Acoustic Feedback
Acoustic Feedback
Allen Craft, Gabe Nahshon and Luke Sheridan assembled a vocal mic and wedge system on the carpeted stage for testing acoustic feedback reduction properties of EQs. They used a pair of Tim O'Connor and Allen Craft's Harbingers and also a pair of Luke's Nexo wedges all sourced with a Shure Beta58 vocal mic split to several faders of an A&H GL-1. One fader would bring up one EQ. The mixer fed a Crown MA1200 bridged. Both wedges of a pair were tried and then just one. Radley's Crown CM-310A differoid vocal mic was auditioned as well. Each EQ was tweaked for maximum GBF then compared with the previous ones. Our brave crew tested seven of the 32 EQs, achieving the greatest gain with the Audient ASP231 and Rane DEQ 60L models. Every one of those seven sounded smooth except for the Behringer GEQ 3102 which Luke thought was 'choppy' and Allen reported as 'dark and small.' For some reason, the XTA required 8dB of makeup gain to get the Nexos going.
Here's what the buzz was about:
Klark Teknik DN360 - sounds good
Audient ASP231 - very smooth; very clean
Rane DEQ 60L - very good++; required less cutting for same SPL; Allen's favorite
Behringer GEQ3102 - OK, surprisingly usable; sounds choppy but no harsh clipping sound
dbx iEQ31 - feedback suppressor interface sucks, couldn't get it to work; EQ works OK, nothing special
XTA GQ600 - sounds OK; required 8dB of makeup gain for Nexos
Ashly GQX3102 - sweet; effective controls, EZ to use
Luke Sheridan on the steps; Allen Craft and Gabe Nahshon setting mics. Photo by Ervin Grinberg.
Gabe at Monitor World. Photo by R.A Craft, Jr.
Nexo and Harbinger wedges. Photo by R.A Craft, Jr.
Luke's Nexo Stuff. Photo by R.A Craft, Jr.
Gabe with Don and Alan. Photo by R.A Craft, Jr.
Bink staying safe on the wrong side of the wedges. Photo by R.A Craft, Jr.
Allen's favorite EQ, the Rane DEQ 60L. Photo by R.A Craft, Jr.