PA Set-up

[SpectorNS2]

Just looking for some advice or direction. As well as Bass player for my band, somehow PA set-up has been dropped in my lap. Anyone have any advice as to setting up in a school gymnasium type environment...where the echoes go on for ever! I have a 1200W system with 2 different types of enclosures (cab 1: mids and highs, and cab 2: sub). The board we have has limited EQ capabilities 16 band/side. Last time I tried to set up in a simillar environment, feedback was a major issue. We are a 5 piece rock band with 3 guitars, bass and drums.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks lads!

MH

[toobalicious]

you mean physical set up, or electrical set up? do you have a crossover? 1 amp or more? monitors? etc?

best advice is to start with the eq flat. since you dont have 1/3rd octave eq, any cutting (or boosting) is going to affect the sound in a noticeable way, so i would recommend using minimal eq to kill feedback only as is necessary. otherwise, you end up with big holes or humps in your systems response, which, as you may imagine, can make it sound like caca.

[jtc_hunter]

1. keep monitors well out in front of mics
2. Keep mains well out in front of everything, mons. mics, etc.
3. Better to "underplay" a large room than to try and 'overplay" when it comes to volume.
4. go for quality, not quantity.

[SteveC]

More details - brands size, etc. would help. Do you have monitors? We need more info.

[Jim Carr]

I am assuming that you, like me, are only miking vocals. Keeping over-all level down is a good idea. Drummers often have trouble doing this in a large space, so you may need to remind your drummer several times right at first.

A typical US High School gym is often at least 60 W x 100 L x 40 H (feet) with concrete block walls and pilasters, steel rafters and ceiling, and shiny hardwood floors. In short, a giant echo chamber.

Crowd size and noise, as well as overall size and reflectivity of the space are going to determine exactly how much reverberation you are dealing with. Needless to say, using reverb effects is pointless. Players will want to crank everything. Don't let them.

Note, I am not worrying about reaching higher volumes or fighting feedback as much as I am trying to help the band hear itself in a sea of reflections.

I have observed that keeping players, amps, and PA speakers closer together than usual helps. I believe this is because it puts each player in about the same reflection environment. We are using stage volume as both monitors for instruments and FOH.

Certainly going the Arena route and having low stage volume and everything through a main FOH system is a good approach, though I haven't the gear to do this well.

I may experiment with sending the stage mics to the gym's installed system at the next event. However, we generally work with just 2 mains and 2 monitors.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by SpectorNS2

I have a 1200W system with 2 different types of enclosures (cab 1: mids and highs, and cab 2: sub).

Do you mean you HAVE 2 cabs? or is it 4 cabs, 2 cabs per side. How many monitors do you have?
Are you going to mic only vocals? What's your lineup on stage? 2 guits, drums, bass, guit?

I suggest that you get a long cord or wireless so you can go FOH during sound check to get everyone's level set.
Do you have anyone that can run the PA while you're playing? IME, it's helpful to have your bass amp set to play as cleanly and clearly as possible. Most of the lows will be sucked up by the echo.

Usually the overall level will be set by the drummer's volume.