First gigs with Otops.

[tcorder]

Finished my Otop 12s and used them for 2 gigs last weekend. I RTAed them in my back garden with a Dod RTA and Behringer ECM8000 and transferred the readings to my graphic EQ ready for the first gig.

We arrived at the gig early for me to have time to get the PA sounding as it should. Humped all the gear up a flight of steps, I hate this gig, and didn’t get to carry the new cabs myself, a bonus. All who saw them said how good they looked. I was feeling pretty pleased that others actually noticed.

Having set up I turned to the ‘new’ PA. I normally run 3 way but decided to run 2 way and used the internal crossovers in the Otops as this allowed me to take an amp out of the rack and make it a bit lighter. It takes 2 to lift normally. Set the crossover to 100hz and not without a little trepidation switched everything on and ran the ipod. A bit toppy to begin with but soon eqed that out. Balanced the bins to the Otops and stood back to listen. WOW!!! Was I and everyone else impressed. Great clarity, definition and spread. The bins sound pretty crap compared to the Otops though.

I had to re-eq the mics, only vocals at this gig and thought that it didn’t sound that loud. Started the sound check and the vocals were way over the top. A sign of a clean undistorted sound.

During the gig I noticed that I was hearing a lot less spill from the Otops than I have been used to, another bonus although it did make it hard to check the echo level on stage. We have no crew so all mixing done from the stage.

Being wireless, both my bass and vocals, gives me the opportunity to wander though the audience during gigs to check the sound and to make adjustments if necessary. The PA was just perfect. The 3 part harmonies blended better than before and the coverage was excellent. For the second gig the following night I didn't touch a thing and the Otops still delivered. Both gigs were crap but the Otops made everyone smile when we would have otherwise cried.

The Otops are loaded with Deltalite 2512s and Selenium DH200Es mounted on the diffraction horns. The Seleniums were used for no other reason than I already had them so they were far cheaper than buying a bunch piezos from CPC. They fitted perfectly.

I am always apprehensive trying new things purely on the recommendation of others but the Otop 12s are every bit as good as everyone says they are. They are loud, clean, clear, have great definition, are reasonably light and just sound great.

Thanks Bill and to everyone else on the forum for your input. Now for a pair of 24” T39s.

[BoostFab]

great review.... great clarity, low distortion are the typical impressions.

[Rockboy]

Nice pics !!!! What did you use for speaker grills?

RR

[tcorder]

Thanks. I cut down some old speaker grills that I'd save ages ago. I knew they'd come in handy one day.

[tcorder]

A follow up to my first review. I had intended to try to cut down on the weight of my amp rack by running the Otop 12s with passive crossovers and it worked very well until both the compression drivers in the cabs blew. I don't know why, very strange. I had 2 spare drivers, so I put these in and discarded the passive crossovers, yes, they were built correctly, put the amp back in the rack and ran the system 3 way again. WOW!!!!! It's a different beast yet again. Ten times as good tri-amped. They're louder, clearer and project further. All who play in or know the band commented on how good they sounded.

Nearly finished a pair of T39s, burning in the speakers at the moment. I'll post a review when they're finished and used.

As an aside, I'm stuck at my computer burning and printing CDs at the moment. Why is it that Bass players are the only ones who do or understand anything in a band?

[sine143]

still got your passive crossovers?

[tcorder]

Yes, but when I said I discarded them I actually bypassed them and left them in the cabs.

[Bruce Weldy]

Why is it that Bass players are the only ones who do or understand anything in a band?

Gosh, I wish I could meet one so I could take a break.

[sine143]

Yes, but when I said I discarded them I actually bypassed them and left them in the cabs.

which xovers did you build? the ones designed for CDs or for piezios?

[tcorder]

The crossovers designed for CDs. I've used active because I didn't want the insertion loss of passive crossovers and hearing the difference again I'll stick with active even if it makes the rack is heavier. May even be able to afford light weight amps soon so weight problem solved.

[sine143]

just wondering cause if you accidentally made the piezo xovers I was gonna try and snag em from you haha

[tcorder]

Sorry, the x/overs would be no use to you.

Bruce, do you mean to say that your bass player doesn't drive the van, load the van, repair the van, build the gear, fix the gear when it breaks, mix the sound, produce all the publicity, posters and tour guides, build and maintain the web site, record the band, engineer and produce in the studio that he built for the band to use, burn all the CDs, design and print all the album art work and finds the gigs to name but a few things.

What do the other members of the band do?

Our drummer seems to think a lot about things to moan about and travels to gigs by public transport as he never bothered to learn to drive and our guitarist turns up, plays and takes the money. Hes too lazy to do anything else including learn songs! One new song a year on average if we're lucky.

The drummer is also an expert in breaking things and doesn't wind up leads as he 'doesn't do electric'. ( I've no worries about him reading this as he also doesn't do computers or the internet ).

And they wonder why I get pissed?

Perhaps we should start a thread on which member of the band does the most and least.

My vote is bass players do the most and drummers and guitarists do the least.

[Bruce Weldy]

Bruce, do you mean to say that your bass player doesn't drive the van, load the van, repair the van, build the gear, fix the gear when it breaks, mix the sound, produce all the publicity, posters and tour guides, build and maintain the web site, record the band, engineer and produce in the studio that he built for the band to use, burn all the CDs, design and print all the album art work and finds the gigs to name but a few things.

No....


But, then again - guys like us are anal, so others probably wouldn't do it right anyway.

In all fairness, my guys are good and do most of the heavy lifting in and out of the trailer.

[SeisTres]

Wow, for a moment there after reading your first paragraph, I could have sworn you band was composed of a bass player and everyone else was a singer

I've met quite a few bands and they were all different different. In some, the drummer would be main one, in another the bass player and drummer, and sometimes the guitar players but what always seemed to be constant was the singers had the a god given duty to not do a SINGLE thing. not one.

[tcorder]

You're right of course. I was feeling sorry for myself yesterday as i imagined the other 2 in the band relaxing and enjoying themselves as I was sat here on my own trying get the new album out on time. I did have ebay and the BFM forum for company though. All 3 of us do carry the gear in and out of the gigs together unless our crew turns up then the drummer finds someone to talk to and disappears until it's all done. Never had a singer as I've always been in a 3 piece all sharing vocals but perhaps they're too cool to be seen doing anything.

The other 2 would definitely mess up any task they were given and I suppose that I should really compliane to much as the the saying goes. 'if you want it done properly. do it yourself'.