• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bose L1 mixer options

F

freestate101

May 3, 2012
4
0
#1
I just purchased a Bose L1 system (no bass units) to use for very small venues (nursing homes and senior sites). Will be used for 1-2 acustics, keyboard and at most 3 mic's.
I would prefer to use an analog mixer with this unit instead of the T1 ToneMatch® audio engine mixer bose sells. What are my options and connectivity issues if any. Am I tied to the ToneMatch system ande if so, would I be better off to sell the L1 system?

Jim
 
#4
I think these are all powered. If it has a power cord then it's a powered speaker.

You'll need a sub for use with Acoustic Guitars and Keyboard

Bose has no specs on these, but a good non-powered sub should work. Take it into a store and try it before you buy though. Or you could get a powered sub for more power. The bose bass bins have two speakers in them. The speakon is a 4 pin. It's an odd match for a typical sub.
 
#6
Thanks guys, these are all nubi questions and I most definitly am that. But what about effects, is it possible to get effects through an unpowered mixer, and if so, what brands are available in the US for under $300? What is the best economical solution for basic effects and how would they wire into the board?

Jim
 
#7
Mackie has a small Unpowered mixer with built-in effects. I've used the tone match system before, it was Alright but only four inputs. It also had a fancy propriatary cord to connect it. And why not use the Bose bass bins? Seems kind of goofy to use other bits and peices and expect to out perform the Bose engineers. If you're truely trying to save money, the cheapest way to go is to buy the right stuff first off and not mess around with stuff that doesn't quite cut it.
 
#8
Ibought the basic L1 tower, it did not come with base bins. I will only be singing and playing southern and old gospel with my keyboard and not using much bass. I am trying to stay away from the digital style mixers like the bose T1 Tonematch. The analog mixers are much easier to adjust "on the fly" than the digital ones that I've seen.

Thanks,

Jim
 
#9
Sounds like a single Bose bass module would be a good place start. They match, they're very portable, and modular so a second unit fits right in.

I gigged with the Bose with a rocking singer songwriter for a couple years, and he ran into it with a small mackie board, for the versatility you mentioned.

Later I toured with an award winning singer songwriter who played folkie stuff. She has the tone match system and I thought it sounded fine, although it was set and forget. Wasn't thrilled with it for DB, seemed like I had to turn up too much to hear myself, at which point I felt I was too loud for the room. I was also nervous about the fancy wire, which is a show stopper if it fails or gets lost. Not too many places around to get one off the shelf.

Enjoy the system. It's good at what it does.
 
#10
The tone match is fine but you have to spend time with it and develop your presets. A guy that I do support for uses his TM even with out the L1 and he has a set of JBL eon's he uses in larger spaces. The guy that engineered his cd's created the presets for his voice, guitar and lady backup singer. The feedback buster in the TM is less obnoxious than some others I've heard.

My biggest gripe with the TM is that it is channel limited. Makes sense when you consider that Bose wants each band member to buy their own tower. ...which philosophy, while profitable for Bose does not work for me...

I also backed up another guy that has 2 of the top end Bose setups w/bass modules... I did not like my basses through that systm at all. I ended up carrying my small amp and an extension cabinet for the larger stage he was generally on.
 
#12
I've used my Bose L1 for years. I run everything to it through a Yamaha unpowered mixer that has effects. For my purposes it works perfectly. However... I also use 2 Bose bass modules with it... and for what you want to do, you must use at least one module or else it's going to sound not so good.

I did A/B my mixer (which I know very well) with the Tone Match mixer. I'm staying with my mixer. The Tone Match does what it does really well... but so do traditional mixers. It just depends on what system you want to become familiar with and learn to use correctly.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back