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PA/mixer/power amp set up question

pasta4lnch

pasta4lnch

Apr 24, 2008
3,937
29
Farmingville(NOT FarmVille),NY
myspace.com
#1
This seems logical to me, but not really a live sound guy - wanted to run it past you guys to see if I'm crazy.

Basically my singer/acoustic gtr player is the only one who uses the PA. but the system is really old and dying. and there is no monitor mix. so the screaming vocals he needs in his monitor is what the audience is hearing.

the actual speakers we use are new (3 non powered: 2 audience, 1 monitor)

$$ is tight so I was figuring a small mixer w/ an aux send and 2 channel power amp. main mixer out to one channel in the power amp which feeds both speakers (daisy chain) and the aux send to the other channel which feeds the monitor. 2 mixes - everyone's happy.

I figure this to be the easiest, cheapest as we have a mixer and speakers already. powered mixers seem to be pricey plus the monitor sends are not power (from what I see) if anyone has a better solution I'm all ears?
 
#3
That'll do the trick....well, it will certainly be an improvement over your existing PA rig. You can probably find a nice mid-powered amp, like a QSC RMX 2450, for under $375 which will meet your needs. One channel will provide ~700 watts into two 8 ohm enclosures daisy-chained while the second channel powers the monitor. This is a good choice as the amp can be assigned to different responsibilities (solely monitors, subs, mains, etc.) as you upgrade your system. Watts is cheap!

Riis
 
#4
Most powered mixers I've seen have a powered monitor send. Not all of them, but most.

Does the mixer you have now have a aux/monitor send? Is the problem that you are only running through a mono power amp?

When you buy your mixer, just be sure it either has a dedicated monitor send or that the aux send is pre-fader.

Pre-fader aux is the same as a monitor send. Post-fader aux is usually used as an effects send and won't work well as a monitor send.
 
#5
topper said:
Most powered mixers I've seen have a powered monitor send. Not all of them, but most.

Does the mixer you have now have a aux/monitor send? Is the problem that you are only running through a mono power amp?

When you buy your mixer, just be sure it either has a dedicated monitor send or that the aux send is pre-fader.

Pre-fader aux is the same as a monitor send. Post-fader aux is usually used as an effects send and won't work well as a monitor send.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I know about the pre-fader thing . . . our current set up is what the singer used to use on his old kareoke gigs. it's a piece of crap that shoulda been tossed years ago.

I'm currious about the powered monitor send thing. Most of the powered mixers I looker at were small, as 4 channels is more than we'll ever need. Carvin looked nice, so did a few small Yamaha's but the monitor sends didnt seem to be powered. . .

do you have any examples of a small powered mixer w/ powered monitor sends? I'm a studio guy - so not used to live audio . . .
 
#7
topper said:
All of these have two separate power amps in them. You can either run them mains/monitor or bridge it and add a separate amp for monitors.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-?sku=582090

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...W-7-Channel-Powered-Mixer-with-DFX?sku=637571

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-Eurowpower-PMP1000-Powered-Mixer?sku=630149
Click to expand...

Could you have picked 3 bigger POS to reccomend.:rollno: Pasta4Inch, If you are going to stay with the powered mixer go with Yamaha or Peavey. Check out the Peavey xr 8300 or 8600.
 
#9
I see - I was looking at a lot of smaller ones. and I was avoiding the "B" word :D Yamaha does make one that's a little over $400 - that might work.

I figured since we have a mixer and a power amp alone will ultimately be cheaper - but might be better off to just have everything in one box. anything over 8 channels is such a waste though - feel like we'd be spending money on something we'll never use.

thanks for the help guys! either way there's a viable solution within our $$ range so it's all good!
 
#10
topper said:
I wouldn't say I was necessarily recommending those. I was giving examples of small powered heads with powered monitor sends.

I actually found it hard to find powered mixers that DIDN'T have a powered monitor send except some super cheap Nady's.

Yamaha, Peavey, Carvin, etc. would be much better.
Click to expand...

Gotcha, I forgot about Carvin that might also be a good option. :)
 
#14
topper said:
So, does your current mixer have a separate (non-powered) monitor send? If so, your best bet might be to just buy a little powered wedge monitor.
Click to expand...

it doesn't (at least the powered one) - plus it's on it's last leg. and the other, non-powered, mixer we have is also old. still works great, and has what we need, but old. :D

modulusman said:
What model were you looking at?
Click to expand...

the XP800L - seems very close to the Yamaha EMS 212s but w/ less channels and one or two more bells and whistles . . . and $50 cheaper. I think this might be the ticket! Though I know Yamaha is a good name, I've never really heard bad things about carvin audio. (I have one of their electric/acoustic guitars I hate and can't sell:mad:)
 
#15
Don't overlook recent combo power mixer amps for what you're doing.. I've played through some incredible units that cost less than $300.. were stereo and went down to 2 ohms.

This would work for what you're doing with out clutter.

Issue of rackmount stuff is it's bulky and a long road of expensive stuff and upgrading etc.

You can always preamp "send" to a solid state guitar amp or something like this.. many folkish or acoustic acts use very sparse gear.. your current PA can be used for monitors.

Timmy
 

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