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Cheap PA

#41
Hwegs7 said:
Does anybody have any information about the stageworks LG-8. I found a used one for $200. If it is a no go i understand but some reveiws of it on other forums and site seem decent if its just for practice.
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Can't find any info on that PA system. My advise would be to figure on spending at least $5-600.00. Maybe buy a powered speaker like this. Yamaha DBR10 Powered Speaker | Musician's Friend and then a passive mixer from Yamaha, Peavey, Mackie or even Behringer. This would be enough for practice. If you decide to gig with the PA you could add another speaker. Eventually you might need a bigger board or to add a subwoofer. Instead of starting over from scratch you could add on to your existing system.
 
#43
modulusman said:
It is in my band. I have way more PA gear and experience using it than I bet you do. My job isn't to encourage, it is to tell it like I see it. I have been doing the band thing now for 37 years.
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modulusman said:
Can't find any info on that PA system. My advise would be to figure on spending at least $5-600.00. Maybe buy a powered speaker like this. Yamaha DBR10 Powered Speaker | Musician's Friend and then a passive mixer from Yamaha, Peavey, Mackie or even Behringer. This would be enough for practice. If you decide to gig with the PA you could add another speaker. Eventually you might need a bigger board or to add a subwoofer. Instead of starting over from scratch you could add on to your existing system.
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Mod, your first post is more of your ego - the second one is a little better. "Tell it like it is" - again, you are a weekend warrior, nothng more. It appears you can't advise as to more than that. You don't know "how it is" other than that. But part of the reason this site xists is for different levels of players to help each other.

FWIW, I've been gigging for 30 years, at all ww levels. Right now, I don't own PA equpipment, although I've put together and run lots of them. I have all the gigs I want without having to lug one around. My drummer and I can fit all our stuff together with us in one hatchback. That's gig Nirvana to me.
 
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#44
modulusman said:
Yeah I do have a day job. When were you ever relevant? If you had the chance to open for him you would turn it down?
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I wouldn't turn down a chance to play, but then again I wouldn't go out on internet forums trying to make myself look bigger than I was by name dropping is all... And an old, gets no air time any more name at that... Am I musically relevant? Nope. Don't claim to be. I'm realistic about my abilities, and my goals. And I am NOT going to let some stranger on some internet forum keep me from reaching those goals, and I sure as heck am going to do my best to encourage other folks to reach their goals. Cheap gear is a way that we as musicians can use as a stepping stone to get us to our goals.

modulusman said:
It is in my band. I have way more PA gear and experience using it than I bet you do. My job isn't to encourage, it is to tell it like I see it. I have been doing the band thing now for 37 years.
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You'd think that after doing something for 37 years, you'd be good enough at it that you would share useful insights and experience instead of actively trying to discourage folks that are trying to make their way up on a low budget. Is it possible that you are in the band thing to satisfy your ego, and not advance the art? It does kind of look that way from where I am seeing it...
 
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#45
OP - FWIW, there are two basic ways to go - powered cab with unpowered mixed, or powered at mixer with passive cabs. Number is is probably better, but more expensive. Especially is you are looking at less expensive or used systems, a powered mixer (like what you were looking at) is more likely to be what you will find, and nothing wrong with it. Unless you are playing big places or running instruments through the PA, a sub is more than you will need. Good luck.

OK - enough dirt kicking on both sides. Respect all around, and things will go smoothly. Peace out.
 
#46
modulusman said:
Can't find any info on that PA system. My advise would be to figure on spending at least $5-600.00. Maybe buy a powered speaker like this. Yamaha DBR10 Powered Speaker | Musician's Friend and then a passive mixer from Yamaha, Peavey, Mackie or even Behringer. This would be enough for practice. If you decide to gig with the PA you could add another speaker. Eventually you might need a bigger board or to add a subwoofer. Instead of starting over from scratch you could add on to your existing system.
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Now there you did it, went and found common ground. I can agree this is good, helpful advice... That Yamaha is a good unit.

I would add that if you can, try to find something along the lines of this powered speaker used. I just checked out my local Craigslist, and there is a LOT in the way of usable components, and complete systems, ranging from a used Fender Passport system for $250.00 (too small to be all that useful) to a still reasonable, but heftier price tag of $600.00 for a pair of used Yamaha 12" active speakers, stands, a Mackie mixker, mics, cables the whole shebang. Of course prices can, and do go up from there...

I don't want to discourage the OP from going for it, but that $200.00 budget is really unreasonably low to get there... If you need to, you might see about renting a PA for gigs if you can't afford a usable one at this point,
 
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#47
buldog5151bass said:
OP - FWIW, there are two basic ways to go - powered cab with unpowered mixed, or powered at mixer with passive cabs. Number is is probably better, but more expensive. Especially is you are looking at less expensive or used systems, a powered mixer (like what you were looking at) is more likely to be what you will find, and nothing wrong with it. Unless you are playing big places or running instruments through the PA, a sub is more than you will need. Good luck.

