synaesthesia

[quote name='P-T-P' post='34713' date='Jul 20 2007, 03:06 PM']What mics are you using for the audience/ambience and where are you placing them?[/quote] Standard dynamics, a SM57 or something similar. I usually have some spare dynamics around and they are all you need. I clip the mic to the inclined drum sub mixer rack. If I have a spare stand I use it. You can hear then hear someone in the band cue "Bass solo!"

[quote name='Dragonlord' post='34635' date='Jul 20 2007, 01:39 PM']I was thinking... since the not-full-range signal is supposed to immitate the signal through a guitar cable, wouldn't connecting this "stereo" cable to a usual cable make the signal usual "limited" bandwidth again?[/quote] I don't understand your question. The receiver can offer two distinct signals. The tip carries the 'instrument optimised' signal. The ring carries the full bandwidth signal. If you plug in a standard mono plug into the TRS socket, you draw the tip signal, and short the ring signal as it connects to ground. If you plug in a TRS plug into the TRS socket you will carry out both signals, but at the other end of you plug in your TRS plug into a standard mono socket typical of amps, then you short the ring signal agaln.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='34479' date='Jul 20 2007, 09:21 AM']Can i ask if you have had any issues with freq's etc?. As the X2 isnt meant for over here i was just wondering if it clashes with any thing else. Cheers[/quote] None whatsoever. I check that it operates in a band for telephony I think that probably has not been sold off. No chance of clashing with another muso, as it operates well beyond the E band for Sennheiser and Shures etc. Last Saturday, I played an off the map UK Military base (my GPS would not take me there!) which trains amongst other things, fighter pilots targeting foreign missiles. They have an airstrip, and missile launchers etc. No Nigel Tufnel military intereference issues whatsover over two sets, soundcheck etc. (Guitarist was using a Senn 172) I suppose if the military does get into the X2 operating band, then.....

For the sake of all interested in the X2, the preceding conversation was about the cable that comes out of the output of the receiver. The instrument to transmitter cable is not an issue with full bandwidth output. And if you need to make up your own instrument to transmitter cables with Neutriks and the hard to find Calrad 3.5 mm locking connectors (for both X2, and Sennheiser, probably Shure as well but I have not seen the Shure systems up close...) this is a UK source: [url="http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/item_43-251_2001025.aspx"]http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/item_43-251_2001025.aspx[/url] I make mine with stock Neutrik right Angled plugs, if you want the 'new' silent Neutriks you could probably make them up too, but there aren't that many options with the locking 3.5mm connectors and these are the cheapest I have found in the UK.

[quote name='Dragonlord' post='34405' date='Jul 19 2007, 10:47 PM']Right, thanks. So, any chance of making and sending me a couple? If yes, pm me with the cost![/quote] PM me you address and I'll send you one next week. It will be short and you can extend it on the mono end to however long you need. Light a candle in your local church or give some money to a charity.

[quote name='Dragonlord' post='34391' date='Jul 19 2007, 10:24 PM']but you could also just reply "you need to make a stereo cable".[/quote] That would be inaccurate and would not work. A stereo cable (i,e. TRS to TRS) would not work. A stereo cable wires tip to tip, ring to ring and sleeve to sleeve. What you need is a cable that takes the ring signal out of the receiver as the hot signal for full bandwidth output, sleeve being the ground.

www.leftybass.com is where the lefties hang out, courtesy of Arni.

Some of the direct outs feed directly into the matrix submixing which basically mixes for IEM. We can run a stage ambience and or audience mic via the direct out and effectively have audience+ambience + a parallel set of musical signals to FOH.

