PA setup

[Vic Winters]

How do you go about setting up a PA that consists of some mains and a few monitors? Nothing too big or complicated, think practice or small house parties. I don't need a very in depth explanation, a diagram would suffice. My biggest concern is not blowing the monitors, since they have a lower wattage rating than mains. Smaller power amp for monitors?

[RickenBoogie]

You could get the whole shabang in one package from MF. Starting around a thousand bucks. That said, if you're trying to put one together peice by peice, seperate power amps for the mains and monitors is a good idea. You'd still need some sort of mixing board as well. The packages are complete, and actually quite inexpensive when you add everything up individually.

[Deacon_Blues]

You need to be sure the power rating of the speakers are equal to or higher than the power rating of the amplifier. Use separate amps for the monitors, and use the aux out on the mixer to control how much of every instrument or mic you want in the monitors. It's pretty basic stuff, all is usually well explained in the manuals for the mixer, amps and speakers.

As for the speakers and amps, I prefer active speakers (w/ integrated amps) because the amps are optimized for the speakers. Usually, there's a built-in limiter too so it is pretty difficult to blow them.

It might be a good idea to add some eq's for the monitors and mains. They allow you to adjust the sound from venue to venue (they PA doesn't sound the same in all venues), and it's a good way to minimize feedback problems on stage too.

If you don't have a mixer already, buy one that has enough features - enough channels with XLR and 1/4" plug inputs, input gain knobs or level switches as well as channel volume knobs, a few pre/post-switchable aux outs, and a good eq for every channel (at least three-band with semiparametric middle). If you only need a simple PA, it's convenient if there are some built-in effects so you don't need an external one. It's also good to have so-called inserts on the channels allowing you to connect for instance a compressor to a mic channel, but it's not very necessary.

[Diggler]

http://members.cox.net/pasystem1/setup.htm

Another thing to watch out for it to take the time to properly set your gain structure. Go to http://www.prosoundweb.com and check out the Study Hall section. Lots of good reading there.

[Vic Winters]

I have a few components gathered so far. A Behringer UB1204 mixer and a Crown MicroTech 1200 power amp. Thinking about a set of 1x12 or 1x15 speakers on stands (Peavey PR 12 or 15), and a set of 1x10 or 1x12 monitors.

[bluestarbass]

From what you already have youd need mains, a monitor or 2, and something to power the monitors. You could go with self powered mains, and use the power amp to power the monitors. Or get self powered monitors and use the power amp to power the mains. Your about halfway there.