Donny, (et al)
I'll try to photograph the "UD-XX" (Uncle Dave's Double X ?) stand for you and maybe you can post it? I never did get the knack of how to do that. Two of my girls are home sick today, so I have some free time on my hands ...... I'll see if I can dig up a snapshot for ya'll!
Basically, I started with an USS IQ2000 stand, but others will fit. "On Stage" and "Quick-Lok" also make stands with similar sized tubing. (28 or 30 mm tubes)
Quick-Lok makes add on sleeves that slide over the end of the tubes and have arms bolted to them. They make mic booms as well as extra kb tiers.
I have a mic boom arm attached to each back end cap, and I modified one of the arms to accommodate a custom fitted tier to hold my laptop. It sits about 2 inches above the kb on my left, and it looks sleek and unobtrusive. This allows me to look at the screen to call up midi files, MP3, etc without turning my head away from the audience. It also provides plenty of light and has a handy clock right on the screen!
(No more fumbling to see a watch, or straining to see in the dark)
From the front two arms ..... I straddle the handle from my rack bag that houses: Harmonizer, mixer, Kosmos and ALL wires and a/c extension cord. I unzip the bag, and all the wires are premeasured and waiting to be plugged in. This puts all controls at my fingertips .... right below the keys. No turning of the head to adjust volumes or tone. No extra gig bag is needed. Everything I need is right there. This means ..... one less thing to have to store during a performance. I store the speaker covers in the kb bag, and that's the only thing that has to be "hidden" during a show. If there is no closet handy, then I can slip it under a table or behind a couch and keep it out of sight.
My basic setup has vocals and pc routed through the mixer and INTO the kb speaker inputs for monitoring. Then I run the outputs of the kb into the KOSMOS and on to the speakers. This serves as a mixer/enhancer and works like a charm.
So ..... a full setup for a moderate to large affair consists of :
1)kb bag
1)rack bag
1)DB-XX stand
2)EV speakers (in bags)
1)laptop
(Smaller affairs ..... less speakers. The sound is always the same ... just louder or quieter as needed) The speakers and laptop are optional. Usually only for larger jobs, where I need music on breaks or more power for dancing. I work 2 rooms each week that have house systems, so bringing the EV's is not necessary
.........I sometimes choose to put the speakers up on sticks, but because of the angle brackets that come with the speakers (sxa100) .... I get great coverage with a cleaner look if I keep the speakers on the floor. They angle UP so volume is dispersed without firing directly at anyone's ears. I rarely get complaints about volume ..... if I do - it's usually ... "turn it up !" (I do that on purpose)
I realize this is boring stuff without pictures, but I can't get to the gear at this time, and I AM sitting at the 'puter so ......... I thought I'd try to describe the system for ya.
I'll work on a shot as soon as I can, but maybe Donny will get his new camera first !