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Title: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Geert Friedhof on February 07, 2019, 08:59:44 AM
In a few months time the 2019 outdoor season will open. Mine will start late april.

Are any of you getting new systems or other equipment in preparation for this?

For me, i am looking at systems in the ~95-100dB@100' category. Haven't made a decision though. Still have 2 months ;)
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Nathan Riddle on February 07, 2019, 09:48:58 AM
QLX-D to replace my SLX.
Tired of RF issues.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Mal Brown on February 07, 2019, 10:14:03 AM
Out going, Soundcraft SI-3, 94 AWD Astro.
Incoming SI Impact.
Already arrived.  5x8x6 trailer for small shows
80’ global truss, crank stands, base plates, clamps, rubber power disto boxes and powercon interconnects.
QLC+ Laptop based Lighting controller
4 more moving heads
Undercover Rain covers for KW-153’s
Custom Rain covers for 1 pair per side for my old Renkus Trap40/60 tops

State of my retained earnings is about what it is every year about this time...
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Ken Braziel on February 07, 2019, 11:40:01 AM
Got me a good cargo van late last year, very happy that I don't need to rent a trailer for most of my shows this year!

Been selling off my original K-series speakers and upgrading to the K.2's - I'm especially fond of the 8.2's as monitors for small stages.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: William Schnake on February 07, 2019, 12:57:13 PM
We have started moving to the QLX-D with the dual and quad receivers so we have Dante.  Replacing our QSC K12 with EAW RSX129 speakers.  Adding some more Crown MA9000i amps.

Bill
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Steve Garris on February 07, 2019, 01:06:52 PM
Outgoing: Mackie DL1608 - Still plan to use it though.

Incoming: Soundcraft Ui24 - picked up a refurb for $600.

My main summer gig is a 1000 person weekly concert in the park, using an SRX powered system (not concert level).
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Ivan Beaver on February 07, 2019, 01:26:37 PM

For me, i am looking at systems in the ~95-100dB@100' category. Haven't made a decision though. Still have 2 months ;)

Is that A or C weighted?

What about the response time?

Or peak?

Often there is a 30dB (or more) difference between A slow and unweighted peak SPL numbers.

Since 30dB is a factor of 1000, it DOES make a difference what parameters are associated with the SPL number.

Since you are trying to "hit a targetr", it helps to know exactly what the target is.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Helge A Bentsen on February 07, 2019, 02:08:09 PM
In a few months time the 2019 outdoor season will open. Mine will start late april.

Are any of you getting new systems or other equipment in preparation for this?

For me, i am looking at systems in the ~95-100dB@100' category. Haven't made a decision though. Still have 2 months ;)

Working on a new splitter system. 12 channel modules, can be linked for more channels. Dual LK37 inputs, direct out+direct out with ground lift and 2x trafo isolated outputs on LK37 + xlr outs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bti2OHlgOsy/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=18kvm32hz4r7s
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: scottstephens on February 07, 2019, 04:40:52 PM
Hey Guys,

   I'm thinking about getting some better speakers for the talking head things that we do. I've been using 4 EON 612's in a long 125ft by 60ft wide building at the local fairgrounds. Metal, high ceiling and concrete floors. And I've always had trouble getting the "oomph" out of them; probably because they don't have any.  And let's face it, Joe Blow the guest speaker doesn't have great mic technique.

   Thinking of the PRX because they would pay for themselves faster,  but might break down and get the SRX-P and just "buy once cry once".

Scott
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Mike Santarelli on February 07, 2019, 05:36:59 PM
Hey Guys,

   I'm thinking about getting some better speakers for the talking head things that we do. I've been using 4 EON 612's in a long 125ft by 60ft wide building at the local fairgrounds. Metal, high ceiling and concrete floors. And I've always had trouble getting the "oomph" out of them; probably because they don't have any.  And let's face it, Joe Blow the guest speaker doesn't have great mic technique.

   Thinking of the PRX because they would pay for themselves faster,  but might break down and get the SRX-P and just "buy once cry once".

Scott


Maybe look into some of the rcf offerings with larger hf drivers and lower crossover frequencies. Should give you better vocal projection.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Tim McCulloch on February 07, 2019, 05:58:41 PM
Hey Guys,

   I'm thinking about getting some better speakers for the talking head things that we do. I've been using 4 EON 612's in a long 125ft by 60ft wide building at the local fairgrounds. Metal, high ceiling and concrete floors. And I've always had trouble getting the "oomph" out of them; probably because they don't have any.  And let's face it, Joe Blow the guest speaker doesn't have great mic technique.

