Help, Keyboardist quit and now we need to replace PA equipment!

[ThirstyMonkey]

So for reasons not important to this post, our KB quit. He provided pretty much all of our PA except for our mains (2 QSC K 12s). So we're starting from scratch on a limited budget. He had then24'channel studio live that I will replace with the 16 channel version in a few months, but we'll have a few gigs until then and we need to make things work. We're now a five piece, singer, 2 guitars, bass, and electronic drums.

We'll be adding one QSC sub (recommendations needed as to whether to get the dual 12 or single 18). we'll be using a Behringer XENYX 24x4x2. It has four aux sends and four sub groups.

We have to replace all mics and figure out a monitor solution. We're thinking of going with sm58's for vocals and The audix i5 for guitar cabs. We had been using IEMs for monitoring, but will have to move to floor monitors to save money. We're thinking of getting 3 Behringer F1220A powered monitors.

We're open to any suggestions or opinions so please chime in.

Thanks.

 

[modulusman]

The K sub sucks. Get either the older discontinued HPR or the newer KW.

 

[ThirstyMonkey]

Kw181 is my preference too, but can you provide any specific information on why the k series sub sucks? Also, anyone have experience with the Behringer monitors?

 

[modulusman]

Kw181 is my preference too, but can you provide any specific information on why the k series sub sucks? Also, anyone have experience with the Behringer monitors?

I might have been a little hasty in first reply. If you are using just one sub and you need some thump I think the K sub might have a hard time keeping up. I don't own a K sub but do have some HPRs. The one time I saw a band using the K subs with the tops I wasn't impressed but that could have been just from the way the band was using them.

 

[ThirstyMonkey]

That makes sense, thanks for the clarification.

 

[TimmyP]

Hire someone to provide and mix.

 

[ThirstyMonkey]

Hire someone to provide and mix.

That is certainly a possibility, thanks for the suggestion. We still need to figure stuff out for rehearsals, however. Any advice on the monitor situation.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Avoid Behringer. Phonic or Kustom if you have to.

 

[MuzikMan]

I'm having a lot of success with EV ZXA1 monitor speakers and one QSC KW181 sub under two QSC K8 tops for small gigs. I can't comment on the Behringer speakers but that brand sure does get a lot 'o hate!

 

[DBCrocky]

My rule of Behringer equipment is:

If it has an audio out, don't get it.

 

[seamonkey]

Most all the power cabinets can work as monitors. They all have a way to lay on their sides and tilt up.

Behringer now has a 3 year warranty.
No experience myself with their cabs but I've seen and heard them everywhere.
Nobody in the audience has every run screaming from them.

The new, not out yet Behringer powered NEO cabs look to have great features.

If you can afford it the QSC K-series is great as you probably already know. And QSC offers a 6 year warranty on the KW series. They have great resale value. You can sell your bass amp and buy these.

 

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

We have a behringer 800watt powered mixer with 2 floor monitors and 2 12' mains. The whole set up comes with cables and 3 mics (SM58 knock offs with on/off switches) that was around 800ish new. Its survived a year long music program getting used 5 times a week with 2 5song sets. it got moved every time it was used FWIW.
Are they the best? No, Are they as bad as most people who have never even owed one say? No

 

[Slevage]

I've got an AB Precedent 1100 amp (stable to 2 ohms) and
2 turbosound 112 monitors. The monitors are in excellent shape. The amp is old, but works good. I could sell you the package for $1000, but shipping from Connecticut might make the deal not so good. Drop me a pm if interested.

john m

 

[modulusman]

Most all the power cabinets can work as monitors. They all have a way to lay on their sides and tilt up.

Behringer now has a 3 year warranty.
No experience myself with their cabs but I've seen and heard them everywhere.
Nobody in the audience has every run screaming from them.

The new, not out yet Behringer powered NEO cabs look to have great features.

If you can afford it the QSC K-series is great as you probably already know. And QSC offers a 6 year warranty on the KW series. They have great resale value. You can sell your bass amp and buy these.

As long as you don't use the product. IIRC on another forum some posters were sayingthe warranty was bad. I think speakers were only covered for 1 year still.

 

[MLC_BassPlayer]

+1 on powered monitors, regardless of who makes them.

 

[ThirstyMonkey]

My rule of Behringer equipment is:

If it has an audio out, don't get it.

Actually laughed out loud, very nice!

 

[ThirstyMonkey]

Most all the power cabinets can work as monitors. They all have a way to lay on their sides and tilt up.

Behringer now has a 3 year warranty.
No experience myself with their cabs but I've seen and heard them everywhere.
Nobody in the audience has every run screaming from them.

The new, not out yet Behringer powered NEO cabs look to have great features.

If you can afford it the QSC K-series is great as you probably already know. And QSC offers a 6 year warranty on the KW series. They have great resale value. You can sell your bass amp and buy these.

K series as monitors would be great, but cost is an issue. I know it's always better to save up and get better equipment than go cheap and have to replace. That being said, the group is comprised of forty somethings with day jobs and we will never be able to invest enough time into this to make the band profitable. This is why we're reluctant to put a lot of money into the group.

My thinking has always been that if you need to save money, don't do it where the audience will hear it. Thus, spending the money on better sub rather than monitors. I also really want the group to go to wireless IEMs at some point and if we spend $$ on better stage monitors, that'll never happen. As long as the monitors are reliable and consistent, I think we can live with less than stellar accuracy.

As for the warranty, you're right it is three years on everything but the speakers themselves, only a year.

 

[ThirstyMonkey]

We have a behringer 800watt powered mixer with 2 floor monitors and 2 12' mains. The whole set up comes with cables and 3 mics (SM58 knock offs with on/off switches) that was around 800ish new. Its survived a year long music program getting used 5 times a week with 2 5song sets. it got moved every time it was used FWIW.
Are they the best? No, Are they as bad as most people who have never even owed one say? No

I have a Behringer mixer (until KB quit, I only used at home for practice) and it's worked flawlessly for two years. Yet I've seen plenty of post where people say that their Behringer ___ broke the first time they plugged it in. That's the problem with some of the Chinese manufacturing, absolutely no quality control.

 

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

An unpowered mixer/power amp would be a cheap solution. Plenty of them are sold used (CL) If you have access to the tools, you could consider building the floor monitors. Cheap 10-12" speakers can be had from sites like Parts-Express for 25$ and up. That could get you guys by for a while.

The Behringer mics do have a bit more handling noise than the Shure mics. Just something to consider if they wont be held by stands.

 

[BobWestbrook]

Carvin.