Putting everyone through PA at practice?

Da LadY In Red · #1 04-07-2008, 11:26 PM

Hello gents, I'm having a simple question: what's your experience with putting everyone through a PA for practice?

I play in a 6 piece jam band (2 guitars, 1 bass, 1 keys, 1 drums, 1 vox) that'll will possibly (read most likely) be down to 4 piece (1 guitar, 1 bass, 1 keys, 1 drums, everyone sings) when we go to college next year.

Before, we've always played where everyone has their own amps, however, pending a local deal, I've found 2 2x12 PA speakers for cheap that I could run using an Behringer UB802 mixer into my extra bass head (Peavey Mark VIII bass head with about 350 watts) as a power amp along with my Carvin PM15a (15 inch molded powered speaker).

Do you think that set-up would be enough to run 3 mics, 1 bass, 1 guitar, and 1 keys through (considering that we run the 3 mics fine through just the Carvin PM15a currently)? Depending on the situation, we could supplement with our own amps, but also do you think having a more uniform sound (same sound coming from multiple speakers in multiple positions would be beneficial and an improvement our having the somewhat inconsistent sound of having everyone with their own rigs? I can generally hear everyone pretty distinctly, but I'm also not the one who puts my keyboard amp straight into my ears while having the guitar amp directionally facing a different direction. At the same time as having a consistent sound, I'd be hoping to decrease the volume of the band as a whole by providing a more consistent sound.

So can anyone shed some light on practicing with everyone through the PA?

Rhythm5 · #2 04-07-2008, 11:39 PM

It might work...it might not. Live sound is all about everyone willing to compromise and do what is best for the band. For the most part, this always results in the guitar player playing too loud, the drummer hitting too hard, the singer blowing out his vocal cords to be heard and the bassist shaking his head at the fact that these guys just don't get it.
Most professional acts use thier amps mostly for self monitoring while the sound engineer runs everything through the PA to give the audience thier mix. In your case you would need a fairly elaborate mixer with separate stage monitors and a separate monitor mixes so you can each hear your own instruments onstage. Getting everyone to agree on the monitor mix will likely be a lost cause. Your best bet is for everyone to use thier own amps and keep the volume down. Learn to practice and make the band sound good at a lower volume, then at the gigs trust your rehearsal experience, keep the volume low and let the soundman do his job (which of course depends on thier skill level and this can go either way, but that is a whole other story).

Stumpy · #3 04-07-2008, 11:46 PM

When we are in practice mode, not getting ready to perform mode, we are all in the Mix.

Lead vox that also plays rhythm guitar
Lead gtr that also sings backing vocals
bass
drummer (3 mics) that sometimes sings

All in the mixing console (cabs are mic'd and or DI's Used.

It cleans things up considerably for us. We have the click track going (as always) and we can hear everything.

write me if you have specific q's

Da LadY In Red · #4 04-08-2008, 01:16 PM

Really... that's more what I'm talking about. Since there would be 3 cabs, we could have everybody (save the drummer) having a cab next to them. We wouldn't worry about having everyone have their own mix... we'd just get a decent mix for everyone. Thanks Stumpy for the input, I might take you up on it...

Anyone else feel free to chime in!

barbarbass · #5 04-09-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhythm5

For the most part, this always results in the guitar player playing too loud, the drummer hitting too hard, the singer blowing out his vocal cords to be heard and the bassist shaking his head at the fact that these guys just don't get it.
).

Wow -- you've seen every band I've ever played in. Amazing.

txbasschik · #6 04-09-2008, 02:02 PM

I well and truly hate running everyone through the PA. *Hate* it. Use amps. It works out best. Sounds best. Use the PA for vocals, and to mic things like drums, or acoustic instruments that don't have pickups.

Cherie