When playing live, do you use wireless to connect your instrument?

[monti2889]

Go wireless??? Yes definitely, if you have the money to spend on a decent wireless system. If your budget is limited to 100$ or less....the line6 g10 is going to be the best in that price range, but you will inevitably get some drop outs....although rare in my experience, in different areas, it will be a bigger issue.
I would NOT get the wireless dog tags, made by xvive, nux, behringer....etc.
If you can spend the money, the best pro quality/entry level unit is the Shure glxd system. These can be found used for a pretty reasonable price.
I guess bottom line....if you want to go wireless, make the commitment to go wireless. Don't waste your money buying cheap wireless units to "test the waters".

 

[joel406]

Been wireless for 3 years. Using Shure SLXD14. Got 3 of em. One racked. One I keep lose for my D-800+ heads and one on loan to our lead guitarist. I also have the Senheiser Evolution 500 system that’s also racked. Both my racks run Epifani UL901s.

 

[LBS-bass]

I would NOT get the wireless dog tags, made by xvive, nux, behringer....etc.

I have to ask why not?

The ones I have used work well, in two years I've had one incident with drop outs and at under $100 per set I have a hard time justifying the expense and inconvenience involved in the larger systems when, by all reports, drop outs with those systems are just as bad, or worse. What is it about these small systems that's so much worse people are willing to spend ten times the money to avoid them?

 

[monti2889]

I have to ask why not?

The ones I have used work well, in two years I've had one incident with drop outs and at under $100 per set I have a hard time justifying the expense and inconvenience involved in the larger systems when, by all reports, drop outs with those systems are just as bad, or worse. What is it about these small systems that's so much worse people are willing to spend ten times the money to avoid them?

In my experience, they are more susceptible to interference (I understand this is environmental and personal experiences may vary). So, here's a few more reasons....when the battery decides to die in either the xmitter or receiver, you are forced to replace the system entirely. When/if you break the transmitter, by whatever means (drop it, hit on something...etc), you are forced to replace the entire system.
With a larger system, they will support multiple channel frequencies and multiple xmitters. So, if one goes bad, you just need to replace the single unit. I use rechargeable batteries, so when they die, I just replace the batteries. In most systems, you have the ability to adjust the gain to match the output of your instrument. In the case of the glxd units, the gain settings are stored in the transmitter, which allows easier switching between multiple instruments (with multiple transmitters). The receiver can also be in the form of a tuner pedal, which saves space. It scans multiple channels and actively monitors the signal strength to prevent drop outs.
To each their own, but for me, the price of a more robust system, far outweighs the cost of the smaller systems.

 

[LBS-bass]

In my experience, they are more susceptible to interference (I understand this is environmental and personal experiences may vary). So, here's a few more reasons....when the battery decides to die in either the xmitter or receiver, you are forced to replace the system entirely. When/if you break the transmitter, by whatever means (drop it, hit on something...etc), you are forced to replace the entire system.
With a larger system, they will support multiple channel frequencies and multiple xmitters. So, if one goes bad, you just need to replace the single unit. I use rechargeable batteries, so when they die, I just replace the batteries. In most systems, you have the ability to adjust the gain to match the output of your instrument. In the case of the glxd units, the gain settings are stored in the transmitter, which allows easier switching between multiple instruments (with multiple transmitters). The receiver can also be in the form of a tuner pedal, which saves space. It scans multiple channels and actively monitors the signal strength to prevent drop outs.
To each their own, but for me, the price of a more robust system, far outweighs the cost of the smaller systems.

I'm not seeing it, but that's OK. The system is inexpensive and easily replaceable; the batteries in mine have lasted two years so far and hold more than enough charge for me to do a three-hour rehearsal and a three-hour show without recharging. More susceptible to interference in the 5.8ghz range doesn't compute with my experiences, since it has never happened until this past weekend in any setting or venue. Everything in the 2.4ghz range is problematic, from what I understand, so I wouldn't buy any system that transmitted in that range.

You can drop anything and break it. Or step on it! I'd rather break and replace something that costs $60 or, better yet, have a second one on hand. Not much more expensive than the high-quality cable I keep on hand as backup. But I have dropped mine and, so far, so good.

My receiver plugs directly into my input - so space isn't an issue.

So I think yes, to each their own. I will suggest that the biggest drawback might be the sound quality, but I don't hear enough sound degradation to make that a deal-breaker for live work, and what little goes missing can be adjusted for.

 

[BassGuyFL]

Always wireless. I have the Line 6 G55 for one rig and the G30 on the other. Rarely have a problem but I always have a cable handy just in case.