   Thinking of the PRX because they would pay for themselves faster,  but might break down and get the SRX-P and just "buy once cry once".

Scott

I'm not a big EON fan, but what is the "oomph" you speak of?  For talking head gigs?

What are you trying to fix or improve?  Horizontal or vertical coverage?  Better pattern control for less feedback opportunity?  Higher SPL to overcome ambient noise?

The ultimate compliment for talking head gigs is for folks to ask "is the PA on" and then when you turn it off they go "oh."  Making it sound like the presenter is simply speaker louder and more clearly is the goal... until you have the client that expects, no, demands, that it "sound amplified."
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Dave Garoutte on February 07, 2019, 07:05:25 PM
Sounds like a case for delay speakers.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Geert Friedhof on February 08, 2019, 12:01:57 AM
Is that A or C weighted?

What about the response time?

Or peak?

Often there is a 30dB (or more) difference between A slow and unweighted peak SPL numbers.

Since 30dB is a factor of 1000, it DOES make a difference what parameters are associated with the SPL number.

Since you are trying to "hit a targetr", it helps to know exactly what the target is.

That would be db(A) fast, as the local permit states max 93 db(A) fast on the nearest residential building, measured at 5' high, 3' from the wall.
Title: New toys? Lets talk sub amps!!
Post by: Mike Caldwell on February 08, 2019, 12:47:32 AM
While my MA3600's work great, sound great, look great, have never given the first hint of trouble they have some how gotten heavier over the years!

What's the consensus on PL380's for subs these days?
What favorites do you have in that 2000 watt range at 4 for a sub amp.

While I'm sure the Powersoft X and K series are excellent the price would be an issue.
Title: Re: New toys? Lets talk sub amps!!
Post by: Helge A Bentsen on February 08, 2019, 05:15:41 AM
While my MA3600's work great, sound great, look great, have never given the first hint of trouble they have some how gotten heavier over the years!

What's the consensus on PL380's for subs these days?
What favorites do you have in that 2000 watt range at 4 for a sub amp.

While I'm sure the Powersoft X and K series are excellent the price would be an issue.

Powersoft T602? 2x 2500W/4 ohm.


Title: Re: New toys? Lets talk sub amps!!
Post by: John Schalk on February 08, 2019, 09:02:19 AM
While I'm sure the Powersoft X and K series are excellent the price would be an issue.

There is a K6 with DSP in the Marketplace right now for $1850!  2500 watts @ 4 ohms stereo and able to drive 2 ohms if needed.
Title: Re: New toys? Lets talk sub amps!!
Post by: boburtz on February 08, 2019, 11:52:47 AM
What's the consensus on PL380's for subs these days?
We use PL380 on subs at four and two ohm and have never been let down. I think they are a great bang for the buck, very efficient and have proven to be 100% reliable so far. We have half a dozen of them that have been in use for many years. Our previous sub amps were PL6, which were also great. I never noticed a difference in performance, just lighter weight and smaller size.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: scottstephens on February 08, 2019, 01:03:13 PM
I'm not a big EON fan, but what is the "oomph" you speak of?  For talking head gigs?

What are you trying to fix or improve?  Horizontal or vertical coverage?  Better pattern control for less feedback opportunity?  Higher SPL to overcome ambient noise?

The ultimate compliment for talking head gigs is for folks to ask "is the PA on" and then when you turn it off they go "oh."  Making it sound like the presenter is simply speaker louder and more clearly is the goal... until you have the client that expects, no, demands, that it "sound amplified."

Tim,
   
      I need to a higher SPL to overcome ambient noise.  The EONS have a 100 degree horizontal pattern at 1K or thereabouts. So yes, I would like a smaller dispersion pattern but it is secondary to my needs. I've just have never really been satisfied with the volume I've been able to get in this building. Every year I've tried different things. 2 years ago I added the 2  delay speakers. What has helped the most was last year I upgraded to a Senny Wireless hand held condenser.  And, Mike, I would really like the RCF NX32's, but the ROI just isn't there.

Thank you all, sirs. Keep the advice coming.

Scott
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Tim Hite on February 08, 2019, 01:16:56 PM
snip. . .

The ultimate compliment for talking head gigs is for folks to ask "is the PA on" and then when you turn it off they go "oh."  Making it sound like the presenter is simply speaker louder and more clearly is the goal... until you have the client that expects, no, demands, that it "sound amplified."

