[QUOTE=Chrisman69]Hey my band is about to get a 300+300 watt powered mixer but unfortounatly were short on cash for speakers.... so is it possible to only run one speaker out of the mixer or will that do some damage?

thanks[/QUOTE]
If the amp is rated to pump out 2 x 300 watts while at 4 ohms. And If you can [I]Bridge[/I] the amp. Then you can run one single 8 ohm 600 watt speaker off the bridged output if you wish.
But you'll only be able to do this if everything I said above were true.
Otherwise, no, just wait till you can afford to get both speakers at once.

alrite thanks man. but a few more questions :)

1) what does it mean if a speaker is 200 watts program and 400 watts peak?

2) the mixer we plan on buying only has 6 inputs and we need 5 inputs for vocals/guitar/bass so that only leaves 1 input for drums wich would be kind of hard to work with. so would it be possible to run a smaller mixer into our main mixer? like use the 6th input on our main mixer to run a small 4 input mixer to mic the drums with?

so it would be all

vocal1-------------------------------> 1st input
vocal2-------------------------------> 2ns input
guitar1------------------------------> 3rd input
guitar2------------------------------> 4th input
Bass--------------------------------> 5th input
Drums---------small mixer-----------> 6th input

thanks

1) Peak power handeling is the absolute maximum the speaker will be able to handle before damage. Similarly, an amplifier may have a peak power output.
Just bare in mind that this is differnt to an amplifiers RMS power output.
Which in term is similar to a speakers program power rating, or pretty much the maximum average power a speaker will be able to dissipate while reproducing general full range audio (actual music).

When speaker and amplifier shopping. It is the RMS or the Program power ratings that you want to pay attention to the most.

2). Yeah. That'll be fine.

alite. so 200 watt program/400 watt peak speakers would not work with a 300x2 power amp? wierd cuz these speakers were freekin huge

If those speakers were rated as [I]8 ohm speakers[/I] and the amp is rated to pump out (2x) 300 watts [I]while at 4 ohms[/I]. Then it will be okay to run these speakers off our amp.
Because of the extra ohm load that the speakers will have on the amp, the power output of the amp will not be 300 watts, it may be reduced down to around 200 watts (or so). And it will therefore be okay to run those speakers off it.

If you are able to use a little common sense, you can try this to get the most out of small PA setups. if say my speakers are 500w peaks and 250W RMS, then I would get a rated 600-700W amp to drive it, and run the amp about lower-mid power.

You can do this because an amp clipping (from not having any headroom) will trash your speakers much faster than a LITTLE too much power. So by holding the amp back, as your music gets louder, your amp can keep up, instead of clipping.

Well I have a question:

[url]http://www.music123.com/Kustom-KPA7212-7-Channel-PA-System-i106475.music[/url]

I just bought the Kustom KPA7212. It arrived at my band mate's house 2 days ago. He hooked it up and everything worked great. Then today we had it working at his house, and we decided to bring it over to my house where we practice. We hooked it all up and stuff, and turned it on. Then we had no sound and I realize the "Channel On" light isn't on, but the Main power light is on. It makes me made because the only power switch on the mixer is the main power. There is no channel power button. I don't really no what to do. I've tried plugging it in to different outlets to no success. I'm just really ticked off because I have practice tomorrow morning, it's 2 am, and my PA doesn't work. So if you guys have any ideas let me know. Thanks a lot in advance.

[QUOTE=Horenulas]Well I have a question:

[url]http://www.music123.com/Kustom-KPA7212-7-Channel-PA-System-i106475.music[/url]

I just bought the Kustom KPA7212. It arrived at my band mate's house 2 days ago. He hooked it up and everything worked great. Then today we had it working at his house, and we decided to bring it over to my house where we practice. We hooked it all up and stuff, and turned it on. Then we had no sound and I realize the "Channel On" light isn't on, but the Main power light is on. It makes me made because the only power switch on the mixer is the main power. There is no channel power button. I don't really no what to do. I've tried plugging it in to different outlets to no success. I'm just really ticked off because I have practice tomorrow morning, it's 2 am, and my PA doesn't work. So if you guys have any ideas let me know. Thanks a lot in advance.[/QUOTE]
That really sucks mate. Sorry I can't be of much help. Because I'm unfamiliar with those particular powered mixers.
But I just want to make sure that you did have the speakers plugged in properly, and that you've checked to see if the fuses have not blown.

