How I Messed My Pants

[Jon Tuck]

When using my Mackie Speakers the past five yrs I had several issues even when my phone was silenced and away. However my Dynacord system doesnt react as such in any situation and yes a few weeks ago the photographer was on his iphone right in front of my Powersub 315.

 

[nextgen1]

I just wanted to bump this thread since last year. I now make an announcement about 15 minutes prior to the ceremony starting to turn off all Iphones and all cell phones. Letting them also know that it can and will interfere with our wireless system and speakers. This way they are not only warned to turn them off but also they know the possible problem it could cause, knowledge is power. And if nothing else then airplane mode might be an option for some. But I don't mention that I would rather they just turned them off.

 

[rickryan.com]

Just out of curiosity, what type connection did the OP use to connect mixer to powered speaker? Was the mixer and amp on the same circuit? Shielded cables? FWIW, on ceremonies, I use a very simple setup of a single speaker, located close to me and always use balanced cable to it. Never had this kind of problem, knock on wood. Thanks for sharing. This is an important topic.

 

[DJ Wes]

Rick is dead-on. You really should be using a balanced signal chain (sheilded cables). But also keep in mind that First Responder, Doctors, Engineers, etc work in an on-call environment. Sometimes they CAN'T turn their phones off for fear of getting fired from their jobs.

 

[nextgen1]

Just out of curiosity, what type connection did the OP use to connect mixer to powered speaker? Was the mixer and amp on the same circuit? Shielded cables? FWIW, on ceremonies, I use a very simple setup of a single speaker, located close to me and always use balanced cable to it. Never had this kind of problem, knock on wood. Thanks for sharing. This is an important topic.

Balanced cables yes, Mixer and speaker on the same circuit. Not much I could do there but all where going through a surge protector. I do use a fairly simple setup and had worked this ceremony area a few times. This is the first and only time I have ever had this problem. I never even knew it could happen until it did.

The whole setup was right next to me. The photographer on the other hand was leaning right over my speaker when this happened. The speakers where not the most expensive setup. But now when I'm doing my ceremonies I use one of my Bose L-1's with 1 B-1 so there is a very good chance that the quality of my speaker now might shield me from this happening again.

Wes I do understand some folks can't turn off there phone. Hell I know most people might not even listen to me on this. I just want to do and say everything I can to keep it from ever happening again. Again I only bumped this thread because I felt that It could only help and not hurt anyone to have the knowledge. The good thing is the photographer is one of my favorites and we have gotten each other a few jobs.

If you look on the right you will see a picture that his partner took. When we had the problem he actually came in behind the speaker and in back of one of the groomsmen standing right next to the speaker. By the way this couple was so much fun and had a blast. One photo is the start of a conga line and the other was just a fun swing dance they where huge fans of swing dancing. God I love this business. )

 

[rickryan.com]

Balanced cables yes, Mixer and speaker on the same circuit. Not much I could do there but all where going through a surge protector. I do use a fairly simple setup and had worked this ceremony area a few times. This is the first and only time I have ever had this problem. I never even knew it could happen until it did.

The whole setup was right next to me. The photographer on the other hand was leaning right over my speaker when this happened. The speakers where not the most expensive setup. But now when I'm doing my ceremonies I use one of my Bose L-1's with 1 B-1 so there is a very good chance that the quality of my speaker now might shield me from this happening again.

Wes I do understand some folks can't turn off there phone. Hell I know most people might not even listen to me on this. I just want to do and say everything I can to keep it from ever happening again. Again I only bumped this thread because I felt that It could only help and not hurt anyone to have the knowledge. The good thing is the photographer is one of my favorites and we have gotten each other a few jobs.

If you look on the right you will see a picture that his partner took. When we had the problem he actually came in behind the speaker and in back of one of the groomsmen standing right next to the speaker. By the way this couple was so much fun and had a blast. One photo is the start of a conga line and the other was just a fun swing dance they where huge fans of swing dancing. God I love this business. )

Those are some great-looking shots. What kind of camera do you use?

As for the noise, sounds like you did all you can do. I'd be curious if you ever have the same thing with the L1. That's the setup I use, typically. Sometimes, I do use (don't laugh) a Mackie SRM150 powered monitor with a Peavey 10" cab paralleled off the power amp. It actually works really well for ceremonies.

 

[jokerswild]

But now when I'm doing my ceremonies I use one of my Bose L-1's with 1 B-1 so there is a very good chance that the quality of my speaker now might shield me from this happening again.

