The PA Thread

[Scarred4Life]

Since theres always a million questions about PAs, please post all of them in here so we dont have half the first page asking whats a good PA for X amount of dollars.

ok bands got about 1500 bucks for our p.a. system, mics,mic stands,mic cables ect.
were going to need atleast a 10 channel mixer....our band has 2 guitarists,bassist and drummer, the guitarists and bassist amps all have 120 watts, so kind of mics.p.a.,ect do you guys think i should get that would be loud enough and good quality....?

[Aes820]

Check out the packaged PA setups on musiciansfriend.com
You should be able to get something really decent for $1500. 600 watts, along with stands, mics and etc. Look at brands like Yamaha.

[Jamie]

right, so my band need something to run a microphone through. We have less than £100 though.

I thought about buying a small guitar amp (10"- or 12" speaker) to use but the people in the guitar forum say it breaks it, and the people on the bass forum say it would break it if i used a bass amp.

So my other idea was to get a really small power amp (like 40 watts or something) and buy a 10" speaker to go with it. But theres one problem, the least power, power amp i have found is about 150 watts.

My third idea (which i dont think works) would be to set it up something like this:

microphone > DI box > 1-2 channel tiny mixer > 10" speaker

would that work?


Thanks very much if i get a reply

Any ideas?

[Aes820]

I saw this thread in the guitar forum. i was about to post in it but i'll answere here instead.

There is nothing wrong with running a microphone into a guitar amp.. in the short term that is. After a while the amp will just die. And it'll sound like it is full of sand. Give it about 6 - 8 months or so.
So. You can do it. But dont do it with your good amp.
Go to a pawn shop and buy an old POS that you dont care about if it gets wrecked. It'll do the job until you can save up for something a little more suitable.

The poweramp + speaker option would work. But it'll be cheaper to just go with an old second hand guitar amp.

Your third idea won't work. You'll need a poweramp for any decent amount of volume.

When I first started off with my band, we used the old guitar amp. Lots of people do... Just remember, dont use your good amp.

[Jamie]

right, and if there are no pawn shops where you live?

so what about bass amps? does it affect them?

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

I have this monitor/compact PA system....
http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=17285&TempID=2&Method=2&CategoryID=0&BrandID=0&PriceRangeID=0&PageNum=0&DepartmentID=0&DepartmentKeeper=&pagesize=10&SortMethod=0&Word1=galaxy+audio&Contains=%22%2Agalaxy%2A%22+AND+%22%2Aaudio%2A%22&Search_Type=SEARCH&GroupCode=nonetodaythanks


Would this work to be heard live and over a band during practice?

[Aes820]

Originally Posted by lineyukbass

right, and if there are no pawn shops where you live?

so what about bass amps? does it affect them?

Ebay, or the classified in the newspaper.
It's the same deal with bass amps.


Screamin_Demon_Auz: It looks small.. But it says it is 146 watts and 144dB... So that kinda gives me the imprssion that it could be pretty loud.
I say, give it a go. It should be fine for jamming and practice..
If it is struggling to keep up.. Just pick it up onto a desk or something, so it is a litle higher and closer to your ears.

It probably wouldn't be enough for gigging tho.

[Jamie]

I've checked ebay, theres nothing. Its all over-priced.

Ill get the new ad-trader then and have a look in there

ok this is what ive come up with, tell me what you guys think, and if im missing anything at all that i would need to perform live with a pa system PLZ PLZ tell me...http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040718112121068102051115526489/g=live/s=speakers/shop/viewcart/

[Aes820]

^ That link points to your shopping cart. Because of the cookies on your computer, you'll be the only one who is able to see what is in it. Why dont you list what you were thinking of getting.

1)Behringer Eurodesk SL2442FX-PRO Mixer
2)JBL SF25 Dual 15" 2-Way Speaker Cabinet (2)
3)Shure SM58 Mic (3)
4) Mic Stand, Mic Clips, Cables...

Is there anything i would need at ALL to perform live with a band that I havent listed? and what do you guys think about this equipment?

[me_is_p]

not a bad board (not the best, but...), looks good.

If you're using acoustic guitars (or putting any instrument into the board), and you are any distance from the board, I would buy a DI box for each instrument, and a mic cable for each DI box.

:-P at

[Aes820]

A very good desk..
Put you'll need a poweramp to push the speakers mate.

Why not downgrade the mixer you are using.
And invest a few dollars in a good poweramp.
Depending on the wattage handeling of the speakers get yourself a stereo poweramp to suit. Say if the speakers are 300 watts each.. get a 2x300 watt poweramp.
Look on Ebay for some decently priced poweramps.
Run it off a mixer like this one:
http://www.behringer.com/UB1222FX-PRO/index.cfm?lang=ENG

[R6Elite]

I tried searching for info about the following items, but didn't find anything. Do you think that this setup could handle small gigs powering vocals AND drums?

1. Behringer PMX660M Europower Powered Mixer (2 x 300 watts or 600 bridged) - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040720104244024017203011599030/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/631250/

2. 2x Behringer B1520 Eurolive 15 Inch 2-Way Loudspeaker - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040720104244024017203011599030/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/600592/

Thanks,
R6Elite

[Aes820]

^ Yeah. That setup would be awesome.

But you might want to double check the wattage at differnt loadings with the powered mixer. the speakers are 200w RMS @ 8 ohms. And the Mixer is 300w RMS @ 4 ohms.
Now this should be fine as it is.. Although if the speakers were only 4 ohm they you may risk damaging them.
But, at this point, seeing as the speakers are 8 ohms. The wattage from the powered mixer will be a little less than it's full 300 watts. And so in that case running 200w speakers off them should be fine.

Just, dont run it up loud all the way. Although, considering it's amount of headroom, I doubt you ever will be.

ok tell me what you guys think about this, and if its everything i would need to perform live with a band.
1)Behringer Eurodesk SL2442FX-PRO Mixer
2)Behringer EuroLive B1500X PA Loudspeaker x2
3)Behringer EuroPower EP1500 Power Amp
4) Shure SM58S Mic with Switch
5) Musiciansfriend, cables,mic stands,clips...

[Aes820]

The poweramp is 2x700 watts. The speakers are only 300 watts @ 4 ohms.
It wont be suitable.
You'll have to get some speakers that are capable of handling the wattage.
Or, more preferably, Get a different poweramp. One that is rated at 2x300 watts while at 4 ohms.

i couldnt find any Behringer power amps that size, there all way to powerfull, any ideas?

[Aes820]

It doesn't have to be Behringer.

Here's one that is 2x300 watts into 4 ohms.

http://www.peavey.com/products/shop_online/browse.cfm/action/details/item/00511500/wc/2A2C1/fam/2C/tcode/1/v.cfm

Alternatively, there should be a whole heap of poweramps floating around on eBay. For nice and cheap.