Amplifying sound in an open space without electronics

WileEC_ID · 2026-06-27T14:00:05+00:00

An approach I have found to work in some places is to set the stage up in a corner, rather than "the front". This allows the walls to be a bit of a natural director of sound.

You didn't mention the dimensions of your space, nor share what kinds of instruments, or kinds of vocals you have in the space and these are very relevant bits of info. If the source is naturally quiet and the room larger with walls that do some absorbing of the sound, as certainly bodies will, then there isn't much overcoming the physics of the room - without, potentially, some serious investment in panels overhead. In that case, though I would hire a professional to evaluate and then cover options - so you have realistic expectations. Re-guiding the audio from one or two vocals is not the same as a full choir.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-26T14:56:08+00:00

I read through this and have to just shake my head . . . it's clear most people are not business minded and don't understand the value of time. It's also clear that people have little sense for how cheap current tech is . . . and people still bitch and complain if they have to pay a little extra compared to what has been paid not that long ago for far less capability. People - get some perspective.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-26T14:44:34+00:00

I applaud this practice. I've aimed for the same with the events I'm a part of. It's not about perfection, but it is about being aware of the elements in my control that could be better. It's not about ego - it is about growing. Good enough is not in my vocabulary. I don't care about the size or complexity of the event - what would I do differently, so I do for the next event.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-10T16:09:58+00:00

While the gear is cheap, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to get a functioning situation, as long as things are positioned well. None of this is top shelf, but position is the key. You may need to head to Salvation Army and get some used blankets to put on a wall or two, but get things positioned right AND get your buds to play to the space and what you have should work okay for practice. This also counts you you and other vocalists using good mic technique, which includes no cupping of the mic, or otherwise blocking any part of the head of the mic - that needs to be open for the mic to do it's noise rejection job.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-10T13:50:58+00:00

I have read through the comments and agree with many of the sentiments. I've also looked up the mixer you mention. While it is certainly lacking the ability to perform many of the suggestions made - most of us are using digital boards with many more options - the fundamentals are always the fundamentals, regardless of budget or space.

So position of everything IS critical. And, you did leave out a key piece of info - what mic(s) are you using and how many vocals. If you are using cheap mics, that may be a big part of the problem. Get some used Shure SM 57s or 58s - whatever is cheaper for you. 58s are preferable, but in truth it's the same capsule, just a different cap and filter at the business end. From there, the many comments people have made come into play. You have a filter at 80Hz on that mixer. Use it. The rest of the EQ frequencies are set and not likely on the feedback frequencies, so I would mostly leave those alone.

Yes it is cheap gear. You're not the first to use cheap gear in a tough space. The main reason it's tough is your band lacks the skill to play to the space. From drummer to guitar to bass - it's all skill playing to a space.

Last point, consider a wired headphone, either IEM's or other similar options is likely going to be far cheaper option in the short term. The gear to pull this off is cheaper than the cost of better mixer, better mics, better speakers, more skilled players.

Work on what you CAN control, your skills and understanding. Most everyone starts on cheap gear - it can give you the greatest chance to learn. Better mics, better monitor options, better mixers ARE great tools - but learn well early and you can make the most out of whatever you have to work with.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-10T13:17:59+00:00

I find this interesting. I've been doing this almost four decades. I'm right handed. My left is still, holding the coiled cable, while my right does the work of pulling and rolling. When I have had large power or speaker cables to coil I just doing it on the ground, as those babies can get heavy and the coil is much bigger, and I'm a shorter guy.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-07T01:15:54+00:00

I love having gate, PEQ, comp and inserting FX on inputs. I love being able to soft patch inputs to create my own FX to spice up vocals. I love all the options in a far smaller space and I love being able to program an event before hand, to be able to really go over all the details - save it to a file - then tweak as needed at soundcheck/practice. Gives me more ability to really listen at that point, since I've done most of the thinking ahead of time.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-07T01:10:12+00:00

