Everse EV8 volume controls

[zeeway]

I still struggle to come up with rational settings for the variety of venues I play. So I decided to dive into the EV8 controls, to see how they worked.

First off, the main control, the mixer control, and each of the channels goes down to -80DB. Since human hearing is widely considered to start at 0 DB, why do these controls go down to -80DB? I know there is DB A and B and C…but I think they all agree on the lowest levels of human hearing perception. I am guessing that these controls were designed by geeks (like me) who did not consider the confusion that would cause their ordinary customers.

Secondly, the difference between main level sound and mixer sound is also beyond me. I can believe that you should set each channel like ‘gain’ on a mixer…turn it up to just below clip level. Then you can turn up main level sound to get the desired vol. So tell me why I need a main mixer volume?

My notion is that the Everse EV8 controls could have been greatly simplified…making the sound easier to understand and set. Oh well, maybe that will come in the EV9.

[jricc]

I so agree with you Angie. I've been using the Everse 8 for a couple of months now and I'm still confused . I set the channel gain levels to just below clipping, the main level to 0db and use the speaker level to adjust for different size rooms.

The crazy thing for me is the vocal channel requires me to set it at 15 db to get close to clipping, and when I turn it off to take a break, it resets to 0db. So when I turn it on again, I have to reset it to 15 db.

I asked EV about this and they said it's a glitch in the software, anytime a level is over 10db, it resets to 0. Can't believe they haven't done a firmware update to fix it.

At least it's a good sounding speaker...

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by zeeway

I still struggle to come up with rational settings for the variety of venues I play. So I decided to dive into the EV8 controls, to see how they worked....

The db settings you see in the Quicksmart app aren't the same as the decibel scale you're used to seeing regarding human hearing. I'm only dimly familar with the scientific details of decibels (a common reference is "it expresses the ratio of two values of a power or root-power quantity on a logarithmic scale") so I just go with the flow. The "0" setting in the mixer context is just a baseline, common starting point, from which you can go louder or softer, depending on the source. Looking at my solo singer/guitar settings, I have the "speaker" levels all at 0db, and vocal at 2db, guitar at 20db. My Main level is currently at -15db. These are home rehearsal settings, through headphones, so don't take that as too much of a guide.

Secondly, the difference between main level sound and mixer sound is also beyond me. I can believe that you should set each channel like ‘gain’ on a mixer…turn it up to just below clip level. Then you can turn up main level sound to get the desired vol. So tell me why I need a main mixer volume?


Re each channel, yes, use them as gains, set the level until you clip and then ease back a touch. Then use "Main" as your main PA volume control.

I think I know what you mean by "the difference between main level sound and mixer sound. I think you're talking about "Speaker" when you say "mixer sound" (check upper left of that panel).

There are four chief places where levels (volume, gain, what have you) can be set: Speaker, Main, Aux, and the individual channels. The Speaker/Main distinction is the one many new users trip over; Speaker is where you can alter levels for the sub plus bass/mid/treble, but also an overall Level setting. I just leave that level alone. But at lower right you should see Mode, and most gigging musicians would choose Live.

I use the volume ("level") setting on the Main section. The scale there is much easier to fine-tune.

It's a great app that makes sense once you get to know it, but poorly documented.

[jricc]

Originally Posted by Chriscom

The db settings you see in the Quicksmart app aren't the same as the decibel scale you're used to seeing regarding human hearing. I'm only dimly familar with the scientific details of decibels (a common reference is "it expresses the ratio of two values of a power or root-power quantity on a logarithmic scale") so I just go with the flow. The "0" setting in the mixer context is just a baseline, common starting point, from which you can go louder or softer, depending on the source. Looking at my solo singer/guitar settings, I have the "speaker" levels all at 0db, and vocal at 2db, guitar at 20db. My Main level is currently at -15db. These are home rehearsal settings, through headphones, so don't take that as too much of a guide.

Secondly, the difference between main level sound and mixer sound is also beyond me. I can believe that you should set each channel like ‘gain’ on a mixer…turn it up to just below clip level. Then you can turn up main level sound to get the desired vol. So tell me why I need a main mixer volume?


Re each channel, yes, use them as gains, set the level until you clip and then ease back a touch. Then use "Main" as your main PA volume control.

I think I know what you mean by "the difference between main level sound and mixer sound. I think you're talking about "Speaker" when you say "mixer sound" (check upper left of that panel).

There are four chief places where levels (volume, gain, what have you) can be set: Speaker, Main, Aux, and the individual channels. The Speaker/Main distinction is the one many new users trip over; Speaker is where you can alter levels for the sub plus bass/mid/treble, but also an overall Level setting. I just leave that level alone. But at lower right you should see Mode, and most gigging musicians would choose Live.

I use the volume ("level") setting on the Main section. The scale there is much easier to fine-tune.

It's a great app that makes sense once you get to know it, but poorly documented.

the
Just curious Chris, would you share your levels? For channel 1 and 2, and main level, you said said you leave Speaker level alone. Would much appreciate it.

