PA from Scratch

[Jonny Y]

Hey there,

 

This is my first post here so thankyou in advance for your response!

 

Basically I am currently in a band playing new material, but we are limited in the number of gigs we can play so we intend to form a covers band in the next few months.

 

Although I have no formal education in sound engineering, I'd like to think I have an idea what I'm doing, but this translates more to recording and mixing live sound. Basically I want to invest in a PA that I can expand over the next couple of years. This summer will mainly consist of Pub gigs. I was wondering everyones preference to Active or Passive systems, and the sort of power I'll be needing for initial pub gigs, and hopefully some larger more corporate gigs in the near future. I intend to eventually be able to put kit and bass through the PA, although obviously this wont be needed for pub gigs. The band consists of guitar, bass, keys, and vox. As I play brass as well there maybe also scope for extending the PA to accomodate a 10 piece band.

 

Also, I have a few behringer audio solutions that I have found to be really good for the price. Can the same be said for there amps and speakers??

 

Cheers,

 

Jonny

 

Oh yeah, initial budget is probably about £600 for speakers and amps. We intend to plug money from our first few covers gigs back into buying gear.

[lightsource]

Hi Johnny,

 

While it is possible to purchase amps and and speakers within your budget, £600 is a bit on the low side, for decent quality kit, and in the covers market you want good quality gear, with a good sound, and that costs.

 

A pair of Behringer B1220 pro, and an EP series amp would be within your budget, but I'll let others decide weather they're any good or not....(never used Behringer amps or speakers.)

 

As you stated in you're post, if you're saving the money earned from your first few gigs to buy gear, then, short term, why don't you look at hiring the amps and speakers from a local hire company, until you have the budget to buy something decent.

 

There's plenty of hire companies in Manchester, who'd do you a good deal.

[PSi]

As you stated in you're post, if you're saving the money earned from your first few gigs to buy gear, then, short term, why don't you look at hiring the amps and speakers from a local hire company, until you have the budget to buy something decent.

 

There's plenty of hire companies in Manchester, who'd do you a good deal.

 

 

couldn't have put it better my self.

 

Remember as well, low priced equipment may be inviting but we all know (in most cases) you get what you pay for. if you're looking to expand your sound over the next few years what lightsource said is probably ya best bet, other wise you may end up spendin most of your takins on either repairing the gear you've allready got of upgrading coz you're not happy with it.

 

as for the active over passive question. in my opinion for what you'll be doin with the sound it'll probably be easyer with active gear, only because there's less kit to lug about. apart from that though it's really your choice.

 

try not to go down the really cheap route though, you'll only kick yourself in the future.

[berry120]

As others have said, you CAN buy amps / speakers or active speakers for that money, but it's probably better saving up for something a bit more decent, especially as you're looking to expand. 2 of the studiospares 15" active fortissimo comes within your budget, though again, the same thing applies. You could look at second hand gear and you may well be able to get some good deals on it if you look around, but you take a risk here as if it all packs up within a couple of weeks then you've just blown £600.

 

As an aside, have you got mics and a desk already? Or are you looking to buy those as well? I know you said the 600 just needs to go on amps and speakers, but the title "PA from scratch" implies you need everything :unsure:

[Jonny Y]

Thanks for the quick response guys!

 

Everyone seems to agree, so I think thats probably what we'll do. What sort of gear should I be looking at then? I used some mackie gear a while back and really liked it..... Also ive been looking at some HK Audio stuff????

 

We've got a couple of mixers that we'll probably replace eventually, and weve got a selection of shure and sennheiser mics so we're sorted on that front!

[timtheenchanteruk]

Also ive been looking at some HK Audio stuff????

 

If its the active stuff, personally I wouldn`t bother, yes it sounds OK, but they are a pig to move about, and you really do need 2 people to put one on a stand, we have some at work, the actor system (2 pairs of bins and a pair of tops) and they really are a sod to rig.

[smalljoshua]

Have a search for RCF TT+ Series on this forum it seems like something worth saving for.

 

Josh

 

Edit: to change embarrising splling mistake.

