DanielArkley Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 One of my mate's bands wants to have a live gig, except they currently don't have any equipment to do this. The guy in charge (my mate) wants to buy some kit that the band will own, so that they don't have to rent it each time. I have been asked to provide him with a list of things he will need to buy. Never minding models, I understand the following arrangement would work: Guitar --> Some kind of unpowered mixing desk --> Amplifiers --> Unpowered speakers Mic -->Some kind of unpowered mixing desk with phantom power for mic --> Amplifiers --> Unpowered speakers Is this correct? Do unpowered speakers work without an amplifier (I don't think they do, but need confirmation of this). If the band had an amplifier, they don't want to use powered speakers do they? Ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicgross Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Okay - I'm a bit confused but here goes... There are 3 main (out of endless) possibilitys. The first being a powered set up. Mics ------> unpowered mixer -------> powered speakers (NO AMPS NEEDED) The second being a un powered set up. Mics ----> mixer ----> amp -----> upowered speakers. (NEED AMP) The third using a powered mixer. Mics -----> powered mixer -------> unpowered speakers. (NEED POWERED MIXER) Remember a powered mixer has a built in amp, A powered speaker has a built in amp. You DONT want to connect a powered mixer to an amp, or to a powered speaker. You also dont want to connect an amp to a powered speaker. It sounds confusing but is really quite simple. The most popular set up for small band tends to be the cheapest. Even buying the cheapest gear is going to prove expensive.... a basic setup ain't cheep... You dont always need Phantom power on the desk - its only nessisary if your using a condenser type powered mike.... PM me if you need any more info.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Foster Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 I'm no expert here but to connect the guitar to the desk you will need a DI box, or a special mic to pickup the guitar amp. Someone else will explain this better.... Also , does anybody know when to mic the guitar amp and when to use a DI box? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicgross Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 It dependson the amp and the set up... I find the best thing to do is to take both. Take a DI from the amp and have a mike on the amp. (For electric guitar) This way you get the best of both - a crystal clean processed sound, and the dirty amp sound. For accoustic I put it into the DI and then split to the back line and to the mixer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 OK - in pictures - un-powered mixer look at this page Powered mixers have amplifiers built in Powered speakers have amplifiers built in Don't connect the two :( Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dave Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 That just about covers the basics. However, depending on the size of the venue, you may not need to mic the guitar amp at all as I'm sure it will already have its volume set at "louder than hell" so you would only need to amplify the vocal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Perhaps its also worth noting that you can get some guitar amps with a mic input, so you could (theoretically, anyway) use only the one speaker for both guitar and singers. If you mic a guitar amp, be aware of the placement of the mic - too close, and you could blow the circuitry. Too far away, and you're likely to give yourself hassle with feedback from the other speakers. Good luck. And try Terralec or Thomann for cheap PA kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 too close, and you could blow the circuitry In what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 The Mic? Or am I talking b :( ll? I'm only a lampie :P (most of the time)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 I'm only a lampie (most of the time)... with all due respect peter, I've never "blown the circuitry in any mic" You can get mics to clip if they are subjected to too-high spl's but I've used dynamic's like the good old 57's with spl's in excess of 130dBA (yes I had to set the mic and retract to a safe distance as experiancing that would cause hearing damage) with no problems and a loverly sound. Maybe you could consider investing in a copy of the "yamaha" book - it covers everything you needed to know to talk knowlegably about sound at this level At the risk of making a commercial post - as there appear to be a few people who could do with reading it , http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0881889008.01.MZZZZZZZ.gifBuy it from Amazon Thanks Oh and if you calculate the SPL inside a kick drum - then apply that to a standard dynamic mic - then work out what voltage that equates to - compare that with a standard 0dBu source....... Rather interesting. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 I'll get it out from the Uni library, when I enrole... Thanks for the tip James. We all have to learn somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickLee Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 For the kind of applications you're thinking of I'd recommend you look at a powered mixer - it's one less box to lug, less to cable up, and will do the job as reqd on a small scale. N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dave Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 While I could say several thousand bad things about mixer amps (heavy, unreliable, generally crap - I think Powerstation is an obsenity in some circles), does sound like thats what is needed here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 heavy, unreliable, generally crap did you miss hot? - unexpandable and generally pointless :blink: but yes it could be suitable in this situation. Unless Paul fancies selling them some of his powered mackie speakers - that might do the job and be more expandable ... ;) or they could of course go for powered eon 10's ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_s Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Maybe you could consider investing in a copy of the "yamaha" book - it covers everything you needed to know to talk knowlegably about sound at this levelgood recommendation - another excellent read for people into mixing is LIVE SOUND MIXING by DUNCAN R FRY. published by Roztralia Publications, ISBN number 0 646 11235 X. No disrespect meant, as I classify myself amongst this group, but it really is "sound mixing for dummies", very clear on all aspects. (I got my copy through the PLASA bookshop) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.