OK - enough dirt kicking on both sides. Respect all around, and things will go smoothly. Peace out.
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Good advice there too. I am not full of experience on this, but I tend to shy away from powered mixers as at least lower cost units like the Behringers tend to have a lot of reliability problems from what I have heard. However, aside from the overstated power ratings, and the predictable Behringer haters, I have heard nothing but good things from those that actually use the Behringer Powered PA speakers and passive mixers.

I am not sure how relevant this is, but I have seen used at one bar, what looked like a home component stereo system, used as the amp / PA speaker system, there was a mixer that was lined out and presumably fed into the aux in feed on the stereo head. If the OP has access to a reasonable enough component stereo, this might be worth looking into as the only new hardware would be a mixer, and some cables.
 
#48
I can actually speak about Behringer. I was in a band for several years that used a PMP6000 powered mixer (flat style not box style). 2x800w@4ohms. Worked wonderful every time. Not a single issue. Have also used the B212XL speakers as mains and monitors. Not nearly top of the line but they did the job along with the use of powered subs (JBL's). We also used entry level JBL 15's for mains. They did the job as well. Loud and solid. System could be heard clearly and pounding from 2 blocks away. We had to rent some Yamaha Club series 15's once and man those things smoked! I loved them. Towards my last days with the band, the BL bought 2 Kustom powered dual 10's monitors. As far as being heard, they worked great. You couldn't pump much bass into them but hey, ya gotta go with your budget sometimes.

Unfortunately, we all don't have big budgets to work with and have to make do. That's fine. Just don't expect what you buy to do big boy things. Having said that, there is a plethora of gear to be had on your local Craigslist. If your patient enough to wait it out there are some good bargains to be had! I copped a pair of damn near new Carvin LSx12's for $200! The dude had a set of 15's and their top of the line powered mixer. Entire system (if I wanted it) for $700!
 
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#49
wow - why does this stuff always turn into a dick measuring contest?

Powered mixers - non powered with powered speakers are good for all kinds of bands, and in fact I know many touring acts that carry them just as backup, and for pickup work, because they are easy to haul and use on the go. they are nowhere near a full pa but can sure fill the need in a pinch.

Better quality more expensive stuff - yep thats the goal - but learning to use it is helpful..... I agree - why buy twice if you don't have to - add onto what you have and build for the longer haul as you can. My needs are different than yours, etc......be realistic, and try not to short yourself at the same time.

I have had people criticize my equipment - (several here by the way).
I appreciate advice - and do the best I can. Some folks have been really helpful - while some are snide.
I PM the ones who are helpful, just to avoid this kind of crap.

If I was going to give any advice - it might sound like this.....

Always remember - good stuff aint cheap.....
and Cheap stuff.........
Usually it aint too good!
 
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#50
$200 to hear vocals over loud drummer and big amps, but just at rehearsal? Small mixing board and 4-channel headphone amp. (You each supply your own headphones and extension cable.)

Sealed headphones will block out some of the volume from the room, letting you run the lower vocal volume in the headphones. (Might just save your hearing.) Still, with most 'phones (and w/ mic bleed) you'll hear enough of the room sound that you won't feel isolated.

If you're wedded to the idea of monitor wedges for rehearsal, take a hard look at your rehearsal space before you buy a system. A lot of the advice on this thread is about how big a PA you'll need to get over your backline volume. There's something to that if you were pricing a PA for live performance; but if your band rehearses in a small room, physics will limit how loud your vocals can be before feedback. Better quality mics, preamps, and speakers will buy you some gain-before-feedback, but there's no point getting a big rehearsal PA if your room starts ringing at 95 dBs.
 
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#51
Hwegs7 said:
Hi guys im in a four piece band. (two guitars, bass and drums) and we need a loud enough PA system to hear over 3x15 bass 2x12 guitar and another 4x12 guitar amp and a full drum set. Anything $200 or less doenst need to sound amazing and we would like at least two channels. Im thinking 200 watts-ish let me know if you have any sugestions! We are ok with used equipment!
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Believe it or not, my band, 3 guitars, bass and drums, got by with two of these for quite a while before we upgraded. Link two together and for vocals only they should be loud enough for your purposes. You can plug 4 mics directly into the speakers... no need for a mixer.
BTW we still have them and use them for acoustic gigs etc.

Kustom PA PA50 Personal PA System | Musician's Friend

You could also get two of these, which will keep up with band practice for sure, but you'd need to add a mixer:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#52
So let me get this straight. If i were to get a single powered speaker with an outpit i could use that on its own and eventually add one or two more unpowered or would all need to be powered then?
 
#56
Ok i may have possibly found a mixer for me if one of these three is powered. I have decided to try and find a powered mixer and eventually unpowered speaker cabinets. Here are the three mixers:
Alesis MultiMix 8 USB FX Regular,
Alto proffessional zmx122fx, and the
Mackie Mix12FX 12-Channel Compact Mixer with Effects.
ARE ANY OF THESE POWERED?? if none are could someone point me in the direction of inexpensive powered mixers? Again thank you all for all of the help.
 

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