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by jricc

the
Just curious Chris, would you share your levels? For channel 1 and 2, and main level, you said said you leave Speaker level alone. Would much appreciate it.

Happy to share but again, these are quick-and-dirty settings to rehearse at home with headphones, and an important footnote in a moment:

I have the "speaker" levels all at 0db, meaning sub, bass, mid, treble, and the "Volume" setting itself, in that section. For Mode (lower right) I have it set "Live."

Main is at -15

Channel 1 vocal level is set right now at 2, with compression at 17 (may add more) and reverb at -22. EQ treble/mid/bass is -1 / 1 / -1 but I fiddle with that all the time. Preset at lower right is "vocal mic" Footnote: I now use a Fethead preamp to boos the mic gain. It's like a CL-1 Cloudlifter but more compact, stuck in the end of the mic. Without the Fethead or something similar, the mic level would be much higher.

Channel 2 is for my guitar, but throw some of this out the window because I usually run my guitar through a Tonedexter and an LR Baggs Align Chorus, both of which have their own volume adjustments. With that in mind, that Channel level is at 20, compresssion 33, treble -3 mid 2 bass -2 reverb -21. Those settings are without those pedals. I have the Preset at lower right set to Low Cut 120Hz right now, I sometimes use just 80hz. This is a great option to tame muddiness on my guitar without having to use jangly high treble.

These may or may not be related to what I've been doing gigging, I haven't been saving scenes and havent' gigged for a month or so. The Main volume for example would likely be higher at a gig. I'm in an apartment, so when I practice properly I'm running the Aux out into headphones (Aux out is at -13 by the way) so I can practice with effects and mic technique etc.

Fire away if you have any other questions or if something isn't above isn't clear. I have all the Speaker levels set at 0 to keep life simple, there are plenty of other places to tweak EQ and as mainly a solo guy I don't see any need to bother. I do get compliments on my sound btw!

[jricc]

Originally Posted by Chriscom

Happy to share but again, these are quick-and-dirty settings to rehearse at home with headphones, and an important footnote in a moment:

I have the "speaker" levels all at 0db, meaning sub, bass, mid, treble, and the "Volume" setting itself, in that section. For Mode (lower right) I have it set "Live."

Main is at -15

Channel 1 vocal level is set right now at 2, with compression at 17 (may add more) and reverb at -22. EQ treble/mid/bass is -1 / 1 / -1 but I fiddle with that all the time. Preset at lower right is "vocal mic" Footnote: I now use a Fethead preamp to boos the mic gain. It's like a CL-1 Cloudlifter but more compact, stuck in the end of the mic. Without the Fethead or something similar, the mic level would be much higher.

Channel 2 is for my guitar, but throw some of this out the window because I usually run my guitar through a Tonedexter and an LR Baggs Align Chorus, both of which have their own volume adjustments. With that in mind, that Channel level is at 20, compresssion 33, treble -3 mid 2 bass -2 reverb -21. Those settings are without those pedals. I have the Preset at lower right set to Low Cut 120Hz right now, I sometimes use just 80hz. This is a great option to tame muddiness on my guitar without having to use jangly high treble.

These may or may not be related to what I've been doing gigging, I haven't been saving scenes and havent' gigged for a month or so. The Main volume for example would likely be higher at a gig. I'm in an apartment, so when I practice properly I'm running the Aux out into headphones (Aux out is at -13 by the way) so I can practice with effects and mic technique etc.

Fire away if you have any other questions or if something isn't above isn't clear. I have all the Speaker levels set at 0 to keep life simple, there are plenty of other places to tweak EQ and as mainly a solo guy I don't see any need to bother. I do get compliments on my sound btw!

Thank you Chris. Ok I'll work from the Main volume and leave speaker at 0. My main complaint is when I get the vocal channel where i want it volume wise at 15db, it resets it to 0 when I turn it off between sets. When I come back on, I have to reset it.
I wish EV would do something about this in a firmware update.

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by jricc

TMy main complaint is when I get the vocal channel where i want it volume wise at 15db, it resets it to 0 when I turn it off between sets. When I come back on, I have to reset it.
I wish EV would do something about this in a firmware update.

That's really weird. I wonder if that's the case if you store settings, what's called saving a scene in some other devices like Bose IIRC.

For those who may be interested, here are the 30m/50m and probably Everse 8 instructions in a video. I believe this can be done only via the "DSP" interface on the back of the unit, which is a chore and/or nightmare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9bBIPWOOZ8

[zeeway]

Originally Posted by Chriscom

Happy to share but again, these are quick-and-dirty settings to rehearse at home with headphones, and an important footnote in a moment:

I have the "speaker" levels all at 0db, meaning sub, bass, mid, treble, and the "Volume" setting itself, in that section. For Mode (lower right) I have it set "Live."

