What is your bands PA set-up like?

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by modulusman

Which is why people have been mentioning scalability. If you do it right you can use as much or little PA as needed. My band has the ability to play for crowds up to about a 1000. We own a total of 10 powered Tops and 8 powered subs.

I hear you. Well, in my band's case, we rarely play for more than a few hundred at a time and the rare time we do have a bigger gig, we hire a sound man. No sense in us having a ton of equipment just sitting around not being used. In addition, I've got no place to store it, no way to transport it all, nor do I have the desire to set it up and break it down. Our powered mixer and single power amp works perfect for us.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by walterw

but that's my point! the powered mixer you did buy is now basically wasted money because it won't do what you need.

if you bought the "next version up", that would become wasted money as soon as you discovered you needed three monitor mixes.

the concept is "scalability":
"buy once, cry once", yes, but even when you buy cheap, get stuff that will find a home in the system as it improves.

PA heads do none of these things, they just get left behind.

Id venture to say that PA heads can be sold, and that money can go towards the next upgrade.

Originally Posted by DWBass

Are we talking outfitting a PA for a band doing outdoor arenas or a simple 5 pc band performing in bars? Everyone has different needs.

Im talking about a 5 piece band playing bars and/or small to medium sized venues.
Your typical 5pc cover band, essentially. Seems like thats not quite so typical, however.

Originally Posted by nutdog

One of mine is still used for practice. Another was sold to fund another purchase. For exactly what I paid for it. Kind of like a non-powered mixer I bought. And sold.

I get what you're saying but it doesn't mean a powered mixer can't meet your current needs/budget and then suddenly turns into a boat anchor when it doesn't.

So you find you need more inputs or monitor mixes? You sell it and get another. Or use it for a smaller system. How is this different from a non-powered mixer?

+1

Im currently using an 8 channel powered mixer that I got for a steal. It works in the meantime, but isnt too great on gigs. When I get my new mixer, my current one will become rehearsal gear. If I need something more down the road the new powered mixer will be sold to fund the new purchase.

Originally Posted by modulusman

Which is why people have been mentioning scalability. If you do it right you can use as much or little PA as needed. My band has the ability to play for crowds up to about a 1000. We own a total of 10 powered Tops and 8 powered subs.

I understand your point, and dont disagree. However, surely you can understand that some of us have immediate needs vs ideal purchases, when such purchases can require more funds than one will have available.

[ckdhaven]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Thanks for your post. I dont have a set budget, right now. I dont plan on going out and getting everything right away, but more likely will be accumulating pieces going forward.

I currently have 2(215s), 2(115s, though one needs repair), 2(112 wedges). The next two purchases will be a 16 channel mixer and some power amps. Preferably, Id like to keep the costs low (as Ive not got much money [also why I'll be buying piece by piece]), but not so low that Im buying cheap gear.

If you are using passive speakers and need a rack of amps on a budget (or one) I have have had great luck with the QSC "GX" Series.. I have 2 GX5's and a GX3...

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Id venture to say that PA heads can be sold, and that money can go towards the next upgrade.



Im talking about a 5 piece band playing bars and/or small to medium sized venues.
Your typical 5pc cover band, essentially. Seems like thats not quite so typical, however.



+1

Im currently using an 8 channel powered mixer that I got for a steal. It works in the meantime, but isnt too great on gigs. When I get my new mixer, my current one will become rehearsal gear. If I need something more down the road the new powered mixer will be sold to fund the new purchase.



I understand your point, and dont disagree. However, surely you can understand that some of us have immediate needs vs ideal purchases, when such purchases can require more funds than one will have available.

So you buy a new powered mixer and a year from now when you need to upgrade you wind up selling it for 50% of what you paid for it. That is why in my initial post in this thread I reccommended selling what you have now and buying used powered speakers.

[treekiller]

Originally Posted by Big_Daws

don't buy a powered mixer...you won't have any flexibility in your system, and will only be a hinderance in expanding your system.

better solution is a regular mixer with powered speakers, you can always add without the worry of load impedances and scalability for larger or smaller gigs is sooo much easier.

This!

My former band used 2 powered JBL EON 15"s on top of a pair of 18" subs for FOH with a pair of wedges used for monitors and later we used another pair of wedges for sidefills. Probably overkill for small venues, but we had the typical guitard Marshall on 10 thing going which didn't help matters....

[nutdog]

Sell 2 beat up 215s, 2 115s (one needing repair) and 2 112s. Throw in what you'll spend on a used powered mixer and you could buy yourself a used k12. Hopefully you'll find one right after you dump your old stuff. Probably won't handle your gigs but you'll be poised for expansion.

Or buy a used powered mixer. You'll then have a gigable FOH with 3 monitors (and one that needs repair). Make some money, sell it and buy nicer stuff. Or keep gigging it and spend the money on hookers and cocaine.

This post contains information believed to be accurate and complete at the date of preparation. However, no guarantee is expressed or implied by nutdog or any subsidiary of nutdog. Advice given assumes compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by walterw

but that's my point! the powered mixer you did buy is now basically wasted money because it won't do what you need.

if you bought the "next version up", that would become wasted money as soon as you discovered you needed three monitor mixes.

I actually agree with most of what you say. I just want to mention that the reason I need inserts and more mixes is that we are too d**n loud.

I need the inserts for a compressor because I need the vocals louder than the small rooms can handle without feedback.

I want two mixes in the hope that turning down one of the mixes will lower the volume. I have thought of some form of passive volume control on the second monitor.

