Karaoke Forums

As you know, I DJ car shows. One of the car people who showed up has a business designing audio systems for concert halls, churches, theaters and even did the sound for the Harley museum in Milwaukee. They are going to check my speakers with instruments and also show me how to get the best sound from my board graphic EQ settings. He and his wife sort of showed me a few things on my Mackie tonight. When he saw my EQ settings, he laughed a bit and said everyone sets the EQ like that. Anyway, he is having me come to his sound labs to show me the right way to set my system tomorrow all free of charge. A minor setting change he had me do improved my sound immensely. I can hardly wait for tomorrow.

Ah - did you have a little smile face going on your eq?

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Greg that is awesome ! I hope you will share your info. I'm always trying to be better.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

YES, please share! What a great opportunity. The first time I set up my system, years and years ago, a sound guy came up to the stage and asked me if he could show me a few things. Stuff I've never forgotten...I thanked him immensely.

A few years ago I ran karaoke in a big bowling center right up by the front desk instead of in the little bar. Had the karaoke lyrics up above every lane and got to plug my mixer into an absolute monster sound system that cost tens of thousands of bucks. Once in awhile (not as often as I'd like the owner would run the cosmic bowl laser lights and the show would really kick butt.

As you might guess, despite having a killer sound system the "Smile of death" was set on the EQ -- I explained to the owner what that could potentially mean for his investment -- but never did get anywhere with him cause it sounded so "good". I just started writing down the settings to move it back after I was done playing with it. I miss that show though -- that was some awesome gear to play with!

kewl!

Take a note pad with you, and take notes. A little bit of time spent learning the "hows and whys" of sound reinforcement can pay off in huge improvements.

_________________
Dave's not here.

That sounds like fun! It is great that you are open to learning, and very kind of him to offer you the pointers.

I am sure that the things you will learn will make a huge difference. People are often amazed just how good their stuff can sound, when set up properly, and usually it is a number of little mistakes that cause the problems.

Learn lots, make notes, and most of all, have fun, knowing that your shows will improve greatly from this.

I agree - please share the secrets !!!

We pink noised my rig about a year ago in my regular Thursday night venue to get a pretty good starting point for the house EQ. It's amazing what a difference it can make and how surprising some of the results were. Reminds me that I need to do that again now that I've go the new console. It's got the pink noise generator (oscillator) built in but I gotta borrow a spectrum analyzer again.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Assuming that the fellow Lordairgtar ran into is everything he implied he is, there is a BIG lesson for us to learn from this post.

AS GOOD AS ANYONE OF US MIGHT THINK OUR SOUND SETTINGS ARE, SOMEONE ELSE CAN SHOW US WHERE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE.

So I have to say --- so much for the KNOW-IT-ALLS on here who think that THEY provide the ultimate sound experience!

Congratulations. I am DEFINATELY all ears, or should I say all EYES, awaiting your next post with some good advice. I am ALWAYS looking for some good advice on settings, and EQ settings could really help. So, please, please, pa-leeeze, share.

Srnitynow

Thanks for sharing this somewhat humbling and honest incident. I'm glad you're open to suggestions and it's awesome that you have someone willing to show you a few things.
I like honesty, even if it hurts a little, so please know that I, for one, appreciate it more than you know.
PS: Please share what you learn!

Unless the person teaching is like one of the 'know it alls' here who think they provide the ultimate sound.
Always room for learning, even if it's what NOT to do.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Wow, what's with all that angst? I don't know who you're referring to specifically as know-it-alls but I can tell you there are a number of folks on this board who have worked or currently work with production companies like the one that has offered to help lordairgtar (if I'm not mistaken, that list would include Lonman, LondonLive, jeff and karyoker to name a few plus myself as well). I'm not sure I remember any of the afore mentioned ever claiming "that THEY provide the ultimate sound experience". However if their qualifications and presentation of their knowledge intimidates you, I think that's your issue to resolve not theirs.

I do agree with what Lonman said which I believe may be the underlying point in your post as well (somewhat obscured by the venom) and that is none of us has all the answers and there is always something more that can be learned. For much in the pro-audio world there is no single correct answer and folks are constantly finding new and creative methods. This is music after all, it is about artistic expression. Everyone on this board has something to teach others and everyone can learn from everyone else here if they're open to it.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Hmmm. My hero.

Hi people, I am back. Sorry I did not get to the forum sooner. Now, I knew right away that my speakers would not perform as well as the stuff in his shop. We went into the sound room and I got to sit in the barber chair in front of an array of amps, speakers, CD players and other equipment that I can neither name or understand what they do. The device used to measure pink noise had given up its ghost and that didn't get done. His tech guy took the thing to another room to tinker with it. Meanwhile, my friend puts in a Mark Knopfler CD, a live concert. A-freakin-mazing. It was loud, but I could speak at normal tones with my GF sitting next to me...and that was using MY Mackie amp/mixer through some speakers he had. He then set one of my speakers in the system and another side went to one of his for comparison. Figure my Sonics are fifteen years old and have been exposed to temp extremes and UV rays. Such a difference in the quality. He then put a test CD into the player and ran a 40 hertz sound. It should be a low hum. On my Sonic it was like a 600 pound kitty was purring...not good. Seems my woofer cone was dried out and the suspension was paper instead of the more modern material used now. Plus one of them had the voice coil separating from the back. So I am getting new woofers in the old box. I guess the new ones are coming from Eminence, which provides speakers to Sonic. About the EQ, mine was actually the "frown of death". He flatlined them all and did some minor tweaks up and down. He says that I should just use it to cut and raise just a bit from the middle. One of the best things I learned was to eliminate the hiss of the speakers when no sound is coming through. This made my main volume control a bit easier and more precise to control...it was like an on/off switch before. This in turn made my channel gain knobs easier to set as well. I see this guy every week, so I am sure to be asking him to help set my sound at the venue. I am so grateful, i can hardly wait until next Thursday when I DJ the last show of the year.

Some good points, now my question.

What is the average life of a speaker under normal use and not being blown from abuse.

Should we be replacing the speakers every 5 years or more or less. Do they just last till they blow? Or do they degrade with age? Will we notice any difference? Do you think it would be worth the money?

I replace my drivers every 5-6 years or so. They do tend to ge sloppy with regular use & you will notice a difference with new components.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

We've had our bass bins (Yorkville LS700s) over 10 years, with one weld breaking in that time. Our tops (Yorkville NX520s, the precursor to the NX55s for eight year) also needed a weld redone. They are in use 6 nights a week in a mobile show. I have no doubt they will keep going for at least another 10-20 years. Prior to the NX we had a Yorkville Elite 600 which was in use for about 8 years constantly (we've had it for about 16 years) at 6 shows a week. It still gets used at least once a month and I think the only thing ever needed to be done was replace the fuse a time or two.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

My question isn't about how long you will use them.

If over time the speaker degrades at small increments that would be un-noticeable day to day but over time compared to new ones would be, Does a 20 year old speaker sound as it did new?

Lonman, did you replace the horns too?