I am an amateur who occasionally performs keyboard at parties with BIAB live and I would like some advice about how to deal with audience noise. I want to keep the volume down so as to still allow conversation (there is usually no dancing) so I end up providing background music which is fine by me. The problem is that as the audience noise increases I have difficulty hearing my BIAB backing and sometimes my playing gets out of step with the BIAB song. I use two Bose Compacts.

I believe that some bands use a monitor facing the performers but I don't want another speaker. I wondered about using some small unobtrusive headphones instead of a monitor. I have a mixer that allows me to control the phone volume separately.

How do other people tackle this problem?

Thanks
Tony

I use a small monitor on a small stand by Galaxy Audio called a Hot Spot. It sits by the mic stand and faces up to me. I aim it parallel and at the back of my cardioid mic so there is no feedback. It is a powered amp that has volume and tone controls and two input channels with either 1/4" or XLR inputs.

My opinion... from what you describe, I'd recommend the hot spot monitor that Matt mentioned. You could go the way of headphones, but I'd be afraid of losing touch with the audience.

Why not just move the Bose units closer to you?


Regards,

Bob

Thank you for your responses.

I should mention that I don't sing but like to announce each song and mention any interesting trivia. At age 73 I have also reached my limit with the amount of equipment I want to lug around and assemble/dissemble which is why I don't really want another speaker.

I usually have my two Bose just in front of me to each side to avoid feedback so they are already very close. However I have read somewhere that these Bose are not very prone to feed back and many bands position them behind the performers. Perhaps I should try that first?

Also how about earbuds instead of phones?

Thanks
Tony

Danny is the one to ask about the Bose, but I've seen guys standing right next to a column with no FB. Try putting them behind you. And kudos for still playing out at 73!



Regards,

Bob

Yes, you can play/sing in front of a Bose column.

Aim the Bose to where you can hear them as the audience gets louder.

Use a volume control on the mic for the times you need to chat with the audience.

A Hot Spot is a great solution and they are very small and easy to carry. You could even rig up an attachment to the mic stand you currently use to hold it in the proper place for you.

Exactly, I use a Bose LII and depending on the crowd sometimes I place the tower right behind me.

But the other suggestions are also very good.

Later,

Thanks for the responses.
I will try putting the Bose behind me and that should solve my problem.

BTW, the Bose Compacts are fantastic at reproducing the stereo piano sounds of my Yamaha CP4. I started with a single Bose but the resultant mono piano sound was really cheesy. Other, non-stereo sounds like guitar etc sounded fine. With two Bose I have one panned fully left and the other fully right and the great Yamaha piano sound is preserved.

Tony