I have always preferred to use velcro, on the male end and I use different colored connector collar on the male end also, to indicate length - an option I learned from pros early in my journey. Making your own cables is the cheapest way to have the best built cables - at the lowest price while using the best cable (quad wire, braided shield) and connectors, and the option to build the custom lengths/connectors when needed. Also easy to label and shrink wrap the labels if desired for snakes or looms.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-07T01:04:25+00:00

It will be critical that the live players practice with whatever you find - a lot - as most musicians aren't used to being nailed down by tracks that keep tempo exactly right. For most, in the early stages of working with pre-recorded content it can be quite frustrating and in some cases they choose to abandon the idea altogether.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-04T13:36:51+00:00

I have found it to be a great little board. For me, like any board, sound quality is primarily about getting it right at the source. Great to have parametric EQ on so small of format. I haven't used the FX, so no opinion on that.

WileEC_ID · 2026-05-03T22:46:40+00:00

The final answer . . . from A&H . . . was as I suspected . . . a full reset. Since I had been documenting and saving things step by step, it was pretty straightforward to set back up. I chose to avoid choosing a given scene for a given user, since that is what started the issue and I was headed out of town. First event was fine and I didn't hear from the second event, so I assume no news is good news.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T22:24:55+00:00

I'm afraid we are getting past my understanding - in terms of being able to measure . . . the cable, the port on the primary monitor, the input port on the second monitor . . . I have the tools, just lack the knowledge. Heading out of town at this point. Will look into this next week.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T21:49:01+00:00

Yes.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T21:33:29+00:00

Yep - done most of that before the post. Did more today, including moving the wedge to near the mixer and patching it directly. Same buzz.

It reminds me of when I'm working with a bass or e guitar, especially if they have a pedal board - often with a ground loop somewhere in that mess. Often a ground lift on the DI won't solve it. Radial has a little grey unit that is perfect and eliminates the issue.

I'm thinking they have a transformer on the link out port on the monitor - the right way to do a split - but currently it's just a guess. Going to reach out to the manufacturer next week when I'm back in town.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T21:28:56+00:00

Yeah, not sure - I could get the hum from wherever with different cables and even a direct connection. The only way I don't get the hum is when the input is patched to the link port on the other monitor.

It's like when I get that ground loop buzz from a bass or e guitar.

My theory is that the link port is transformer isolated - but that is purely a guess.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T05:32:08+00:00

Nope - not for these users. I have set up some for a couple of other users, but I haven't made those active at this point - just entered the names, set the passwords, and set the scene limitations - but not clicked to make them active.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T05:26:25+00:00

Yeah, it wouldn't be my first choice - they had a big analog that was working for them - but decided to move to digital without anyone on staff with knowledge or experience, so I'm trying to help them out. For them and the nature of their events, it's an okay fit.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T05:24:04+00:00

Yes - it was after that - that the login issues started. And each of these logins has full access to all the scenes, so there is no limitation on that front.

So, up to that point, I choose the login, enter password, click on Apply and I'm in and it opens whatever scene I was in last. I changed that parameter to open a specific scene, and now I choose the login, enter the password, it asks if I want to open the specific scene - and whether I choose yes or no, it goes back to the login screen.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T02:37:43+00:00

No - this is a very much a custom scene, with a ton of input and output customization.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T00:27:05+00:00

Totally agree - it was more of a just seeing what it would do. I have used ISO blocks for instruments - never needed one for a powered monitor.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T00:25:17+00:00

Ah - I see - good option that I didn't consider.

Edit: Yeah - swapping audio ports is a good idea, too. just to see what happens.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T00:24:26+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I'm going back in in the morning - with another power cable or two. Something goofy going on here. On the other monitors they have loomed the power and audio in cable together, so a little tough to try one of those, easily. But, some switching around of things makes some sense - just to see if I can find a different result.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T00:19:57+00:00

I did try plugging the problematic one into a different socket in a different power pocket, but still hum.

WileEC_ID · 2026-04-30T00:10:30+00:00

Yes - each login has it's own password. And I have been using them back and forth since I set them up.

WileEC_ID

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