Musician Gear & Tech Discussion

I'm looking at possibly putting together a P.A. Seems like every time I lose a band member and have to replace them, it's the person with the P.A. So I'd rather just build one myself.

I'm looking at Mackie boards, but beyond that I have no idea what would really be cost effective and sound great. I don't really want to spend more than 1K on the whole thing.

Taking all suggestions into consideration.

Look at the Carvin package deals.
I love my RX1200.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/group.php?cid=102

How many channels are you looking to run at a given time? Are you wanting to mike drums and the entire back line? or are you just wanting to mike vocals and run the backline like you would at rehearsal. The first example I listed can be complicated and expensive but is the best IMHO, and is something that can be done systematically a little at a time. The 2cd option I listed is still expensive but very limiting especially in the long run. Be very careful and don't just take anyone persons advise as the only way. Do your research and take your time don't ever buy p.a. gear in the spur of the moment. Mix and matched p.a. gear that isn't compatable can cost twice as much and just frustrate you.

J haley, you just said a mouthful and I won't even quantify that..

He's right, though.

How many channels are you looking to run at a given time? Are you wanting to mike drums and the entire back line? or are you just wanting to mike vocals and run the backline like you would at rehearsal. The first example I listed can be complicated and expensive but is the best IMHO, and is something that can be done systematically a little at a time. The 2cd option I listed is still expensive but very limiting especially in the long run. Be very careful and don't just take anyone persons advise as the only way. Do your research and take your time don't ever buy p.a. gear in the spur of the moment. Mix and matched p.a. gear that isn't compatable can cost twice as much and just frustrate you.

I want to mike everything. I figure a 12-channel mixer will get the job done. Five for drums, one for guitar, one for bass, one for lead vocals. That leaves us with four open channels if we want to add additional vocals or instruments. And that is about as big as I can ever anticipate this band getting.

I want to mike everything because I've got in-ear monitors. And I know my vocalist wants to save up the money for a pair someday as well.

I've been looking at Crown power amps and Mackie boards. But I'm lost on what to do for mains/monitors.

guess again.

WE have a 12 channel board and it's not enough.

16 seems to be a better idea.

YEP ! You will eat up 12 in no time.
16 minimum !!

Thats my take on it.

If you buy a 12 channel mixer you will regret it. I just sold one at a pretty good loss for me and a good deal for the guy who bought it. That Carvin gear seems to be very good stuff for the money. I checked out their power amps and for the price they can't be beat. My advise to you and this is from first hand experience spend the extra money in the begining. Make sure every outboard piece of gear you buy is balanced including the mixer the best preamps in a mixer for the money I have seen are in the Allen & Heath mixers. Don't buy a powered mixer you will regret that also. For some reason those British really got it right with the pre-amps (Allen & Heath) they are in my opinion better than Mackie or Yamaha. If you can swing it get the Yamaha Digital mixer the 16 channel costs about $1995.00 but it has pretty good pre-amps and has all the processors for every channel you will ever need, it is a computer. I believe it is called the Yamaha VU96. If you had that mixer $2000.00 a DBX Driverack front of house management system $599.00 with the RTA mic, it is also a computer. and Yorkville or Mackie active powered mains that is all you would ever need and the beautiful thing about that digital mixer is it is expandable to 36 channels all you need to do is get firewire 8 channel stips and exspand it if you ever wanted to.

Think about it $2600.00 for your p.a. and probably about the same for some powered mains thats about $5700.00 total for the ultimate p.a. I have about 3 times that much tied up in my p.a. and it is way more complicated. The only thing my P.A. has over this system is the pre-amps are a little better. THATS IT, and the system I mentioned above is where live sound is at these days, if you understand computers thats where it's at, all the large systems now adays are moving to digital technology it is more functional and simply, its just a better system. If I had it to do over again I swear thats what I would do. The only piece of outboard gear you need with that kind of mixer is a DBX Driverack and they make one specifically for powered active speaker systems and if I am not mistaken I believe it is a little cheaper. Please check into these kinds of gear if you are serious about wanting the ultimate p.a. for the best price. The only thing about the powered speakers is in my opinion they are under powered. The mistake I see bands make all the time is they buy the JBL SRX speakers (JBL's flagship portable speakers) and then skimp on the power amps then they crank them up and they distort and sound like sh!t because they don't have enough power. those SRX systems you know the kind I am talking about the double 18' subs with the double 15' tops with horns those speakers powered properly need no less than 20,000 watts, and to boot they are to big for smaller clubs you Are better off getting 4 seperate single 18" subs and 4 single 15" tops with horns that way you can buy them 2 tops then 2 subs then 2 more subs and then 2 more tops if you want to. If you do it in that order you will have the most useful p.a. and you can run your system in true stereo and have sound coverage of up to 180 degrees across the front of the stage.

The thing to keep in mind about p.a. systems is to filter out the lower freq. from your tops and let them do that job then filter out the highs from your subs and let the subs handle that job when you ask 1 speaker on each side of the stage to do both those jobs you are asking them to do too much and all you will get is distorted muddy sounding crap. These days the technology for live sound has really progressed and some of the higher end powered speakers even have the processors in them and theoretically all you need is a digital mixer and powered mains. You don't even need the Driverack! How much more simple can that get EUREKA!

Good post and good info J.

Eh, we got ours for 150$ and I was relieved..

Eh, we got ours for 150$

Got what for $150

and I was relieved..

By who? Ph Nr pls, we want proof

Last sat night I saw this band play and they had a very old pa setup and 2 monitors. It was at a club that catered to a little older audience, but I was amazed me and my lady friends could sit at a table and have a conversation and we were right up front, but yet it was loud enough to dance too. Which we did for a while.

Ive always done overkill in equipment. The lead guitarist was using an old Marshall 50 watter with a 2x12 cab. He had a pillow in front of one speaker. They didnt mic anythin other than the kick and snare and sounded as good as any band Ive heard in a while.

Maybe it doesnt take as much as you think.

Just food for thought.

Yamaha EMX-300..slapped a cheesy Peavey Power amp on it with a power conditioner and voila..

I guess you don't read considering I even advertised here to see if I could get one from bandmix.

CL to the rescue.