Jan 12, 2013 4:30 AM
I'm so excited!
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So I take delivery of my Dream Stage (or part of it at least) on Monday!
I've got an M20d, 3 x L3m and 2 x L3s on the way (Although sadly I'll be short 1 of each speaker as they were out of stock when I ordered).
But still, the 2 L3m's will give me an idea of what the FOH sound will be like when performing with my Acoustic Duo and also give me an idea of how to work the M20d.
The idea for acoustic set ups is 2 of the L3m's for FOH and 1 for monitor, all hooked up via L6 Link.
I'll use the same set up but add the subs in for full bands and what not with the plan to leave the L3m as a monitor center stage via the L6 Link and I have 3 other powered monitors coming that I will hook up via the analogue outs for the Drums/Bass/Guitars.
I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep on Sunday Night!
My only slight issue is that I had some custom AES/EBU cables made for the L6 Link and while the cables are very high quality Van Damme Cable and Neutrik connectors, I am a bit worried about the ruggedness of them as they appear like typical digital networking cable and do not have the same kind of rubber outer shell protection that is found more commonly on Mic/Speaker/Guitar Cables.
Has anyone had issues with these types of cables or know of any manufactures of AES cables that has a similar ruggedness of mic cables etc?
How rugged is the official Line 6 L6 Link cable and what is it's outershell like?
I'm not holding my breath as I had similar concerns with the L6 VDI cables (to the point that I thought I had bought a fake cable for a while) and ended up managing to get one from another manufacturer that was only marginally better....
I share your excitement, and I'm a few days ahead of you in the process. I received my M20d, 2xL3t and one L3s several days ago. I haven't stopped experimenting / learning since. I know you will be very pleased - the sound is fantastic, and the flexibility amazing. I went with L3t rather than the L3m in order to have the onboard mixers, giving the option of small gigs wqithout the need for the M20d and L3s.
The L6 LINK connections work great. I purchased the official Lin 6 AES/EBU cables. They are very rugged - the ends are well shielded/protected and are at least as rugged as my standard mic XLR cables.
Only 2 more sleeps.........![]()
Well I weighed up the benefit to having the onboard mixers of the l3t's and decided it just wasn't something I'd ever need.
Even when playing acousticly, both myself and my singers use processors (her a TC Helicon Voicelive Touch and me an HD500) and so it wouldn't be able to handle our inputs anyway.
The fact the m's are a bit cheaper helped with that decision also.
Originally, I wasn't even going to be buying the L3s Subs but I decided to use the oppurtunity of investing in even more equipment and I am now setting up a small Live Sound Hire business with the M20d and the L3 speakers at the heart of it all!
Being a part time engineer already, one of the things that put me off doing something like this sooner was the sheer amount of work involved in terms of the amount of equipment and setting up etc, but with the Dreamstage stuff, it makes it all so easy to set up and strike down with far less equipment on a whole too!
So yeah, as well as whats arriving on Monday, on Wednesday I'll be placing an order for some Shure SM58's and 57's and a nice little Shure drum mic set, Stands, Cables DI Boxes and extra monitors though my budget sadly doesn't quite stretch to more L3m's!
My supplier is also managing to get me the proper L6 Covers/Bags for the speakers as well as the proper Threaded mounting Poles for attaching the tops to the subs and is doing me a great deal on the whole lot, ( but I also need to have a word with them about what kind of deal they can do me on a JTV 89 while I'm at it!, haha!)
The other thing I need to order this week too is a custom Multicore since I'll be using the desk in a more traditional manner when mixing other bands. The basic quote I got was a much better price than I was expecting but I haven't yet spoke to them about the possibility of adding an AES/EBU cable yet as this is my biggest worry in terms of the ones I already had made. The other shorter ones I'll be able to protect easily, its the one running from Stage to Desk is the main concern in case it gets trampled on etc.
It would appear Line 6 only make 20 ft cables and dont reccomend chaining them together, but I need a 50ft one for my multicore.......
Once I've got all that, I'm ready to rock with the first actual gig with it all at the end of February!
Fun times ahead!
Sounds like a good business plan! I've actually been thinking along the same lines.
I got the L6 covers/bags too, and the threaded mounting poles. They work great.
Line 6 does make a 50' AES/EBU cable:
https://www.globalfulfillment.net/gfsnet/line6/10Expand.aspx?ProductCode=98-036-0006
Have Fun!
Ah so they do! Hmm! How did I miss that?
Problem is, the L6 cables are nearly twice the price of what it cost to have them custom made, though if I was able to get the extra ruggedness from a 50ft one, it would definitely be worth it.....the rest like I say, I'm not so concerned about.
Need to see what the guys at Lynx say about getting one in the actual multicore first before I go ordering another 50ft cable! Haha.
I have no idea how succssful this will be as a business or not, but I have plenty of contacts that ask me to do sound here and there, so I am sure I can get hire for my equipment negotiated too and I am also going to approach the local pubs in the area that don't have installations and offer my services to them too.