I get this a bunch with RCF TT52's. . .my favorite is when a presenter (or a groom in one case) gets upset and yells "can you guys even hear me?!?" and the entire room responds with a thunderous "YES!!!". Good times.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Tim McCulloch on February 08, 2019, 01:38:57 PM
Tim,
   
      I need to a higher SPL to overcome ambient noise.  The EONS have a 100 degree horizontal pattern at 1K or thereabouts. So yes, I would like a smaller dispersion pattern but it is secondary to my needs. I've just have never really been satisfied with the volume I've been able to get in this building. Every year I've tried different things. 2 years ago I added the 2  delay speakers. What has helped the most was last year I upgraded to a Senny Wireless hand held condenser.  And, Mike, I would really like the RCF NX32's, but the ROI just isn't there.

Thank you all, sirs. Keep the advice coming.

Scott

Hi Scott-

Yep, RF makes a difference.  For one of the corpy talking head gigs we do, I hired in Shure Axient this year.  WOW.  This replaced the SLX, UHF-R and Sennheiser G2 stuff I've used previously.  As the format of this gig doesn't change much I usually start with last year's  console file.

I ended up removing much of the channel strip EQ I'd used previously.  The mic elements were WL185 for the lavs (no matter what RF link) and that's where I found the biggest changes.

But your concern is with loudspeakers... and my experience has been that these gigs require precise coverage - not just for the audience area, but to keep stay PA away from the stage.  Once you've got a nice, tight and spectrally-consistent coverage loudspeaker you need to put them where they're needed.

In my case I have a lot of leeway with placement because I'm involved in the general planning discussions but you may not have the luxury (budget) to fly the PA *where it needs to be* or have an event person with aesthetic demands that prevent it.  There is no magic bullet for improving a bad PA location - everything becomes a bigger compromise than before.

I'd start with non-plastic PA.  Seriously, until you get in the high end of plastic boxes they're just resonators at multiple frequencies.  Next, the less "Christmas Tree" horizontal coverage, the better (that spectral consistency) which often means lower LF/MF/HF or LF/HF crossover points.  This is where RCF makes their money, IMHO.  That lower 1/2 to full octave xover means the MF doesn't have to go as far up into the "beaming" from the large cone transducer.  It also means that there will be a wider MF pattern as the HF horn is too small (usually) to provide meaningful pattern control.

That's why I use VerTec 4887 for this particular gig, a hang of 5 each, because the horizontal is more consistent than other compact speakers in our inventory... Those hangs are on Genie lifts, upstage, next to video screens.   The stage is centered between them and the presenters mostly are not in the coverage of the PA.  I have a small front fill I put next to the power point confidence monitor to cover the 12 seats that are on the inner edge of coverage down front.  With a non-whispering presenter I can get usable levels even if he/she walks the audience or moves downstage of the PA (even on-axis), if needed.

While I can't point you to a specific loudspeaker, Scott, I hope the "why" of how I've done some things helps you sort your options.

Have fun, good luck.

Tim Mc

ps.  If the ambient noise is from the audience you may have to enlist the assistance of the emcee to 'encourage' the audience to adopt an attitude of respect to the presenter.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Steve Ferreira on February 08, 2019, 03:32:49 PM
We have started moving to the QLX-D with the dual and quad receivers so we have Dante.  Replacing our QSC K12 with EAW RSX129 speakers.  Adding some more Crown MA9000i amps.

Bill

Hi Bill,

I have been looking at the RSX129s with the dual 18s but haven't heard them in the real world yet. Do you have any insight you can share?
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: William Schnake on February 08, 2019, 05:42:07 PM
Hi Bill,

I have been looking at the RSX129s with the dual 18s but haven't heard them in the real world yet. Do you have any insight you can share?
Steve, I currently do not have much insight in to these boxes yet.  We are purchasing them based on how much I like the RSX802L and the RSX89.  We are using the RSX89 for small conference rooms and they sound amazing.  Everything we have done with them as far as talking heads as sounded crystal clear.  I have played tracks through them to see and they get very loud and they maintain the sound without breaking up.

We are going to be ording the RSX129s next month for Mike Pyle.  I am sure we will be happy with them.

Bill
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: MikeHarris on February 09, 2019, 04:12:02 AM
We have started moving to the QLX-D with the dual and quad receivers so we have Dante.
Bill

I do believe you mean ULXD...as the only receiver in QLX line is single channel.  Great move...we have supplied a few 16ch ULXD systems and they're back for more.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: William Schnake on February 09, 2019, 08:10:35 AM
I do believe you mean ULXD...as the only receiver in QLX line is single channel.  Great move...we have supplied a few 16ch ULXD systems and they're back for more.
The ULXD-4Q and ULXD-4D.  Our plan is to have two racks with both the ULXD-4D and ULXD-4Q.  That way we can easily send 6 quality wireless, not that our ULX/P systems aren't, to our larger festivals and concerts.

