Tonight's Gymnasium Wedding Reception

[doncolga]

All the years I've been playing, I've never really played in a gym until this evening. You always hear gyms are the worst acoustically. So tonight was my chance with about 300 guests, only my OT12 pair and just the two of my larger Lab 12 Tuba 30's split at about 50 feet. Totally amazed with the clarity, thump and power, all while barely pushing the single four channel amp. I remembered an old musician friend of mine saying that gyms surprisingly don't require a lot of power or volume, so I kept that in mind as I was checking the sound before the guests arrive. Definitely had WAY more power than I needed, but I didn't need to play too loud, but it was still very danceable and had lots of authority. I usually EQ by ear and don't do any RTA at all but I have at my last couple of gigs, including this one, and seems like it's helped a lot. RTA was lighting up as low as 40 Hz really good on songs that had the content. I'll try to post pictures of the venue and RTA's as well. Anyway, happy to share a good report and cool to see what just four boxes will do.

[Tom Smit]

Where is the "like" button, haha!

[NukePooch]

I agree completely. Gyms have always been tough...

On Friday, (Oct 16), I ran sound for a fund-raising benefit...it was also in a gym (smaller elementary school b-ball gym). I used two of my Jacks, and my two T48's...all run off one Crest LT1000 old-school amp. I had to keep it more at the 'band in the background' than at 'dance' level, so the amp was barely on.

I had a guy find me later on in the evening. He's sang in a regional touring gospel group for 30+ years, and told me that within 2 minutes of showing up, he told his wife that he had to find me and talk to me about the speakers. He couldn't believe that I was able to get such clear sound in a gym...I honestly don't believe that I've taken my Jacks anywhere that someone hasn't commented on how clear the sound is.

The BFM melded array absolutely rules, no question.

[doncolga]

Any value for an rta on an iPhone? It's just very convenient.

[kkip]

We did two gymnasium dances this week. In both cases they wanted to only use half the gym with the DJ in the middle of the floor. The speaker placement was far from ideal. The sound was good everywhere on the front side of the speakers. We ran 4 T39s and 4 OT12s for 400-500 kids. There was plenty of headroom available on the OTs but the subs were ticking the limiter all night.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

There was plenty of headroom available on the OTs but the subs were ticking the limiter all night.

Set up in the middle of a large room you might as well be outdoors, which doubles the sub requirement.

[kkip]

There was plenty of headroom available on the OTs but the subs were ticking the limiter all night.

Set up in the middle of a large room you might as well be outdoors, which doubles the sub requirement.

That makes sense. The sound level was perfectly adequate but the balance between the high and low amp was pretty close to an outdoor configuration.

[doncolga]

Hopefully these pictures will go up. You can see the 26" Tuba on each side, then of course the OT12's as well.

[y2kindyz]

All the years I've been playing, I've never really played in a gym until this evening. You always hear gyms are the worst acoustically. So tonight was my chance with about 300 guests, only my OT12 pair and just the two of my larger Lab 12 Tuba 30's split at about 50 feet. .

I do some youth dances for our church and I have always corner loaded my T30 24" wide loaded with the Delta 12LF. After seeing this post I am thinking of splitting them. Do you all think I would better off keeping them corner loaded?

[doncolga]

All the years I've been playing, I've never really played in a gym until this evening. You always hear gyms are the worst acoustically. So tonight was my chance with about 300 guests, only my OT12 pair and just the two of my larger Lab 12 Tuba 30's split at about 50 feet. .

I do some youth dances for our church and I have always corner loaded my T30 24" wide loaded with the Delta 12LF. After seeing this post I am thinking of splitting them. Do you all think I would better off keeping them corner loaded?

If you have a workable corner I'd keep it and let the room help as much as possible...unless you have two corners far enough apart, and then try it out. I'd say the biggest benefit was the bass was better distributed. It sounded the same out in the front either way, but if you were in either corner, there was alot less bass or you were hammered. I initially set the two Tubas together on the right side. That sounded fine throughout the front and the dance floor, but if you were on that side and close to that wall, it really over powering. On the opposite side close to the wall, it was mostly all mids and highs where the lone OT 12 stood. So, since I felt it was enough distance, I decided to try and split them and it worked out well, though I would have preferred more distance. Decorations and doors started getting in the way at that point. Everything seemed even to me, but I'm sure there may have been some peaks and dips if I'd really checked. First and only time I've done that since I've been on this forum. Had the distance been less I would not have done it.

[y2kindyz]

Thank you, I will try to split and corner load the one on each side. The next event venue is half court hall so it may work out. I will report back after Halloween

Thanks