 

[monti2889]

I'm not seeing it, but that's OK. The system is inexpensive and easily replaceable; the batteries in mine have lasted two years so far and hold more than enough charge for me to do a three-hour rehearsal and a three-hour show without recharging. More susceptible to interference in the 5.8ghz range doesn't compute with my experiences, since it has never happened until this past weekend in any setting or venue. Everything in the 2.4ghz range is problematic, from what I understand, so I wouldn't buy any system that transmitted in that range.

You can drop anything and break it. Or step on it! I'd rather break and replace something that costs $60 or, better yet, have a second one on hand. Not much more expensive than the high-quality cable I keep on hand as backup. But I have dropped mine and, so far, so good.

My receiver plugs directly into my input - so space isn't an issue.

So I think yes, to each their own. I will suggest that the biggest drawback might be the sound quality, but I don't hear enough sound degradation to make that a deal-breaker for live work, and what little goes missing can be adjusted for.

5.8ghz can have dead zones because it does not penetrate objects as readily as lower frequencies. So maintaining line of sight between xmitter and receiver is more important. It also has a less effective range..although the difference in this application is generally, nominal. For the time being it is a less congested frequency band...but as things go...vhf was great, then uhf, then digital 2.4ghz, 2.5ghz, now 5ghz, until something better comes lol.
I still use an analog unit, without issue, when outdoors, because the range is much better (around 600ft for the unit i have), compared to 50-100ft of most digital units. It's also not near as dependent on line of sight, or weather conditions.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I have previously had a Line 6 and an AKG UHF. I now have the cheapo Xvive and I'm perfectly happy with it. No outside interference, no signal dropout, I have gone 60 feet out at an outside gig with no fade out, and when I A/B'd against a cable I could hear very little difference. What's not to like? I've had it 3 years or more now (about 50 gigs a year), if it ever craps out I'll happily buy another.

 

[Anemic_SluG]

Had a G30 and ran into many instances of drop outs playing out in local bars and most of the time I was within 20’ of the receiver and had line of sight. I personally did not feel that a unit running at 2.4 was going to work.
Went with the Shure SLXD system. Super solid and have never had an issue. Yes it is expensive but I have enough going on at a gig with the PA, playing and singing that I like the security I can walk anywhere in the venue.

i have it racked with a furman in a 2 space sob bag rack. I put it right to the side of the drums.

 

[Dave W]

I've been using a Line 6 G50 for probably close to 10 years now. If it didn't work I wouldn't use it.
I hate having a cable under my feet and constantly stepping on it for having to toss it off to the side. The wireless easily solves that problem.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

The eternal question: I am trying to determine whether or not to use a wireless to connect my instrument to my amp, when playing live.

Factors pushing me to get a wireless
• Just played a gig with a sound company, and had no idea what it sounded like out front. Would be great to be able to walk out during sound check and really know.

• We’ll be running our own sound at some gigs, and it seems essential to be able to walk out front during a sound check and hear what it really sounds like, and make adjustments.

• Seems like just about every professional I ever see on stage is using a wireless

Factors making me think I should not get a wireless
• One more set of possible failures to worry about. Dropouts, weird wireless stuff, batteries, and extra pieces of gear talking to each other.

• Spoke to a buddy who plays 100 or so cover band shows a year, from bars to bigger stages. Asked him if he and his band use wireless. Answer was “yes, but… everyone’s wireless is broken right now, so we’re all back to wired for the time being.” He added that they all use the $500 Shure solution. Which “works great,” but I guess is “easily breakable.” Or maybe they’re just not that careful.

I mentioned the similar Sennheiser, which he said “eats batteries” and the Xvive as encountering interference too often to be reliable.

He mentioned that he is considering the more expensive $1,000ish Shure, but it’s a rack-style unit, so would require running a cable out to the pedalboard then back to his amp. So for now, everyone is “back to cables”

All of that info makes me say “uggghhh… too much trouble”

Any thoughts, experiences, tales of success or tales of woe, advice and/or warnings would be greatly appreciated!

I've used a Boss plug-and play for about a year; I wasn't real happy with performance (cut outs, only about 20 feet of range). So I just bought a Sennheiser ew 100 G4. I opened the box and quickly shut it again. I think these are for players who have tech staff. I don't. As any of my buddies in the biz will tell you, I'm dangerous with anything more than a phillips head screwdriver. Can anyone steer me to a good setup video for this thing? Most that I've seen are about connecting lavalier microphones. I just want to connect my bass. Even better would be a written narrative--I look at these pictures of arrows pointing this way or that, and I think "Which way is up?"

