Peavey Ferret D - Feedback Filter, any opinions?

[quickspider15]

I'm looking to purchase a Peavey feedback filter, Ferret D. I am currently setting up my groups PA system and getting a lot of problems with the monitor we have and feedback. Does anybody recommend this or something similar?

 

[maestro_dmc]

As a full time pro audio guy I've installed quite a few feedback eliminators over the years, and I honestly don't like them.

Where I've found them necessary is in situations where there is no sound man, and there are lots of very sensitive mics involved, (lavaliers, PZM's, condenser choir mics)

Where they shouldn't be needed is in a band PA.

More than likely you can (and most definatley should) instead try and root out the cause of your feedback. You can probably eliminate most of your feedback by making sure your speakers and mics are arranged correctly, and no highly reflective surfaces are causing sound to bounce straight back into your mics.

A lot can be said for getting the source as close to the mic as possible as well. If your singers are standing a foot back from the mic, then you will have to increase the gain, and therefore increase the risk of feedback. And the way the mic is held can also affect the pick-up of the mic. If a singer tends to cup the mic they can change the pick-up charachteristics of the mic, and make it more prone to feedback.

The last thing to do after these things are in order is to use EQ cuts to notch out problem frequencies.

Feedback eliminators do nothing to address the cause of feedback, that's why I don't like 'em.

 

[Bobbsy]

What maestro_dmc said ^^^

I'll go a bit farther and say that, left in automatic, a feedback eliminator can really mess up your sound. That nice long note in the guitar solo is indistinguishable to feedback as far as the feedback killer is concerned...and can rapidly be filtered out! If you decide to make the purchase anyway, make sure you ring out your system manually then lock it down--don't leave it in auto.

Having said what's wrong with them, the one thing a feedback eliminator can do well is notch out frequencies very precisely--more so than a graphic EQ. I've not tried the Peavey you mention so don't know how accurate the filters are...but the good ones have a much narrower bandwidth per filter than a 31 band graphic.

Bob

 

[moresound]

Cupping a ...say 58 tends to make it an omni microphone.

I'm in the same boat here with Maestro DMC.
One thing you should be looking for if you don't all ready have one is A DEDICATED SOUND GUY FOR THE BAND!
One that knows whats going on for he will help in many, many ways and is in affect the hidden member of any band!

Besides isn't owning a Peavey Ferret D - Feedback Filter a capital offense?

 

[maestro_dmc]

I'll go a bit farther and say that, left in automatic, a feedback eliminator can really mess up your sound. That nice long note in the guitar solo is indistinguishable to feedback as far as the feedback killer is concerned...and can rapidly be filtered out!
Bob

The OTHER reason I don't like 'em!

And really, how is it going to "ferret out" feedback if you don't leave it in auto, which is what most folks do . . . ?

 

[Bobbsy]

I've seen things like the Sabine or the Behringer used to "ring out" the system in more or less the conventional way until 4-6 problem frequencies are found and filtered, then back off levels slightly and "lock" the feedback eliminator.

I'm not a fan...but at least that's better than leaving it in auto for a whole set.

 

[bruiser1964]

I agree with what's been said already, I've tried a few and they are usually low end devices peavey behringer etc.
If you can, get a good space and set up your PA, practice mic and speaker placements, and if you REALLY have to get a good quality EQ and ring out the freq's. With 1 mic in position gently turn up the volume - when it squeels find the offending freq and turn it down a notch + repeat the process. Some guys do this before each gig (tuning the room) but it's a PITA you can identify alot of problems this way.
You can only do this to a point - cheap mics + bad technique + nasty speakers = bad sound.
Never make a smily - smily = bad
Always cut EQ don't add
I always practice with setups especially if I'm running new gear...

 

[quickspider15]

As a full time pro audio guy I've installed quite a few feedback eliminators over the years, and I honestly don't like them.

Where I've found them necessary is in situations where there is no sound man, and there are lots of very sensitive mics involved, (lavaliers, PZM's, condenser choir mics)

Well actually that is the main reason I'm thinking of getting one. We are a choir/mandolins/guitar group. We have 25 members and we use condenser choir mics. We are church group and this is our first step out into setting up our own equipment. I'm the sound guy and instrument player so I can't keep re-touching the system as we perform.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

I don't know about the Ferret, but you can use Feedback Destroyers as manual parametric eqs that are way more precise than any 1/3 octave eq. That's how I use mine, and I have the option of leaving one or two filters on automatic should I need them.

 

[moresound]

Well actually that is the main reason I'm thinking of getting one. We are a choir/mandolins/guitar group. We have 25 members and we use condenser choir mics. We are church group and this is our first step out into setting up our own equipment. I'm the sound guy and instrument player so I can't keep re-touching the system as we perform.

Where are you from QS15? We just had such a group come through here!

 

[maestro_dmc]

Well actually that is the main reason I'm thinking of getting one. We are a choir/mandolins/guitar group. We have 25 members and we use condenser choir mics. We are church group and this is our first step out into setting up our own equipment. I'm the sound guy and instrument player so I can't keep re-touching the system as we perform.

It sounds like you know what you need and you're on the right track. Consider following bouldersoundguys advice about the way you set it up. Finding the problem frequencies in every different venue is crucial to not having the device mess up your sound, and limiting the number of automatic filters it uses will help too.

Also, hopefully you are not using any omnidirectional mics? These can be troublesome in live situations because they don't have a null you can exploit in your mic placement.

 

[quickspider15]

It sounds like you know what you need and you're on the right track. Consider following bouldersoundguys advice about the way you set it up. Finding the problem frequencies in every different venue is crucial to not having the device mess up your sound, and limiting the number of automatic filters it uses will help too.

Also, hopefully you are not using any omnidirectional mics? These can be troublesome in live situations because they don't have a null you can exploit in your mic placement.

The choir condenser mics I use are unidirectional. I would never use omni mics for a live performance. Thank you everyone for the advice. I well investigate into picking up the Feedback Destroyers and report back.