Bill
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Chris Grimshaw on February 09, 2019, 10:29:01 AM
I've picked up a bunch of LED pars (Martin Thrill Mini), and a small desk. Enough customers asked about lighting that I decided to do something about it.

Apart from that, I'm thinking of picking up some more Powersoft T-series to run my monitors before a certain political event rolls around and the exchange rates go crazy.

Chris
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Steve Ferreira on February 11, 2019, 12:30:47 PM
Steve, I currently do not have much insight in to these boxes yet.  We are purchasing them based on how much I like the RSX802L and the RSX89.  We are using the RSX89 for small conference rooms and they sound amazing.  Everything we have done with them as far as talking heads as sounded crystal clear.  I have played tracks through them to see and they get very loud and they maintain the sound without breaking up.

We are going to be ording the RSX129s next month for Mike Pyle.  I am sure we will be happy with them.

Bill

Bill,

I would love to hear what you think of these boxes once you get them at the shop. Are you also getting the matching subs?
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: William Schnake on February 11, 2019, 05:17:52 PM
Bill,

I would love to hear what you think of these boxes once you get them at the shop. Are you also getting the matching subs?

Steve, I will let you know.  Not currently.  I have a set of EAW 180z subs that I am going to be using with them.  The 180z are power by and I-Tech 4000 and sound great for a small show.

Bill
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Ed Hall on February 11, 2019, 08:00:09 PM
I bought some Growlers to replace my previous subs. Other than that I’m a little boring this year. Some new cases, trunks, electric and such.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Scott Slater on February 12, 2019, 07:38:13 AM
I've added a dLive C2500/CDM32 to the lineup as well as replaced a lot of older cases, and a trunk.  Also sold an older passive JBL system which will be replaced by an active system when that size system is booked again, most likely by a QSC KW setup (153/181).  I'm also toying with the idea of slowly replacing some older wireless stuff with the QLX-D series.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Geoff Doane on February 12, 2019, 12:24:42 PM
Other than that I’m a little boring this year. Some new cases, trunks, electric and such.

Yeah, me too.  I just finished replacing all my previous quad boxes with OA Windsor quads.  Nice and compact, should stay looking good for years.

GTD
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Taylor Hall on February 13, 2019, 09:35:34 AM
Adding another 4-8 RSX208 elements along with 4 RSX218 subs. If we end up getting another gig out on quote we'll pick up some of the RSX129s as well for stage fills. Should also be revamping our power distro with a couple pagodas and stringer setups.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: Steve Ferreira on February 13, 2019, 01:16:48 PM
Steve, I will let you know.  Not currently.  I have a set of EAW 180z subs that I am going to be using with them.  The 180z are power by and I-Tech 4000 and sound great for a small show.

Bill

Please make a post when you try them out. Looking to maybe move to these boxes and dumping all my passive gear. I would be looking at the following:
4x RSX129
2x RSX218
6x RSX12M

If you have used the RSX12M i would like to hear your input on them as well. I would be moving from SRX712m.
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: William Schnake on February 13, 2019, 03:55:41 PM
Please make a post when you try them out. Looking to maybe move to these boxes and dumping all my passive gear. I would be looking at the following:
4x RSX129
2x RSX218
6x RSX12M

If you have used the RSX12M i would like to hear your input on them as well. I would be moving from SRX712m.

Steve, the SRX712m has long been one of my favorite non powered monitors.  That being said, we own 8 of the RSX12M currently and I love them.  They sound amazing and for festival monitors they are great.  We also own the RCF NX12-SMA and I like the clarity and fullness of the RSX12M a little better.  I also like the fact they all run on Dante.  All of that being said the SRX712m with an I-Tech 4000 is a great combination.  We occasionally use them on a show where the artist simply won't take a powered monitor.  That is maybe 4 - 6 times a year.  l have said it before, for all of the speakers in their market and price range I would much rather have the EAW RSX series than anything else.  The fullness of sound, loudness of the box and clarity are better than anything else I have heard in it's class.

Bill
Title: Re: New outdoor season - New toys?
Post by: James Paul on February 13, 2019, 10:52:16 PM
Small potatoes additions, another pair of SRX835P for the immediate.
Bought some Tama Ironworks Touring series tripod/booms & additional booms this week as replacements for some tired DR Pro items. The DR's proved to be a strong performer and good value. The Tama gear should not disappoint