Class D - What's next?

[filmtex]

It's absolutely here.

mixhalo | a new experience - mixhalo

Metallica had this for some ticket packages on their most recent tour, and I participated in it. The setup is that you connect to a specific wifi network in the venue with your phone, then use the app to stream the audio into your headphones. I had the option of choosing the board mix, or the individual monitor mixes of the band members. I was using my Shure SE215's for this, and since they have a 20dB cut, I had both hearing protection AND excellent audio. It was hands down the best arena sound i've ever heard because of this. I can't imagine seeing a "big" show any other way; it's certainly a lot of additional work to set up for those running the show (and as somebody who works in IT support, i know it would require a whole bunch of additional infrastructure as well as support staff to roll out to a whole venue), but it's REALLY cool.

Well there you have it. I really ytrynto keep up on this stuff with subscriptions to all the trades, but I guess I missed this. Many thanks for the info. That’s exciting stuff.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

The bassist keeps getting smaller and lighter

Not this bassist!

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Trends are cyclic. Peg legs vs bell bottoms, columns vs cantilevers, liberal vs conservative. We are currently in a bit of a retro craze, in which a significant portion of our community is obsessed with vintage tech. But not everybody. There will always be a faction who embraces the latest tech, regardless of fashion trends.

Umm, what was the question again?

Yes, even vinyl made a come back for those who don't like high dynamic range in their listening experience. And so is measles.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I remember about five years ago I mentioned using 8" speakers for bass cabs and nearly got laughed off TB. Now MAS and Trace Elliott are successfully building 1x8" and 2x8" cabs that sound great for the size. I'm hoping more bass manufacturers follow suit. Even more 10" cabs would be great.

LDS makes some killer cabs with 8" drivers.

 

[Dick King]

I want a huge stage, huge PA system and lighting rig, SVT and fridge 810,
and at the end of the gig, press a button and the whole lot compacts itself into a briefcase within 30 seconds.

I want a huge stage, huge PA system and lighting rig, SVT and fridge 810,
and at the end of the gig, press a button and the whole lot compacts itself into a briefcase within 30 seconds.

Yes it can be done ! Watch this:

 

[biggredd]

How about powered bass cabs with auto DSP intelligent room eq. Options of a usb port, sd card, or blue tooth for loading amp models/profiles.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

How about powered bass cabs with auto DSP intelligent room eq. Options of a usb port, sd card, or blue tooth for loading amp models/profiles.

PAs too.

 

[flojob]

I want nano speakers. They float around like fairy dust, all around the room. They pulse from every direction, and collectively envelope your body like a velvet whisper.

 

[guts]

How about powered bass cabs with auto DSP intelligent room eq. Options of a usb port, sd card, or blue tooth for loading amp models/profiles.

That's all technology of the past. It's been around. The only reason that the iteration you're imagining is not produced is that the format you imagine it in is from the 1920s.

 

[gumtown]

Yes it can be done ! Watch this:

No... not quite, I was thinking something auto compacting a gig setup more on this scale here...

 

[Sean Brookes]

The super small set ups seem to be catching on at the moment... micro heads and 8” speaker cabs. I’d like one.

As mentioned by others, I’d like to see powered cabs catch on by all the big players and community next. One phase was us all getting A decent preamp / DI box on our boards. Be nice to plug that straight into a dedicated active bass cab and bypass the head. Of course, talking about those situations when you need to take and use your own amp. Not just having it for the sake of having it.

Other than that, digital will continue to sound better and better.

 

[blastoff]

Wireless electricity

still gotta plug it in...

 

[tpaul]

I'm hoping for class DD, myself.

 

[Coot]

I like my basses, amps and cabs for the beauty of their craftsmanship as well as the sound reproduction..IMHO.. The Mesa Subways are works of art. Who doesn't like to look at a well set up stage before the gig ? and that humm..we're ready to go !!I guess i'm just a dinosaur ( but a happy one with all my gear ..lol)PS .. I lugged 100 lb. tube monsters and fridges around for years . The class d's and neo's are a welcome addition but I don't want to stand on an empty stage with earplugs watching a tumbleweed drift by.To each their own though.

 

[Dick King]

I like my basses, amps and cabs for the beauty of their craftsmanship as well as the sound reproduction..IMHO.. The Mesa Subways are works of art. Who doesn't like to look at a well set up stage before the gig ? and that humm..we're ready to go !!I guess i'm just a dinosaur ( but a happy one with all my gear ..lol)PS .. I lugged 100 lb. tube monsters and fridges around for years . The class d's and neo's are a welcome addition but I don't want to stand on an empty stage with earplugs watching a tumbleweed drift by.To each their own though.

Well played.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I love standing in front of my cabs feeling the floor vibrate, and my clothes flapping.
IEMs just don't cut it for me.
Floor wedges (unless frfr) are not sufficient,
And the stage wash from the boom box generation " engineers" is less than satisfying, with the over zealous use of subs.

 

[2F/2F]

Class Double D?

Personally, I'm not even interested in looking until they get up to F or G.

 

[baxter_x]

To me future is those line 6, fractal multi effect with a class D amp, touch screen and maybe wireless unit. A super all in one device. The question is, how the big brands like ampeg, Mesa, GK..... will adapt to this.
À brand X will have to include some modeling from brand Y to sell their stuffs.

 

[nilorius]

I tihink they will stay for a while on D, preamp tube + D, amp. Now the most important thing is the size weight and power according to price.

 

[Jack Butler]

Eh, maybe. Depends what you mean by eventually I guess. While there are all kinds of things out there that didn’t even exist 20 years ago, some things hang around a looonngg time. Robert Johnson cut most of his sides in what, the late 20’s? I’m 49, and my dad listened to that stuff, I like it, my wife likes it, so do my kids. It’s not all we like, my wife also likes Taylor swift, and my kids are into all kinds of new edm or whatever the kids call it these days. I also like the Stray Cats, Iron Maiden, and dubstep.

Eventually people will tire of and lose interest in all the sounds you're familiar with and we will stop trying to achieve them. Most people won't care to use tubes or to emulate their sound. People will become nostalgic for the sound of the cheap solid state amps they got when they first started hacking away in their bedrooms.

Eventually music will sound so different from what you can imagine that you won't be able to relate to it and you'll be angry (or angrier than you already are). You'll lose touch with any semblance of relevance that you may be clinging to and continue playing what has already passed from being dad rock into grandpa rock. And if you're still around, you will be a relic of a bygone era, uphill both ways reminder of a time when people weren't born into a world with computers that fit in your pocket.