I really believe that powered mixers are the least hassle solution for small venues. If we could control our volume better (and sometimes we do), then the current mixer would be perfect.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by seanm

I actually agree with most of what you say. I just want to mention that the reason I need inserts and more mixes is that we are too d**n loud.

I need the inserts for a compressor because I need the vocals louder than the small rooms can handle without feedback.

I want two mixes in the hope that turning down one of the mixes will lower the volume. I have thought of some form of passive volume control on the second monitor.

I really believe that powered mixers are the least hassle solution for small venues. If we could control our volume better (and sometimes we do), then the current mixer would be perfect.

What you needed was a passive mixer and a real graphic EQ as in 31 bands instead of the joke 7 band that was included on your powered mixer.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by modulusman

What you needed was a passive mixer and a real graphic EQ as in 31 bands instead of the joke 7 band that was included on your powered mixer.

I am sure you are right. But, to be honest, I don't have the time to setup an EQ properly. I actually have a nice parametric EQ (Rane PE 15), I just don't bother setting it up.

The compressor is a no brainer solution.... and I need no brainer solutions Bring the peaks down and you can crank more volume before feedback... simple.

I am spending more time on the PA, and I would prefer to spend more time playing.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by seanm

I am sure you are right. But, to be honest, I don't have the time to setup an EQ properly. I actually have a nice parametric EQ (Rane PE 15), I just don't bother setting it up.

The compressor is a no brainer solution.... and I need no brainer solutions Bring the peaks down and you can crank more volume before feedback... simple.

I am spending more time on the PA, and I would prefer to spend more time playing.

Actually unless you know what you are doing with a compressor it can cause feedback. A 31 band EQ is alot more easy to operate correctly than a compressor. Here is some reading about compression. read the part about vocals http://mustech.net/2009/03/basic-aud...o-compression/

[JumboJack]

The one band that I am in that owns a PA plays mostly weddings with it.

It is a Carvin 24ch. . There are three amps.
One for the mains (2)2x15 3000w. One for the subs (2)18"ers 2000w and one for the monitors it's a four channel not sure the power.

It's more that enough for anything we have played. Outdoors mostly.
Normally just run vocals and kick.

Carvin is great stuff.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

The one band that I am in that owns a PA plays mostly weddings with it.

It is a Carvin 24ch. . There are three amps.
One for the mains (2)2x15 3000w. One for the subs (2)18"ers 2000w and one for the monitors it's a four channel not sure the power.

It's more that enough for anything we have played. Outdoors mostly.
Normally just run vocals and kick.

Carvin is great stuff.

2x15 inch cabinets suck for vocals.Why anyone would own them and just run vocals through them is beyond me. They do look awesome though.

[JumboJack]

Originally Posted by modulusman

2x15 inch cabinets suck for vocals.Why anyone would own them and just run vocals through them is beyond me. They do look awesome though.

Meh they are these and they sound great. Lots of headroom.
We have and do run the geetars through them on occasion.

[Rockin Mike]

Just switched to running stereo through the mains. It doesn't make a difference for the band but it sure makes the breaktape sound better!
Running 2 aux-fed monitor mixes and an aux-fed sub.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

Meh they are these and they sound great. Lots of headroom.
We have and do run the geetars through them on occasion.

Yeah at $300.00 you know they are pro. I wonder how long they will last running 1500 watts through them. The recommended amp power is 450 to 900 watts.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by modulusman

So you buy a new powered mixer and a year from now when you need to upgrade you wind up selling it for 50% of what you paid for it. That is why in my initial post in this thread I reccommended selling what you have now and buying used powered speakers.

Well, I'll need the mixer I have now for rehearsals, along with the speakers I currently have.
Your reccommendation did not go unnoticed, its just not the most practical solution for me at this time.
And, I can sell a year old powered mixer for more than 50%, I could easily move it for 80%

Originally Posted by nutdog

Or buy a used powered mixer. You'll then have a gigable FOH with 3 monitors (and one that needs repair). Make some money, sell it and buy nicer stuff. Or keep gigging it and spend the money on hookers and cocaine.

This post contains information believed to be accurate and complete at the date of preparation. However, no guarantee is expressed or implied by nutdog or any subsidiary of nutdog. Advice given assumes compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Im thinking this will be the direction I go. Gotta start building the hooker & cocaine budget.

Thanks again, guys.

[azureblue]

We used powered speakers- we have 8 1-15" mains and 4 1-12" monitors, and we take whatever we need to fill the venue - usually or or two pair of mains will do it. Small gigs we use the monitors for mains. We tend to go for more sound spread and use more cabs at lower volume. We have a rack mixer and Behringer DEQ2496.

[RS66LB]

Originally Posted by modulusman

Yeah at $300.00 you know they are pro. I wonder how long they will last running 1500 watts through them. The recommended amp power is 450 to 900 watts.

...there's that highly intelligent 'shaking head of disdain' again

[JumboJack]

Originally Posted by modulusman

Yeah at $300.00 you know they are pro. I wonder how long they will last running 1500 watts through them. The recommended amp power is 450 to 900 watts.

Well superstar,the amp is 1500 per channel and we don't run all that power through it. We can add speakers in the rare occasion that we need more volume.

Carvin is good stuff and has served us well.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

Well superstar,the amp is 1500 per channel and we don't run all that power through it. We can add speakers in the rare occasion that we need more volume.

Carvin is good stuff and has served us well.

Is it a carvin amp? I don't see where they make one that will put out 1500 watts into each channel at 4 ohms.