Help me figure out the best wireless instrument configuration.
July 1, 2006 11:30 PM Subscribe
What is the best stage arrangement for wireless instrument gear?
Scenario: We recently performed at some very large outdoor venues with massive stages so we purchased a bunch of self-contained Shure wireless units. Our bassist, lead singer and myself each have a wireless instrument system. Our fiddle player has one and our keyboard player has a wireless mic. Our lead singer also has in-ear wireless monitors. This is a total of seven wireless units all vying for frequencies on the same stage. We have a total of nine channels to work with.
So far, they've been a godsend with the exception of a couple of occasions where, for reasons unknown to me, my unit decided to switch channels in mid song and I was blaring through the bassists rig. Having the units spread out all over the stage made it hard for me to pick a new frequency since I couldn't know which one everyone else was on and our distance from each other.
We thought of rackmounting all of the units in one road case so that the sound engineer would have easy access and know what frequency everyone was on and adjust accordingly. The logistics of this seem a little funky since the units are self-contained and not "rack-mountable". Anyone with experience on arranging such a setup? Your vast knowledge and/or experience would be greatly appreciated!
Scenario: We recently performed at some very large outdoor venues with massive stages so we purchased a bunch of self-contained Shure wireless units. Our bassist, lead singer and myself each have a wireless instrument system. Our fiddle player has one and our keyboard player has a wireless mic. Our lead singer also has in-ear wireless monitors. This is a total of seven wireless units all vying for frequencies on the same stage. We have a total of nine channels to work with.
So far, they've been a godsend with the exception of a couple of occasions where, for reasons unknown to me, my unit decided to switch channels in mid song and I was blaring through the bassists rig. Having the units spread out all over the stage made it hard for me to pick a new frequency since I couldn't know which one everyone else was on and our distance from each other.
We thought of rackmounting all of the units in one road case so that the sound engineer would have easy access and know what frequency everyone was on and adjust accordingly. The logistics of this seem a little funky since the units are self-contained and not "rack-mountable". Anyone with experience on arranging such a setup? Your vast knowledge and/or experience would be greatly appreciated!
Rack shelves with industrial velco will solve that woe. Shure usually has a provision to attach two of the units (providing they are identical) together to be rackable. You might want to check on that.
posted by chrisfromthelc at 10:33 AM on July 2, 2006
posted by chrisfromthelc at 10:33 AM on July 2, 2006
Response by poster: Tomierna - They are the PGX4s.
DDA: Our sound guy is new to the wireless realm so I'm basically asking this question for him.
chrisfromthelc: If there is a provision for rack-mounting, I'm not seeing it covered in the manual nor is there anything on the unit.
Thanks!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:05 AM on July 2, 2006
DDA: Our sound guy is new to the wireless realm so I'm basically asking this question for him.
chrisfromthelc: If there is a provision for rack-mounting, I'm not seeing it covered in the manual nor is there anything on the unit.
Thanks!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:05 AM on July 2, 2006
I've not used those, Kevin, so I can't comment specifically on them.
That said, you should manually pick your frequencies prior to your shows based on the interference in the local environment.
Picking them manually will avoid the possibility of the auto-frequency-finder from causing you to latch onto a different receiver mid-show.
Seconding the rack shelves and velcro - we rackmount all types of equipment which wasn't originally meant to rackmount, using this method. Zip ties also help, as well as foot screws, if the units have them. Holes can be drilled in rack shelves where the feet screw into the units, and then long screws can be used to screw the units to the shelves.
posted by tomierna at 11:59 AM on July 2, 2006
That said, you should manually pick your frequencies prior to your shows based on the interference in the local environment.
Picking them manually will avoid the possibility of the auto-frequency-finder from causing you to latch onto a different receiver mid-show.
Seconding the rack shelves and velcro - we rackmount all types of equipment which wasn't originally meant to rackmount, using this method. Zip ties also help, as well as foot screws, if the units have them. Holes can be drilled in rack shelves where the feet screw into the units, and then long screws can be used to screw the units to the shelves.
posted by tomierna at 11:59 AM on July 2, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
That said:
1) You each want to use the same frequency at every single show.
2) Have a predetermined order you switch to new frequencies (as in, you use 1-7, leave 8 & 9 free)
3) Work out a way to signal each other if you have to switch
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:33 AM on July 2, 2006