SmoothHoundChris

I've released our SIVA amp simulations as plugins. There are three bass amps: Marshall Super Bass, Ampeg SVT & Acoustic 360/361 You can download installers and 14 day trial licences from our website: https://www.smoothhound-innovations.com/sivaplugz?showpage=1 I'd love to get some feedback from the basschat dudes.

I'm making progress on bass amps. An SVT blue line is coming together. It's a pretty complicated amp but the valves used are similar to those in guitar amps so from what I've seen so far it should sound fine. Also getting to grips with the Acoustic 360/361 circuits. I've simulated lots of bipolar effects pedals but this is the first solid state power amp I've done. Any comments about how these sound with over driven power amp would be gratefully received.

Thanks @redbandit599 I won't comment on any of the other excellent systems on the market other than to say we're definitely competing on tone. If it wasn't for the advances I made in high efficiency SPICE simulation (why I refer to it as virtual analogue) we wouldn't have a product.

Here's Rhino Edwards using his set along side Jim Kirkpatrick's at the Shepherds Bush Empire in January: Rhino's Revenge. They were guests of King King. Plenty of photos of Alan Nimmo using his Smooth Hound wireless here. There's many more professionals using the set all over the world on big stages and small.

Reports of connection problems are still pretty rare. I can count them on my fingers and toes with 2,500 sets in the field. I think I'm talking with @funkyjimbob already on Facebook, maybe it's someone else, but in any case the majority of the reported problems include setups with a wifi mixer. WiFi routers are very shouty. They'll usually transmit at 100mW when by law continuous audio streaming wireless sets are limited to around 10mW. As @EBS_freak points out there are a variety of things you can do to limit router activity. I would add that if you can't move the router to 5GHz then set it to minimum transmit power (you don't need >100m range) and set it to fixed operating channel at an extreme of the frequency range (either channel 1 or the heighest available). That way you'll minimise the amount of the band that has background wifi in it. Only other thing is space. Radio interference drops off rapidly with distance so keep your receiver (and transmitter) as far away from wifi routers as you can - at least 2m. Other things that can cause range problems include putting the transmitter in your pocket (@FinnDave!!), in fact anything that doesn't give the transmitter space to radiate in to (had a case with a rear facing guitar socket that caused the transmitter to be pressed against the chap's belly). Make sure you've got your antennas turned up and away from the metal case in a vertical 'V'.

That's not normal @alexpea. Send me a mail and I'll see if we can sort it out.

[quote name='John_P' timestamp='1497357928' post='3317502'] Chris was really helpful the first time it fell apart and 10 months later I don't want to be cheeky. I'm sure it's more a reflection on my use - just curious if I was the only one. I'll buy a wireless with a body pack rather than a bug to replace it - but I do like the sound and features of the SH. [/quote] Hi John_P, No 'cheeky' about it. I'll happily service your set free of charge. No problem at all. We've got over 1,700 sets in the field over two years now and I've repaired around ten transmitters. Nearly all impact damage. Regards Chris

Thanks very much Nic! I'm honoured to be a permanent feature on your beautiful new bass!!!

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1485551795' post='3224956'] I'm seriously considering a sub low-fi blob of blu-tac to dampen vibration. [/quote] I know of one customer who swears by his blob of blue-tac. Others usea [i]small[/i] piece of Low Profile Dual Lock (SJ4570). The microsuction tape works for lots of people too. It all depends on the the surface of your bass. If none of the above then a 'belt pack adapter' is the way to go.

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1482604438' post='3201845'] Mine was ordered yesterday afternoon and arrived this morning (Christmas eve!). I haven't had the chance to test it yet but based on this alone Chris is the man. [/quote] Hi Jack, My wife, Mrs Jane SmoothHound, points out that it was she who stood in the queue at the post office to send your set out by Special Delivery while I was larking around in town doing my Christmas shopping so technically, Jane is the woman ... as opposed to me being the man. Hope you have a good Christmas! Chris

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1479663326' post='3178252'] Could you get in a Paypal link for accessories only, Chris? Otherwise OK although my PC crashed first time through & I don't know if I payed twice - I suspect not, but could you check please? G. [/quote] Paypal checkout has been a PITA but is nearly there. We got your order and it's on its way to you now.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1479639427' post='3177969'] Can I buy one of these from you, Chris, along with the Neutrik adapter? G. [/quote] Hi Geoff, They're on the buy page on our website - you'll need to click the 'Show Accessories' button - I keep meaning to get rid of that!!

Wireless on the telly! You'll obviously want to skip through to 25:21 to watch Shalamar featuring Otto Williams [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b083h2wn/strictly-it-takes-two-series-14-episode-39"]Strictly-it-takes-two-series-14-episode-39[/url]

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1479395128' post='3176217'] Just ordered mine. Looking forward to it. G. [/quote] It's on its way to you now Geoff. Thanks very much!