Main is at -15

Channel 1 vocal level is set right now at 2, with compression at 17 (may add more) and reverb at -22. EQ treble/mid/bass is -1 / 1 / -1 but I fiddle with that all the time. Preset at lower right is "vocal mic" Footnote: I now use a Fethead preamp to boos the mic gain. It's like a CL-1 Cloudlifter but more compact, stuck in the end of the mic. Without the Fethead or something similar, the mic level would be much higher.

Channel 2 is for my guitar, but throw some of this out the window because I usually run my guitar through a Tonedexter and an LR Baggs Align Chorus, both of which have their own volume adjustments. With that in mind, that Channel level is at 20, compresssion 33, treble -3 mid 2 bass -2 reverb -21. Those settings are without those pedals. I have the Preset at lower right set to Low Cut 120Hz right now, I sometimes use just 80hz. This is a great option to tame muddiness on my guitar without having to use jangly high treble.

These may or may not be related to what I've been doing gigging, I haven't been saving scenes and havent' gigged for a month or so. The Main volume for example would likely be higher at a gig. I'm in an apartment, so when I practice properly I'm running the Aux out into headphones (Aux out is at -13 by the way) so I can practice with effects and mic technique etc.

Fire away if you have any other questions or if something isn't above isn't clear. I have all the Speaker levels set at 0 to keep life simple, there are plenty of other places to tweak EQ and as mainly a solo guy I don't see any need to bother. I do get compliments on my sound btw!

Thanks, Chris. I will steal some of your settings.

I still hope some electronic genius will develop an add-on gizmo with a couple physical controls for each channel…I did see one review video where someone with an 30m used a fill blown mixer to get back the physical controls. Maybe that’s my answer.

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by zeeway

Thanks, Chris. I will steal some of your settings.

I still hope some electronic genius will develop an add-on gizmo with a couple physical controls for each channel…I did see one review video where someone with an 30m used a fill blown mixer to get back the physical controls. Maybe that’s my answer.

Some folks get along better with menus than others. I resisted it myself for a long time but the setup and teardown simplicity, and clean stage of the 30m's built-in, app-controlled mixer, won me over.

The 30m can sound just as magnificent with an external analog mixer. The thing is, a big part of the 30m's price is the built-in mixer, not to mention all the mixer inputs.

The first stick to come out in this family was the Evolve 50, which has just two XLR inputs + an RCA/miniplug for a third channel. That's designed to work with an external mixer. It costs $1899---compared to the $2300 of the 50m, with its app mixer and all that. Unfortunately for folks who love the sound and portability of the 30m but not the app, there's no "just a 30" equivalent.

Yamaha has an interesting analog + app approach across a bunch of their PAs. For example the Yamaha StagePas 1K mkII. (Which happens to be marked down at the moment)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...lumn-pa-system

[meb]

If using the Everse 8 with an external mixer, is there a 'global' way to
insure that there are no internal settings/paramaters on the EV8; so that you
are POSITIVE that the external mixer settings are the only ones being used?
That kinda means you are tuning the EV8 into a battery powered QSC CP8.

[ZackPomerleau]

There is, you have to change the mode from mixer to basic I believe. I can’t really recall how it’s done but that’s what you want!

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by meb

If using the Everse 8 with an external mixer, is there a 'global' way to
insure that there are no internal settings/paramaters on the EV8; so that you
are POSITIVE that the external mixer settings are the only ones being used?
That kinda means you are tuning the EV8 into a battery powered QSC CP8.

Yeah, Zack's on the right track. Specifically when you connect with it in the app, in the Speaker section, at lower right you will see four options for X-over, location, function and mode. Set function to Basic. (when it's set to Mixer there, welp that's the internal mixer).

This would be similar if not identical on the 30m/50m.

I expect you can also ccess this option via the back panel "DSP" physical interface on the Everse and the others, but I rarely spend time there.

[zeeway]

To ensure no internal settings are hanging around….when you first turn on the EV8, you press the master volume control and turn the knob clockwise, until you come to a RESET setting…press the master vol button down and all settings are zeroed (factory settings) as I understand it.

[meb]

Thanks to all. Zeeway's method seems pretty fool-proof to even me.
Who knows, I may re-visit the EV8 at some point.
Mike

[zeeway]

If you are determined to use a mixer, and remain on battery power only, you may be interested to know that my small Yamaha mixer (MG06X) can be powered by the 12v outlet on the Everse EV8 through a cable with 2.1mm barrel connectors on both ends that does not change polarity…such as the one sold with the optional cable tray. You can buy this cable separately at Amazon or several other places.

The second part on my experiment, I am not 100% sure of. I wanted to still be able to control each channel on the EV8 remotely, so I plugged the mic into the the input 1 (1/L) on the mixer, and then connected a cable from the left channel mixer output to the EV8 input 1. I did a parallel thing for the guitar - plugged it into channel input 2 on the mixer (2/R), and then right channel stereo out to EV8 input 2. At a gig two weeks ago, I was able to control the mic and guitar output separately (remotely) for volume and EQ. But I am not sure if there was any bleed through between the mixer channels. I will leave that to to the real audio tech’s to figure out.