Acoustic nightmare with S975/Bose L1 Compact combo

[RoyceM]

I guess this entry could be classified as a "WAR STORY," told for my own cathartic benefit.

Last night I had one of my biggest nightmare experiences ever while playing a big Christmas dinner at a venue that is one of the worst rooms acoustically I encounter.

Normally I setup at a certain area in this venue, but was relocated to accommodate customer seating. I was placed beneath/parallel to a stairway that was closed on the side with sheet rock. Even though I was able to position the Compact at least 5 feet from the false wall, that whole region sounded like an extension to my speaker cabinet...it BOOMED!!

I tend to use fairly "tame" EQ settings on my S975, but this time I had my Master EQ bands 1 & 2 (of eight) turned down to -10 and still had more than enough bass. Some lead voices seemed shrill, but I did not adjust them.

I was amazed when customers kept pouring on the compliments afterwards. I'm sure we were not hearing the same things. I suspect their loud visiting and wine consumption helped out considerably.

- Royce

[Toril S]

Experianced something similar once. I guess it sounds better from afar. And wine always helps😀

[travlin-easy]

Were you using an external PA system, or just the keyboard speakers?

Gary 

[DonM]

Were you using an external PA system, or just the keyboard speakers?

Gary 

Too much Kickapoo Joy Juice Gary?  Read the topic name. 
Talk later, my friend.

[Toril S]

Kichapoo joy juice!😀😀😀 I like that word😀😀

[RoyceM]

Were you using an external PA system, or just the keyboard speakers?

Gary 

Hi Gary,

The internal speakers were disabled.

One time years ago I was assigned that same area in which to setup. Had a different keyboard and external speaker system, but I had a similar problem with no clue how to deal with it...didn't understand the Master EQ at that time.

- Royce

[travlin-easy]

Too much Kickapoo Joy Juice Gary?  Read the topic name. 
Talk later, my friend.

I switched to Jim Bean Honey Bourbon, Don. Probably why I missed the Bose L1 section of the post title. Besides, I'm blind in one eye and can't see out of the other - honey bourbon makes you that way!

Acoustics, regardless of the venue, are always a challenge, and CAN be a nightmare, Royce. My worst jobs were a huge gymnasium, a big-top tent made of rubberized canvas and a municipal park measuring 5 acres. In every instance, I played a homemade MP3 that I recorded directly on the keyboard and sent it through the sound system, while I walked throughout the venue and listened. Sometimes I had to make some minor adjustments, sometimes it sounded OK. However, I always had someone else listen and took into consideration what they heard as well. My hearing is shot to Hell, mainly from manning a 3-inch dual anti-aircraft gun while in the US Navy with no hearing protection other than a wadded up cotton ball. After 4 years in the Navy, my ears never stopped ringing.

Good luck,

Gary