Just can not wait till Monday! Gonna do lots of experimenting with the PA but also going to hook one of the L3m's to my pod via L6 Link too! Can't wait to hear how that sounds!
Well today should have been a happy day, only the freight company messed up.
Told me my shipment was due today (and thats what it was down on their system as), but that their "partners" who were actually delivering my shipment had it on their system as being out for delivery tomorrow.
The girl on the phone basically laughed it off and said it was "just one of those things and there is nothing we can do about it".......just after me telling her I had just wasted a whole bloody day waiting in for the delivery on the day THEY told me to expect it.
Having major beef with couriers and freight companies lately!!!
So yeah, guess I have to wait in tomorrow as well now.......
i'd feel bad for you if jealousy wasn't eating through my soul! hahah
bummer man.
Dont feel jealous.
Took delivery about two hours ago.
Desk is working fine.
However, not one of the speakers will power on.
Been on the phone to Line 6 UK and they are as stumped as I am. They've never had this happen before.
Waiting for them to call me back.
Oh no! That's very disappointing, especially after the delivery delay. I can't imagine that all 4 speakers are faulty - there must be something in your local power environment that is interfering.
Is it possible to take one speaker to a different location to test it - elsewhere in the house or neighbourhood? Are you connecting direct to the outlet or through a power bar; maybe try direct connection?
Little update, L6 Support called back and asked me to go through process of turning on and would you belive it, an L3m turned on. Hooked it up to my Pod HD500 via L6 Link and it sounds great.
The other L3m however is not even clicking anymore, just nothing, nada.
The L3s is clicking, but still not powering up.
Used the same kettle lead and socket as with the one that turned on to make sure it wasn't faulty cables.
I had clients turn up for lessons while I was on the phone to the the Tech Support guy so he is calling back in 15 minutes when I said I'd be done.
1 out of 3 speakers is still very, very odd.
Very weird behaviour - but at least it's progress.
Good luck with it! I hope everything comes to life without needing return/replacement.
Low and behold, Tech Support guy calls back. I explain the L3m has been working fine since before and so I try the Sub again while on the phone.......and it starts working!
HOWEVER.....do the same with the other L3m and there is a flash from the back panel and a funny smell and obviously.....no sound!
So at least this determines there was some kind of issue.
I'm thinking it's something to do with acclimatizing because it's been very cold here and there is every chance my speakers were sitting in a freezing warehouse/lorry all night.......
Line 6 reckon acclimatizing shouldn't be an issue because they've done testing etc and that they've never had this issue happen before.
The good news is it would seem they are going to make the replacement from the direct from Line 6 UK which is great because I purchased the whole lot from Thomann in Germany.
Line 6 are gonna call back tomorrow to organise a replacment etc.
What a bizarre and stressful day!!!
I'd try some different cables too... but that's just be doing standard stuff you probably already thought of...
By any chance are you plugging the mains into a regulated power strip or similar?
Hi Don. As a new user/owner of Line 6's Live Sound PA system I am learning a lot from your frequent presence and input in this forum Thanks.
I have seen you ask this question about using a power strip in at least a couple of threads. Why is it relevant? Is there some known behaviour/issue with using power strips?
It's more a good troubleshooting practice. You need to eliminate everything else from the situation that could have any effect on it.
Generally speaking regulators should not be used with power amps and powered speakers ... unless you have really great ones (read that really expensive ones). The have a way of changing things. Most modern gear has all the regulation in it that it might require.
I usually recommend no regulators and no "over-voltage' protector strips (again unless you've spend BIG $$$). They can cause many more problems than they can fix. Your typical voltage protector strips use devices called MOVs. If they do blow they can cause fires, especially in plastic power strips. Now for devices like our StageScape mixer you should consider a UPS type power supply for more mission critical situations. I'd also recommend getting one off those inexpensive circuit checkers (here in the US they have 3 lights and cost about $10-15). you can check for reversed neutral-grounds and for proper voltage by just pluggin it in the wall and reading the lights.
Good info. Thanks.
Soooo today was a good day.
My other L3m and L3s arrived this morning and I can happily report that both speakers worked without any issue right out of the box! (cue massive sigh of relief)
Got all 4 speakers hooked up to the M20d and all is good.
Finally had a practice with my acoustic duo last night albeit through 1 l3m and 1 l3s but it still sounded phenomenal. Provided my speakers keep on working without issue, I think I made a very good choice in purchasing this system.
My faulty L3m was collected for return to Line 6 yesterday so hopefully I won't have to wait too long for the replacment to be shipped.
Still waiting for some other bits and bobs to arrive (cases, Pole mounts, some behringer monitors) but when they do, I'm hoping to get the whole rig set up and test it all out in anger with a local band I know.
All in all, a massive relief that these other speakers are working without issue!
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