Feedback Destroyer

[Laserman]

Guys,

Anybody use one of these units Behringer, peavey, DBX ect ect for monitors? My vocalist uses in ears but the rest of the bands uses monitors to hear vocals. We can hear the vocals OK now using a graphic EQ but I've always if one of these units could help get the vocal monitors up louder. Also, if You do use one do you also use a EQ on the monitors also?

Thanks

[JustDavid]

My understanding of how those work is they catch a steady loud pitch, flagf that as feedback, & notch that frequency out. Just like a soundtech with a 31 band. But they go narrower in frequency than 1/3 octave & they can get thorwn by musical components that are steady.

What issues are you getting when you increase monitor level?

My opinion is if people can hear what they NEED to do their job, Monitors are doing their job. "Sounding good" is a bonus, something that someone else with more time than I pre-gig can take care of (complaints usually vanish when that offer is made).

[Steve]

my experience:

They have a value if you have a singer that's kinda dense and has a tendancy to let the mic down right in front of the monitor or walk in front of the main or some equally ill advised move.

You can get the mix a little louder but then it's gonna get turned up to where it's squeeking again, the unit will clamp down, you'll loose gain and volume, turn up and the cycle repeats.

You're way better off to properly EQ and place the monitors and maintain a little mic dicipline.

The pro SRE's don't need 'em and they can make monitors take your head off if that's what you want.

[srxplayer]

They pretty much work the way justdavid said. They find a problem frequency in the mix and them notch it out with a very narrow filter. They can be set to notch and release any problem frequency and then go back to scanning for problems when left in "live setting". You can also set the notch filters to stay locked on a problem frequency. I like them and they can be a useful tool for live sound.

I have used the DBX units in my DBX Driveracks, and the Sabine dual channel units with good results. I have also used the Behringer units with limited success. I would not recommend them as they tend to notch out too much of a frequency and can leave holes in the music. They can also be confused high frequency effects in guitar solos and by flanger and delay effects on guitars. Thats why they are only $100.00.

[bassman1185]

I've used the Sabine FBX system pretty extensively, and for the kind of work that I do (I work for an A/V company that does a lot of corperate events) it's intespensible. I would imagine that if you've got a large stage and a really high stage volume, they would be really useful, but if you're not going too crazy with volume, they probably wouldn't be as useful.

[Stinsok]

I had a Behringer unit I recieved in a trade. The previous owner had used a couple of times and told me he got frustrated with it. He complained that it notched out too much signal. Since we run the sound from the stage I figured it would be the ticket. I experienced the same thing. Sold it soon after getting it. With experience I probably could have made it work.