set up in the street. I had to run power from a house. I knew it was going to be a fairly long run (75') so I bought brand new heavy duty 12 gauge electric cords.
Thinking maybe there was too much of a power drop off I intially had two 50' 12gauge cords. I took one out and REALLY stretched and used a 25' footer so the minimum I had was a 75' run with the second fattest electrical cord you can buy (they make a 10 gauge)
I then took out the 6 way outlet I was using to run lights (two little 40watt bell lights), sound sytem and mixer power and used a direct three way plug. When this STILL didn't work I resigned myself (we had done 2 sets by then and only had one more to go) that this was as good as it was going to get. I guess the people didn't notice that much. We got a lot of compliments but also a lot of requests to "turn it up"
And the most important part we still got paid. Still I was stressed to the max because we are a good band and we didn't sound as good as we could have and this was a pretty high paying gig and I really want the client to get their money's worth. To make up a little we stayed a little later and played an extra 45 minutes which they seemed to really appreciate. I CANNOT let this happen to me again! I am not so experienced with sound reinforcement. I've only been running my own sound a couple of years and not so much because half the places we play had their own sound.
Does anybody have any idea what could have went wrong? Do you think that it was a power drop off from running 75'? Anybody got any experience from having to run long distance to get power? I am going to set up the same exact set up today out in the backyard using the same cords and see. I cannot let this happen to me again! Again the vocals had a crackiling sound, almost like when you have a blown speaker, you know that buzzing sound only when you sing or speak otherwise quiet, in other words it's not a constant buzzing. Also the power seemed like it was crackling off and on.
If its the last thing I do I am going to find out waht happened last night. If anyone has any ideas of tips I sure would appreciate it!