[quote name='Dragonlord' post='34235' date='Jul 19 2007, 05:37 PM']How do you do that? I haven't given it much thought, but at first glance I couldn't really understand how it works.[/quote] First you read the manual, preferably with a beverage of inspired choice such as Horlicks. Then you either make up a cable or buy one to work with the TRS output from the receiver.If you use a standard mono cable out of the receiver you will get the 'instrument optimised output' instead of full bandwidth. You make one which is one end TRS (tip ring sleeve, aka Stereo 1/4") and one TS (tip sleeve, aka mono 1/4"). You wire sleeve to sleeve and ring to tip. The receiver's output is TRS, and the ring signal is full bandwidth, whilst the tip signal is "instrument optimised". In X2 spiel, "insturment optimised" translates to a signal that filters off at 6 or 7 Khz or thereabouts. Not low enough to mess with a slap tone, and high enough for most people not to notice particularly if you use a cabinet without a tweeter, or if you have damaged hearing, or if your music does not need full bandwidth. Also if your amplification system of choice is not favouring full bandwidth amplification (i.e. you are distorting your signal etc) then it does not matter. For old school tone when bass players were playing through e.g. single 15s, the natural cut off would have been about 3.5 Khz anyway, so most people who stillplay that way won't need full bandwidth. If you are on the Stanley C, Stu H, Victor W, Marcus M side of the fence, it would make a difference if you are not full bandwidth; not so if you are in the Jack B, Duck D, James J or Jaco P side of the fence. If you don't know how to make up your cables, contact X2 or buy a standard insert cable (a Y cable, which will be one end Stereo TRS, and split into two mono 1/4 TS plugs). Just make sure you use the correct mono TS end which carries the ring signal from the stereo TRS. I made up a few TRS to TS cables for my own use. There are comparative audio samples I posted on talkbass if you look it up. Don't ask me where, do a search.

[quote name='P-T-P' post='32431' date='Jul 16 2007, 11:36 AM']and never will be unless we get a mixer with sufficient AUX sends on-board,[/quote] tell me about it... For this reason I use Two 16 X 4 X 2 mixers, and send one into the other. I also prefer recording mixers as opposed to 'live' mixers - the recording types have direct outs which are immensely useful, the 'live' ones don't. The first one pretty much does drum submixing, and various bits. Also easier to lug about than one beast of a mixer, and we have twice onboard efx. For our IEM system, I have 2 AKAI MB76 programmable matrix mixers (7 in, 6 out). You won't find them anymore, but you can find similar matrix mixers around. I also use a Re-an patchbay, which makes things a bit easier. Also, I have started to use the patchbay as a signal splitter....works a treat. As a result we run out IEMS in stereo and find that both I and our drummer play much tighter. Much cheaper than the Aviom... but I would like an Aviom system someday.

[quote name='Toasted' post='6941' date='May 26 2007, 12:37 AM']X2 [/quote] Absolutely. Have been gigging with this since April with no problems whatsoever. Dropped it once and it survived. I use the case that came with my 02 PDA and it hooks on my belt as opposed to my strap. Changing basses is a snap. I use the full range output as opposed to the optimised output, and have no issues with batteries (I use procells and load a fresh one per gig, a procell is approx. £1 @ on average. Procells are non retail versions of duracells and are meant for industrial usage - incl. music industry...). Never had a dropout in a gig but at soundchecks had a couple out in the front , probably due to poor line of sight with raised stages. The receiver is on my pedalboard, but I am thinking of rigging it in my rack. Mine was an early one which came with the cheapo plastic 1/4" jacks. Changed mine to a Neutrik angled one. I think X2 now sell a better grade cable. I suppose unless you find yourself doing Big Bottom with 30 other bassists at Wembley, you might want one that is more frequency variable. There are 5 frequency settings with the X2. Technically speaking, the X2 is not licensed for UK use amd runs beyond the 'musical' UHF bands.

Experienced bassist, fretted/fretless, can read, good ears, all kinds of kit for various situations - transport available for dep. gigs , sessions. Jazz, Tributes, Funk, Pop, Blues, Americana, Singer/Songwriter tunes, Old School Rock --- not into Dub, Goth, Punk.