You may have to take it to a tech.

[QUOTE=Aes820]That really sucks mate. Sorry I can't be of much help. Because I'm unfamiliar with those particular powered mixers.
But I just want to make sure that you did have the speakers plugged in properly, and that you've checked to see if the fuses have not blown.

You may have to take it to a tech.[/QUOTE]


How can I check to see if the fuses haven't blown? Do you think this could be the cause of a channel disfunction even when the power says on? Thanks for the help.

That's what I'm kind of confused about. Usually if a fuse has blown then the amp shouldn't even turn on at all. The main power light won't switch on.

Have you tried plugging your mic into a different input on the PA. Or are all chanels not working?

If you turn up the volume of the PA can you hear a slight buzz noise out of the speakers, or are they completely silent?

Sorry, but you may need to have a talk to a tech.

Hi.

I'm looking into investing into a PA.

I wouldn't want to spend more than £300 ($500?), and i'd like it to have about 6 inputs. It wouldn't only need enough power for playing pubs and clubs.

I really don't know too much about PA's.

[QUOTE=Echleon]Hi.

I'm looking into investing into a PA.

I wouldn't want to spend more than £300 ($500?), and i'd like it to have about 6 inputs. It wouldn't only need enough power for playing pubs and clubs.

I really don't know too much about PA's.[/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.music123.com/Kustom-KPA7212-7-Channel-PA-System-i106475.music[/url]

I might've said this if the guy above's hadn't just broke :D


For that much, you'd probably be looking at around 250w, and you'd probably want to get a powered mixer and then a seperate mixer to plug into it.

There's a bit of a black hole in the market for that kinda thing, most people after cheap PAs don't need many watts.

Many pubs/clubs have their own PAs, as to many larger bands, so i'd do a little homework, and unless you're headlining the gigs you're playing it may not be the best inventment at this time to try and buy one large enough.

[QUOTE=Aes820]That's what I'm kind of confused about. Usually if a fuse has blown then the amp shouldn't even turn on at all. The main power light won't switch on.

Have you tried plugging your mic into a different input on the PA. Or are all chanels not working?

If you turn up the volume of the PA can you hear a slight buzz noise out of the speakers, or are they completely silent?

Sorry, but you may need to have a talk to a tech.[/QUOTE]


Actually I do get the buzzing noise out of the speakers. And yes none of the channels work at all. I'm contacting the website I purchased it from to see If I should send it back or what.

AES can you run only one channel of a power amp or does it have to be 2
oh and bridging is not accepted

There's a lot of amps that can be bridged, but you have to remember the wattage will be increased. If it can't be bridged I'd imagine you'd have to run through both channels

[QUOTE=Horenulas]Actually I do get the buzzing noise out of the speakers. And yes none of the channels work at all. I'm contacting the website I purchased it from to see If I should send it back or what.[/QUOTE]
If you are 100% sure you've got all the controls set how they should be (like you haven't got a mute button pushed in or something) then it sounds like something has broken inside the amp.
It'll be a good idea to talk to the manufactures about if you can get a replacement or a repair under warranty.

[QUOTE=hantge30]AES can you run only one channel of a power amp or does it have to be 2
oh and bridging is not accepted[/QUOTE]
It's considered bad practise to only run one side of a stereo poweramp.
What you could do is buy a load resisitor for the unused channel.

or build!

/stingey DIY ++

If i ever had to do that, just sticking a load of 64R resistors in parallel would be fine, wouldn't it?

[QUOTE=moaner]If i ever had to do that, just sticking a load of 64R resistors in parallel would be fine, wouldn't it?[/QUOTE]
Yeah. But you'd want to use those fat high-wattage resistors. And they'll need to have a decent heat sink on them. Because they will get bloody hot.

ah, fair enough.

