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Basic PA Question

Kuchar

Kuchar

May 31, 2006
275
9
Michigan
mudsuns.bandcamp.com
#1
Hello all, I'm know this is a basic question but I couldn't find it in with the search function :help:

I'm just wondering, what is everything needed to complete a semi-professional PA system. From what I know, I need a mixer, a power amp, and some speaker cabs. Do I need anything else to make that sucker work?
 
#2
Basically, yeah. I recommend instead of the power amp & cabs, you use powered cabs. Much easier to deal with, and you can add/subtract w/o changing loads, etc. Usually overall lighter, and one failure doesn't bring down the whole show.

You'll also need monitors. Again, I suggest powered cabinets, so you're running the mains out of the mixer main outs and monitors from the aux outs, without really needing a lot in between (though there is lots of processing you can add).

If you're new at it, I suggest something like a turnkey Carvin system (or whatever vendor you like).

Mics and cables and stands and eqs and comps and...
 
#3
Thanks for the quick reply. We have mics, cabs and stands and we also have an old dusty Tascam mixer (that might get the job done, we've never ran it).

So if I bought a few powered cabs do you think we would have a giggable PA? Do we NEED compressors (do they really make a big difference?) We want to be able to mic everything if need be. We're in no hurry to acquire the gear right now, just need to know what to look for on craigslist.
 
#4
DeluxeRed has a good approach, and it may be your best way to go, but you want to do some more homework regardless. How many vocals? Are you putting instruments through the p.a. or just vocals? How many monitors? Instruments in the monitors? (Don't do it would be my advice if you have a choice.) How big are the places you'll be using it in? Wedding band or death metal? Got a sound man or will you be doing it while singing and playing your way into the hearts of America? There's no one size fits all. Work out what you need and your budget and it'll narrow your choices.
 
#5
Generally the little things - mics, mic stands, xlr cords, more cords, speaker stands, patch cables - end up being more of a pain than the big pieces (mixer, power sub and mains, powered monitors).\

But all you really need is:

14 - 16 channel mixer
mics, as many sm58's as you can get plus a kick drum mic, bass DI, with XLR cords or cords and a snake.
mic stands
powered speaker and long balanced cable, ditto for sub and monitors
Speaker stands

after that you could add:
graphic EQ and comps for mains and monitors
driverack for feedback, eq, reverbs, etc.
 
#7
I'm not sure of our budget; we're just keeping an eye out for local Craigslist deals. We're in no hurry to acquire the gear since we won't be gigging for a few months.

We already own tons of mic stands, a full set of drum mics, and two vocal mics. We have no mic for guitar or bass cabs but I'm not worried about micing those just yet (especially since we don't even have the PA).

So it sounds like powered subs are the way to go then? We're not playing any place huge, most likely medium sized halls. We plan on putting on the shows ourselves because we're sick of pre-selling tickets for pay to play organizations. We have a 16 channel mixer but I'm not sure how well it works.

So last question. Say I bought some cables and two powered cabinets and plugged them into the mixer. Would the PA be up and running?

Thanks everyone. :bassist:
 
#12
We have a full set of drum mics with cables/clips/stands and we have 2 vocal mics with stands. We also have a Tascam mixer (that we now know works) and I have a DI for my bass. We have 2 extra speaker cables also.

I'm pretty sure that's all the PA gear we have except for the one we use now, which is a Kustom PA Package with 2 2x8 speakers and a 300 watt head/mixer thing. We're looking to ditch that and get a real PA.
 
#13
Kuchar said:
We have a full set of drum mics with cables/clips/stands and we have 2 vocal mics with stands. We also have a Tascam mixer (that we now know works) and I have a DI for my bass. We have 2 extra speaker cables also.

I'm pretty sure that's all the PA gear we have except for the one we use now, which is a Kustom PA Package with 2 2x8 speakers and a 300 watt head/mixer thing. We're looking to ditch that and get a real PA.
Click to expand...

Adequate channels on the Tascam? You're off to a good start. Do you want to do sound reinforcement for the bass & drums in addition to vocals / guitars? Given your gear description, I assume you do. What type of self-imposed budget are we looking at? What size venues?

Riis
 
#14
Ol' numbnuts here went back and read all your previous posts. Here's what I think I know:

*You're gonna need powered something whether it be powered speakers or power amps. I see power amps all the time on CraigsList; rarely do I see powered speakers. I prefer going the separate power amp route as the components can be reassigned as the system grows.

*If you can get away with a mono configuration, you'll get more bang-for-the-buck in the wattage dept as the power amps can be run in bridged mono. Check the specs.

*If you're doing the full PA rig bit, you'll need power for mains, subs, and monitors. I've even used nearly-trashed Peavey PA heads to run monitors.

*An inexpensive dual-channel graphic equalizer is helpful with FOH and imperative for taming feedback on the monitors.

*Depending on where you live, used decent speakers can be had relatively inexpensively. People upgrade, groups disband, you-name-it. Its been my experience that speakers are difficult and costly to ship so local sales are preferred and give you some bargaining leverage.

*Unless your mixer has onboard effects, you may want to consider adding an outboard FX engine for reverb if nothing else.

*Read, research, make friends with your local sound techs and the resident PA gurus here at TalkBass. Like you, I had to start from scratch 'cuz these bozos I play with didn't have a clue as to what they were doing.

Keep us informed.

Riis
 
#15
If this is your current pa - Invalid Link Removed - You could use it for vocal monitors to start out with. Take the aux out or monitor signal from the tascam mixer to one of the inputs on the Kustom. Set the speakers on their side on the floor (a couple of 2x4 blocks under the front edge to tip them up a little will help).
 
#17
what you're gonna want is a powered head (like 6-8 channels, 3-400 watts), and a couple of 15"+horn speakers on poles. you'll put only vocals through them, maybe just a tiny bit of kick drum. (micing the rest of the drums or the guitar amps is way too much for a system like this.)

judging from the questions asked, you'll need to use this until you get good at it, at which point you'll begin to get an idea of what you want to upgrade/add.

starting out with anything more, or more complicated (like trying to rig up some old tascam studio mixer with no graphic EQ and no effects), is just going to lead to headaches.

walking before running and all that.
 

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