PA suggestions?

sight

I'm a vocalist and I am looking to get a new PA system for gigging and practicing. I'll need a monitor too.

Problem is I don't really know much about gear or about what is too much or too little. I want to learn and not just have someone say "buy this."

I was looking at a roland PA system. It had 300W and 2 6.5" speakers. But I don't know if that's big... or little ... or average.

Any advice?

sei046

oh god here we go.......wheres Eoin!

sight

also I was wondering

do you want everyone going through the same mixer and coming out of the same speakers?

Does that make a better sound?

or is it fine to have people going through different set ups?

feylya

It's better to go through the PA. Easier to balance all the different instruments' levels.

sei046

thank you!

Eoin Madsen

sight wrote:

also I was wondering

do you want everyone going through the same mixer and coming out of the same speakers?

Does that make a better sound?

or is it fine to have people going through different set ups?

It really depends on the situation. Ideally, yes, everything goes though the PA. If you have a little 300 watt PA then absolutely not. You need every bit of headroom for the vocal. Everything else can fend for itself.

For practice, all you need is a monitor or two, just like you'll get on a real stage. About 300 watts per monitor is usually enough. You could get active ones (with amplifier built in) and save yourself hassle matching amps and speakers etc - it'd also be easier for transportation and setup.

Unless you're doing paid gigs you won't find much use for a gigging PA tbh.

Eoin Madsen

sei046 wrote:

oh god here we go.......wheres Eoin!

COOKSTER

Here's some (very) basic advice in relation to your query. A 300W PA is quite small and shouldn't be used for much more than vocals. you might put a semi acoustic guitar or some backing tracks through but with only 6.5 inch speakers you are going to destroy the system if you try to put any major Lo end (bass) signal through. For rehearsals have you considered placing the PA speakers at the front of all the performers and face them back towards you (avoid facing speakers directly at the front of microphone grille). Also arrange the amps/instruments in such a way (semi circle)that by balancing the instrument volumes everyone can hear what they need (difficult to do with a drummer that can't tone down- imagine how the muppets feel at rehearsals!!)
www.Thomann.de do cheap powered mixing desks i.e. the amp is built in to the mixing desk. they're called t-mix by Thomann, another brand is behringer. they are basic and cheap but i know 1 rehearsal room and several performers that use them, mainly for vocal applications these cost around €300-350. These are cheap, and ya gets what ya pays for. If you have a bigger budget go with allen and heath or Dynacord
I recommend using speakers that contain a minimum of 12 inch driver plus horn combination. Using speaker stands to elevate the speakers will help the sound travel further.
Wharfdale as well as all the above make powered monitors again the cheapies start around €275. These monitors can be run from an Aux send on any powered mixer so that the monitor mix can be driven independent of the front of house/audience speakers.
It is also possible for a smaller setup to run one side of the PA to the audience and the other side to the band. the choice is yours...
The main issue for most is budget. however quality will always be compromised where there is a price difference of 50% on similar items by different manufacturers. If you expect your gear to work hard then make the investment and you shouldn't have to repair/replace it so often.
This advice is not gospel but i believe most of it to be true. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further queries (I'm away for the next week) I'll do my best to help you. Music Technology Ireland (8730305)are based in dublin and they can get you most of what you need if you know what you are after.
Best of luck

sei046

me and eoin are destined to disagree whilst agreeing on Pa systems. Its best we dont come in contact on these threads

BME

COOKSTER wrote:

Here's some (very) basic advice in relation to your query. A 300W PA is quite small and shouldn't be used for much more than vocals. you might put a semi acoustic guitar or some backing tracks through but with only 6.5 inch speakers you are going to destroy the system if you try to put any major Lo end (bass) signal through. For rehearsals have you considered placing the PA speakers at the front of all the performers and face them back towards you (avoid facing speakers directly at the front of microphone grille). Also arrange the amps/instruments in such a way (semi circle)that by balancing the instrument volumes everyone can hear what they need (difficult to do with a drummer that can't tone down- imagine how the muppets feel at rehearsals!!)
www.Thomann.de do cheap powered mixing desks i.e. the amp is built in to the mixing desk. they're called t-mix by Thomann, another brand is behringer. they are basic and cheap but i know 1 rehearsal room and several performers that use them, mainly for vocal applications these cost around €300-350. These are cheap, and ya gets what ya pays for. If you have a bigger budget go with allen and heath or Dynacord
I recommend using speakers that contain a minimum of 12 inch driver plus horn combination. Using speaker stands to elevate the speakers will help the sound travel further.
Wharfdale as well as all the above make powered monitors again the cheapies start around €275. These monitors can be run from an Aux send on any powered mixer so that the monitor mix can be driven independent of the front of house/audience speakers.
It is also possible for a smaller setup to run one side of the PA to the audience and the other side to the band. the choice is yours...
The main issue for most is budget. however quality will always be compromised where there is a price difference of 50% on similar items by different manufacturers. If you expect your gear to work hard then make the investment and you shouldn't have to repair/replace it so often.
This advice is not gospel but i believe most of it to be true. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further queries (I'm away for the next week) I'll do my best to help you. Music Technology Ireland (8730305)are based in dublin and they can get you most of what you need if you know what you are after.
Best of luck

What he said:D
At last some practical advice

Eoin Madsen

Powered mixers have absolutely no advantages over alternative systems. It's not even cheaper. If something is going to be powered to save effort/money/space/etc, it is considerably more logical that it be powered speakers with a passive mixer. You have infinitely more options to suit your specific needs. Powered mixers are simply limiting in possibilties, and they tend not to last as long (especially the cheaper ones) because the complex circuitry in a mixer is more inclined towards failure from excessive heat dissipation.

In terms of your practice setup, it is nice to arrange everything for maximum listening pleasure, but in the long term it makes more sense to set up your practice room exactly like a stage. Use floor monitors, because that's what you're going to have when you gig. As an added advantage, for those particularly poxy gigs when there's a bare PA, you'll have monitors to bring. The financial outlay involved in gearing up for venues with no PA system far outweighs the advantages of playing those gigs unless you're making hard cash from them, and frequently.

CatalystGuy

Check This Out, My band bought this and its deadly. but you need to use the right leads and mics or else its a bit ****e.

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_tmixthebox_pm600_paset_1_prodinfo.html

Mics - Shure Sm58
Leads - Planet Waves Xlr Male - Female (Canon To Canon)

Rustar

Here ya go.....just a quick little re-mortgage on the castle and
This little baby can be yours. :v:

sei046

thats quite like my system actually. It aint 30k watts though!