First time I ordered resistors i didn't think 1w would be enough so i got osme 10w ones...

They're huge (4x1cm?), and have cement insulation on them. :lol: I've still got them somewhere

ill just come out straight, i know next to NOTHING about PA's
but my bands is going to need a bunch of audio equipment, and in 2 paychecks we all plan on getting a bunch of audio stuff. lets just exclude mics and cables here: im going to need a mixer, speakers and i've read im going to need a power amp, am i correct?

i've also read you need a certain amount of watts in a power amp compared to the speakers, i dont know the ratio however, could i get some help here?
btw we plan on getting a 12 channel mixer if that means anything.

btw we arnt looking for THEE BEST stuff, yet we arnt willing to cheap out on our equipment, so if you could list intermediate stuff, that would be awesome.

If you know nothing about pa systems, look into a powered mixer. Unless you have specific needs, it's easier. What do you need it for(big shows, practices, small gigs, etc)? Why are you set on a 12 channel mixer?

well we already have a combination of basement shows and outdoor shows planned for friends and parties etc starting in october. we could use it for practices as well i 'spose. anyways we're set on a 12 channel mixer becasue we have 2 guitarists' a bassist and myself (the drummer). im going to need 4 mic's for my kit, both guitarist's will need 2 channels each, as will the bassist. now thats only 10 channels, but i'd like to have a 2 channel cushion, just incase we need somthing unexpected.

If you are planning to mic up everything, including drums and DIing the bass:
For this to be worthwhile then you'll need a BIG PA system. Like I'm talking at least a couple thousand watts all up.
A setup like this would not only be complicated (not good for someone who knows next to nothin about PAs), but also very expensive.


For smaller setups for playing at backyard parties or community halls, you can get away with just running vocals thrugh the PA. Then for this, a powered mixer would be the way to go.
At least 2x300 watts. You'd have to rely on your own amps and the loudness of the drums alone for the rest.

Yeah, and you'd be surprised how loud even some solid state combos go when you push them. Be careful to not overdo it, otherwise you will muddy up and distort the sound. But the point is you don't necessarily need a tube 4 x 12 for a gig

Yeah you don't need to mic the drums really. Usually the bass drum needs it the most, maybe the snare. I couldn't imagine mic'ing the cymbals for anything other than a stadium-sized gig.

What you might want to look into is triggers and a module. You can change the sound in the module, and you only have one line going to the pa system. It's up to you.

My band just bought a 10 channel mixer, with 5 inputs. We figured it'd be good for us because we have 2 singers, then the drummer's module, possible the bassist's amp, and if ever needed, my guitar amp.

If you plan on mic'ing drums so that they can be heard, AES is right, you'd need upwards of a thousand watts. Our drummer mostly just needs to mic his bassdrum, and we're using it for small gigs only.

I still don't see why 12 is your set number, but look into some powered mixers, they're much easier to deal with. Then look at speakers. It's not that difficult really.

how big of gigs could we get by with 500 watts for our mains
oh and its not 250x2 its 500x2
thanks

With a 1,000 watt pa system you could definitely have some decent sized shows. Not huge shows, but pretty big. AES would know better.

[QUOTE=hantge30]how big of gigs could we get by with 500 watts for our mains
oh and its not 250x2 its 500x2
thanks[/QUOTE]

500w a side would go really quite a long way

by some flawed* logic some will tell you 100 people, but common sense prevails and a large hall with 2-300 people could be just about managed.






















*IMO!

[QUOTE=hantge30]how big of gigs could we get by with 500 watts for our mains
oh and its not 250x2 its 500x2
thanks[/QUOTE]
It would really depend what you run through it.
If you just run vocals through it it'll handle quite alot.

But if you run Bass guitar, drums, guitar + vocals through it then it wont go as far as it would otherwise.
As it would take up more watts to handle the wider range of frequencies, especially with the lower frequencies associated with the bass guitar and the kick drum. They gobble up headroom like nothing else.