This FAQ is now replicated, extended and superseded by the one on the Blue Room Wiki, here.
The Blue Room Sound FAQ
Looking for Secondhand Audio Equipment?
1. You've tried Google and it's friends? No, well stick 'secondhand audio equipment' into a search engine and prepare to be amazed at how many results you get. Narrow it down by adding your country, region or nearest large town.
2. e-bay is full of the stuff.
3. Failing the above, here is a list of a few regular dealers in professional audio equipment, it's by no means complete and biased towards the UK...
10 out of 10
AC Lighting
Bob Kelly
Bonza
Concert Systems
Concert Trade
Entec
Intasound
Larking
LMC Audio
Stage Electrics
Tega
Used Lighting
Used StageSound
...if you know of any more who regularly have equipment for sale then let us know.
Looking for the Pin Out for a Connector?
Tom Baldwin's Site
Looking for a Sound Hire Company?
Visit our Friends at Stagelink
Computer Based Playback anyone?
See Computer Based Playback.
Where can I get sound effects?
Users should check any relevant licensing they need is in place if planning to use any effect in their shows.
See Sound Effects.
Microphones
Shure's Theatre Guide (1.5Mb PDF File)
Loads of other Stuff on the Shure Website
Radiomic Licensing
JFMG who deal with licensing radio mics
This post summarises the situation as March 2006.
Minidisc
Minidisc recorders are getting rarer and rarer. A good unit which is still available is the Tascam MD-350.
Recommended Reading
Click here to go to the Recommended Reading topic.
What sound equipment should I buy / hire for my school / college / church / village hall / other small venue or system?
A number of ideas and opinions on this subject can be found in the following threads...
speakers and amps
PA Advice
Radio Mics?
Amps And Speakers, good quality second hand stuff
Looking For A New Desk
Small desk, 4-5 channels, **cheap**, help?
New Kit - Suggestions please, Merged
Budget sound, Good sound on a small budget
Suspending/Flying Mics
New mixer advice, £200 - £250
sound hire, education
Live PA Mixing Desks?, Freind Starting out needs Advice
PA Mxing Desk, Serious advice needed..
A New PA, What to go for?
Radio mic advice
Best value dynamic wired mics?
Recording A Choir, What kit do I need?
PA system for school
Live Band sound, in a 200 capacity hall
New Pa advice needed, What do you think we need?
150w-200w small speakers?
Radio Mics, Revisited
Advice needed, FA101 and other equipment...
Microphone help
mixer advice, what should i buy?
Micing for school play, just to check again
Sound for a band, HELP
Active speakers for a small school, Suggestions please?
£4000 What to buy?, A new PA for my School
Buying small PA System
12-16 channel mixer, Budget £400-£500 for a church
tiny mixers
Sports Halls
Best value radio mic kit, What to buy?!
Small mixer for connection to Mac, Music facility
PA system for Contemporary church
How much power?
digital snake for house of worship help
Choice of general cover mics, Overhead/Boundry/Rifles?
All in one PA units, Wireless mic, input for cd
UHF radio mics…, Which system for around £230 ex vat?
Having Your Own Gear
Church PA Equipment, What to buy to expand with 1.2k
Small pa for solo musician
Looking for reliable CD- Deck, for school
Computerised Sound, What can we get for £800?
Digital Sound desk for school, Some advice please
Help with improving venue acoustics, Damping reflections
Small Monitors
what mixing desk?
Seeking advice: interesting charity sound installation
70W - 120W Amplifiers
Recommendations for installation and accoustics, Church redevelopment project will involve some serious work
Mixing desk, which one?
If you have any suggestions for more useful information then please PM me.