[color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]Only two days left to enter the[url="http://www.guitar-bass.net/comps/win-a-smooth-hound-classic-wireless-guitar-system-worth-149/"] Guitar and Bass Magazine's competition to win a FREE Classic wireless[/url][/font][/color][color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]. You only need to like the[url="https://www.facebook.com/SmoothHoundInnovations/"] Smooth Hound FB[/url] page or retweet this [url="https://twitter.com/SmoothHoundUK/status/773262111933919232"]tweet[/url][/font][/color][color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif] to enter![/font][/color] [color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]In other news, I made a video from various clips of people using the wireless on stage. Took me ages! You can see the results on our [url="http://www.smoothhound-innovations.com"]website[/url] [/font][/color][color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]or on [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWtW6qfC7y8"]Youtube[/url][/font][/color][color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif].[/font][/color]

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1467969208' post='3087596'] hello, are there any plans for a dedicated belt pack version? I've had bad experiences with using female to female adapters in the past and this is the only sticking point that stops me swapping my Line6 system for a Smoothhound one. also what current does the receiver require? thanks Matt [/quote] As Muppet says you can make up a female-male patch cord but we've had zero reports of problems using the Neutrik Rean NYS236 female-female adapter (with over 700 sets in the field now) and it fits very well with the transmitter. It's a reliable solution letting you use the transmitter in two different ways so we don't currently have plans for a belt pack version. The maximum the receiver can draw is 230mA but that's dominated by the LEDs. I know some users have been happy running it from a 200mA isolated output. Note that it does need to be an isolated output.

[quote name='sirmuppet' timestamp='1467882517' post='3086898'] I just bought a Smoothound with a second transmitter. I did so based on the fact it was the only unit to do what I needed, it was easy to get a second transmitter and the price is outstanding for what you get. I can say that after a couple of setup issues (My fault I might add) that I love it. I spoke to Chris to get info on how best to place it etc and was getting replies within 2 hours. The customer support is just as good as the unit. I've now gigged it last weekend (5 gigs in one weekend) and it didn't fail once. Well worth the money. I even was able to participate in a conga while playing on Sat. FYI Chris, if you read this it's Grant that emailed you a couple of weeks ago. [/quote] Good to hear you're enjoying the system Grant. Guess you found the cause of the 'farty sound'

This is definitely the best basschat website in the world!! Thanks guys!

[quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1462786223' post='3045587'] I've done two rehearsals and two gigs with mine over the last 10 days and I'm impressed. I'm using the batteries that Chris supplied at the moment, while I'm waiting for my rechargeables to arrive and it looks like there's loads of life left in them. Operation is faultless, with none of the dropouts that plagued my Line 6 G30. There's barely a difference in tone between the wireless and corded signals. It's ace. [/quote] Thanks for the feedback Rushbo. Always good to hear! [quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1462786223' post='3045587'] The only issue I had was using it in conjunction with my Zoom B3. Although Chris kindly sent out an adaptor so I could daisy chain it from my existing PSU, I decided to use the separate power supply for it. Both my Zoom and the Smooth Hound are on my minimal pedal board. When using the compression and fuzz/distortion settings, the signal was really noisy and I had to dial in quite a bit of noise reduction. Not a deal breaker and probably just the result of having two bits of digital kit side by side. [/quote] I've not had any problems reported with the Zoom B3 before. I think it's unlikely that the proximity of the Zoom to the receiver has anything to do with it. Problems with excess noise are usually power supply related - the receiver does really need an isolated supply. Alternatively, if you're using compression with high sustain and fuzz/distortion with high gain, you may be hearing the noise floor of the system. All wireless systems will add a little noise to your signal (the Classic is about the quietest on the market) and this can be audible if you're using high gain particularly when you're not playing. As you've found, if it's bothersome, you can use a noise gate to shut it off but this is the first time I've had to suggest that so I'm in two minds ...

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1457970383' post='3003502'] Did anyone think the exhibitors were a bit thin on the ground? There seemed to be loads more the last time I was there. [/quote] I hope this doesn't put people off going next year. We had a fantastic time on the Smooth Hound stand and will definitely be there again next year. The show had a really good vibe, met loads of great people and noise levels were mainly OK. If any potential exhibitors are reading this, we had a [i]really[/i] good show. Thoroughly recommended.

Hi Chownybass, looking forward to meeting you. We had D8b booked but had such a good show in Birmingham last week we've been able to move a bigger stand with a bit more room for Jay-Tee Teterissa to ... I don't know ... groove his funk or whatever he does

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1457642950' post='3000629'] I'll certainly see you there for a chat, Chris! [/quote] Getting a bit of a buzz about this show. Looking forward to it!

I'll be looking out for basschat lanyards on our stand C16. We don't have Smooth Hound lanyards but we do have Smooth Hound T-shirts My pal Jay-Tee Teterissa is coming over from Holland to play his Marleaux bass through some big EBS rig on our stand. Nice. Please do come and say hello. It'd be great to put some faces to some (user)names.

Hi Karlfer, Yes, we have a stand at the Formby show this weekend. Only have a strat and marshall combo to demo with though ... feel free to bring along your bass gear!! This situation is guaranteed to be resolved before the London Bass Guitar Show in March Chris

Hi Pete, I knew it rang bells, I had a chap in the states asking about compatibility with a Panda Midi box in November for use with his digital accordian. I advised that it should be fine (though Panda don't publish anything about their wireless protocol), he bought a set and I haven't heard back from him. We've got a customer in the UK who reported good behaviour in close proximity to a Fishman Triple Play which is likely to be similar. Devices like a midi box and the Triple Play are relatively low data rate so are very unlikely to cause significant problems to the Classic wireless protocol. The same applies to most bluetooth controllers.