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Post subject: On system "sizing".
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:44 am
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
Posts: 434
This is my opinion, backed by my experience and reasoning:

Most sound guys I know are completely clueless about one parameter of sound systems: How "big" of a sound system is best for a given environment? Their attitude is, "Bigger is better, and I want a system as big as my wallet can purchase." It's all about "head room".

My opinion is, if you never crank the master volume higher than 25%, the system is too big for the venue. If you never turn the volume lower than 75%, then it's probably not quite big enough.

Basically, if the master volume is below 25%, then it gets really hard to get precise control over the volume. Tiny adjustments to the knob make big changes to the sound. Also, most likely, the EQ is unnatural and needs more tweaking because the power amp changes the balance between treble and bass as the master volume changes. At low volume levels, the bass is more responsive to the Master Volume knob than the treble is. That's why some home stereo systems have a "loudness" button, which boosts the bass when the volume is turned low.

If the master volume is above 75%, then bigger adjustments to the volume knob have less of an effect on overall volume, and if you have some subjective need to bring up the volume more, too bad. You don't have the "head room". There's no "11" on the dial.

If your master volume normally sits somewhere between 25% and 75%, then you have the right size system for the venue. You get a good balance in EQ without need to tweak away from flat. You get fine control over the volume. You have head room for moments when you need it. Life is good.

So, if you are starting out and you need a sound system for a given venue, borrow or rent one that has a "peak indicator" for each channel and adjust the channel input volume level so that at the loudest moments of emphasis by each musician or singer, the peak indicator indicates peak, (on the Passports, the channel LED will be green and flicker to amber now and then, but won't turn red at all when you have this adjusted right) then adjust the master volume to the desired volume level for the room, and note where the master volume tends to point. If it's lower than 25%, look for a smaller sound system. If it's above 75%, look for a bigger sound system.

The Fender Passport models cover a very useful range of sound amplification for most of us. If you are not playing rock and roll to a colosseum, you'll probably find one that fits your sweet spot.


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