I used my L1 and B1 at the last ceremony and used a Netbook into a UAC-222 sound card with shielded cable run straight into my L1... everything was fine unless music was playing.... when music was playing every now and then I would get this static like interference and it seemed to be coming right from the computer as it also effected the level readouts in VDJ.... as if it was some how internal to the computer... and I did not have the computer pluged in... it was running off battery.

I've always assumed it was from cellphones but... I just don't know. This was only the second time I've experienced this kind of interference and each time it occured my computer was not plugged into my Furman or not plugged in at all.

 

[nextgen1]

Those are some great-looking shots. What kind of camera do you use?

As for the noise, sounds like you did all you can do. I'd be curious if you ever have the same thing with the L1. That's the setup I use, typically. Sometimes, I do use (don't laugh) a Mackie SRM150 powered monitor with a Peavey 10" cab paralleled off the power amp. It actually works really well for ceremonies.

LOL no these are the photographers shots. We work together often so he sent me pretty much all there photos. I love working with some of our local vendors. I'm a total team player. If they need a shot all they have to do is let me know and I'm making it happen. Here is one that one of our photographers sent me. I think you will love it. I'm really lucky I work with some serious pros and they like me and recommend us to there brides I thank God for that. All I can say is that I'm honored.

The venue was awesome and very popular around this area and my first time there. The photographer liked us enough that day so that the very next wedding he booked there he gave the couple our card and they pretty much hired us just because of his rep lol you have to love it. They did end up meeting us and it turned out we had done there cousins wedding and aunt and uncles 25th anniversary party, small world.

 

[nextgen1]

I used my L1 and B1 at the last ceremony and used a Netbook into a UAC-222 sound card with shielded cable run straight into my L1... everything was fine unless music was playing.... when music was playing every now and then I would get this static like interference and it seemed to be coming right from the computer as it also effected the level readouts in VDJ.... as if it was some how internal to the computer... and I did not have the computer pluged in... it was running off battery.

I've always assumed it was from cellphones but... I just don't know. This was only the second time I've experienced this kind of interference and each time it occured my computer was not plugged into my Furman or not plugged in at all.

Could it be a ground loop. Maybe a HumX is what you need. Both of my systems use one and it helps stuff like that it might also be the mixer or it could have just been a crappy power supply. Also was wireless on the computer turned off it could have been picking up something.

 

[jokerswild]

Could it be a ground loop. Maybe a HumX is what you need. Both of my systems use one and it helps stuff like that it might also be the mixer or it could have just been a crappy power supply. Also was wireless on the computer turned off it could have been picking up something.

It could be any number of those things.... at the last wedding I did not use a mixer... I went straight from the Netbook to a DI box and into the L1 I used the little umbelical (sp?) for the L1 to control levels from... the laptop was on battery and not even plugged in.... near as I can figure I was picking something up internally in the computer that was translated through the audio card... as the source seemed to be the laptop... like I said you could see the interference affecting the level indicators within VDJ...

As for a WiFi card being the issue well it's never effected my gig laptop in this fashion... and the only other time I've seen this happen was when using an older computer I had that wasn't plugged into my Furman at the time... But, there did seem to be some direct coorolation to cell phones and this interference each time....

I think I will get a HumX for future use... probably one with multiple outlets on it...

 

[TwinSpinDJ]

Listening and learning. I use an external sound card (Gigaport AG). USB end to computer. Connect RCA jacks from Mixer (Channel 2) to Gigaport. I had a really bad distorted sound coming from my speakers. Unplugged the Gigaport line and no buzz, but also no sound (duhh!) Anyway, it was suggested that I get a Audio System Ground Loop Isolator and connect it between the gigaport and Channel 2 line (RCA Jacks). Sure enough the buzzing stopped, distortion was nonexistent and I was a happy camper. Got the GLI from Radio Shack for around $18.

But, I've still got another problem that I have yet to eliminate. I get way too much hum from my speakers when I have my wireless mic transmitter connected to the mixer I use for weddings. I use powered speakers.
When I increase the Mic Gain on the Mixer I get in addition to the voice of the person speaking considerable background noise (static/humm). The background noise increases as you try to adjust for the persons low voice because they don't hold the Mic close enough to the mouth or don't speak loud enough. Anyway, the noise is still there when no one is talking on the mic. When I turn the Mic volume knob to Zero, the noise goes away. Music is then crystal clear.

Any ideas? Anyone? It's a sure dual channel A/B, mic & lapel mic.

I don't want to derail this thread, so if it should be move to another, please do so, Mr. Moderator.