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I've used a Boss plug-and play for about a year; I wasn't real happy with performance (cut outs, only about 20 feet of range). So I just bought a Sennheiser ew 100 G4. I opened the box and quickly shut it again. I think these are for players who have tech staff. I don't. As any of my buddies in the biz will tell you, I'm dangerous with anything more than a phillips head screwdriver. Can anyone steer me to a good setup video for this thing? Most that I've seen are about connecting lavalier microphones. I just want to connect my bass. Even better would be a written narrative--I look at these pictures of arrows pointing this way or that, and I think "Which way is up?"

OK, I've figured out a lot. One last hurdle: I cannot figure out how to sync the transmitter and receiver. There are a sequence of events: I can get all the way to storing a frequency selection. All that's left is to get the two units to sync, which is, of course, the heart of the matter. I think I need to find an actual human who can walk me through this bit.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Just following up… it’s two months since I bought the $57 Lekato wireless set.

I’ve used it for three gigs at three different venues. Two outdoor, one indoor. And many rehearsals. It’s performed flawlessly. No dropouts or weird interference. Lag is imperceptible. Tone change is imperceptible.

Charge lasts a long time. My band plays 3 1hour sets over the course of 3-4 hours. I usually put the wireless units back on the charging cable between the end of set 1 and beginning of set 2, just to be sure, but I don’t really think its necessary.

All in all, super happy with the el cheapo Lekato so far.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

OK, I've figured out a lot. One last hurdle: I cannot figure out how to sync the transmitter and receiver. There are a sequence of events: I can get all the way to storing a frequency selection. All that's left is to get the two units to sync, which is, of course, the heart of the matter. I think I need to find an actual human who can walk me through this bit.

any luck, @Bunk McNulty ? sorry i have no skills to assist. Did you get it working?

 

[Bunk McNulty]

any luck, @Bunk McNulty ? sorry i have no skills to assist. Did you get it working?

Going to visit the witch doctors at my local shop. Aaron and Howard, between them, express confidence in a good outcome.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Going to visit the witch doctors at my local shop. Aaron and Howard, between them, express confidence in a good outcome.

Nice! Good luck with the "doctors"

 

[klejst]

Don't use wireless and don't really want to. I have seen where it has been unreliable, however some of that is also cheaper systems vs. a really good one and also forgetting to change batteries and such too. For me it's cables. Of course, sure they can unplug but that has yet to happen to me and if it does, I'll just go over there and plug it back in. And I take good care of my cables to try to make them last physically.

 

[joel406]

I'm not seeing it, but that's OK. The system is inexpensive and easily replaceable; the batteries in mine have lasted two years so far and hold more than enough charge for me to do a three-hour rehearsal and a three-hour show without recharging. More susceptible to interference in the 5.8ghz range doesn't compute with my experiences, since it has never happened until this past weekend in any setting or venue. Everything in the 2.4ghz range is problematic, from what I understand, so I wouldn't buy any system that transmitted in that range.

You can drop anything and break it. Or step on it! I'd rather break and replace something that costs $60 or, better yet, have a second one on hand. Not much more expensive than the high-quality cable I keep on hand as backup. But I have dropped mine and, so far, so good.

My receiver plugs directly into my input - so space isn't an issue.

So I think yes, to each their own. I will suggest that the biggest drawback might be the sound quality, but I don't hear enough sound degradation to make that a deal-breaker for live work, and what little goes missing can be adjusted for.

You may not be seeing it now. But you will. And your sound suffers with cheap units as well. I’ve A/B’d enough to know. So far the Shure system has the best connectivity as well as best tone. The xvive does not sound as clear as the Shure. You may think it does. But it doesn’t.

Use what you like. I’ll stick with a quality product.

 

[James Flowers]

For those with multiple guitars, do you move the transmitter from guitar to guitar or do you have multiple transmitters and a single receiver? I am looking at trying to set multiple transmitters to the same ID/Frequency/Channel and only having one active at a time. But I don't know if that would work. Plan to experiment but thought maybe someone had already done the work for me.....

 

[LBS-bass]

You may not be seeing it now. But you will. And your sound suffers with cheap units as well. I’ve A/B’d enough to know. So far the Shure system has the best connectivity as well as best tone. The xvive does not sound as clear as the Shure. You may think it does. But it doesn’t.

Use what you like. I’ll stick with a quality product.

Been using these for three years. Read my post. There’s clear degradation, as I said, but not enough to be consequential in most live applications. It can be corrected for.

The x-vibe system I don’t use because my basses are active. I returned another system because it wouldn’t pair correctly. They are not perfect but the price difference is simply not worth the small quality issues combined with the massive inconvenience of having to wear a body pack while wearing a dress.

To me it’s a massive waste of money with virtually no added value but people are free to spend their dollars as they see fit.