 

 

Moderation: Unless you enjoy a red face, you may choose to check your spelling of "embarrassing" :unsure:

[johndenim]

I have been looking at this recently,

 

http://www.thomann.de/gb/db_technologies_q...line_system.htm

 

Quite a lot out of your budget Jonny but if it was possible to get between the band then I would have thought it would cope with many large corporate rooms for future use.

As mentioned you can't really expect decent cabs/amps for the budget.

 

The RCF TT+ range is fantastic, but you will need a couple of gigs at wembley to pay for a large enough system!

(Here comes Fat frog!)

 

John Denim.

[DaveBennett]

Might be worth checking out Mackie C300Zs. They are about £200 each from Thomann, then with a Thomann own brand amp or EP2500 at about £200 youd have a fair rig for £600. Mackie C300Zs/SRM450s (the active versions) are a speaker which are often used by small bands (inc mine) - check them out, there nice little speakers.

 

Dave

[andy_s]

Might be worth checking out Mackie C300Zs. They are about £200 each from Thomann, then with a Thomann own brand amp or EP2500 at about £200 youd have a fair rig for £600. Mackie C300Zs/SRM450s (the active versions) are a speaker which are often used by small bands (inc mine) - check them out, there nice little speakers.

 

Dave

definitely worth looking at the SRM450s - not too heavy for a powered plastic box, expandable by adding more SRM450s and subs, and certainly available at relatively knock-down prices recently as stocks are cleared ready for the launch of the mark 2s - I recently (couple of months ago) bought a pair with tripod stands from Turnkey for less than £800 - a little more than your budget admittedly. And of course Turnkey is now in receivership, but similar prices were available from other suppliers at the time.

[johndenim]

Mods and members,

This was intentional from Josh, The posts which followed have been removed as they were ;)

 

John denim.

[Sirch Sound]

definitely worth looking at the SRM450s - not too heavy for a powered plastic box, expandable by adding more SRM450s and subs, and certainly available at relatively knock-down prices recently as stocks are cleared ready for the launch of the mark 2s - I recently (couple of months ago) bought a pair with tripod stands from Turnkey for less than £800 - a little more than your budget admittedly. And of course Turnkey is now in receivership, but similar prices were available from other suppliers at the time.

 

Its definatly NOT worth looking at SRM450's anymore. Granted, they used to be one of the best and most popular active cab around. However as with most companys mackie decided to make there cabs in some far eastern contry instead of italy, and the new cabs are very, very dissapointing. The build quality is quite frankly crap compared to the old cab. We have 8 of these cabs in our hire stock at SLX Tyneside, the old, italien made versions that is, and they are awesom, we have less problems with them than the New TT systems we have now got in stock. However after one of the guys bought a new pair a few months ago and was very dissapointed with them we decided to open them up and compare the old and new. They might aswell have been a different speaker. In the end the guy who bought them took them back after going in for repair 6 times in under 4 months, and bought a pair of RCF ART 322a's instead, as did I. And what a difference, there built solidly, sound awesom for a platic cab and there becoming unbeliveably popular. and, RCF boxes are still made in italy! There genrally a much much better cab all round.

 

Dont get me wrong, there are places for the new mackies, school instalations for example. But show them a van and some touring abuse and they will pack up on you very, very quickly.

 

Rich

[andy_s]

Oh dear. I've wasted all that money then.

[Sirch Sound]

Oh dear. I've wasted all that money then.

 

Look after them very carefuly and your fine, just dont expect to be able to treat them like the old ones.

 

Rich

[Stewart Newlands]

One option might be to look at some speakers that will form your monitor system as you expand, with say 4 speakers that can be used as monitors or FOH you can use 2 monitors and 2 on tripods for FOH in the pubs but then hire a PA for larger gigs and use your 4 speakers as monitors. But I would want a fair bit per speaker to make sure they will cut it as monitors when used with a good FOH PA.

 

This lets you get use to the sound of your own monitors, learn to get your monitor EQ etc the way you like it so when you get a larger event where you have to uses more PA you retain more of your comfort zone, and can let the engineer look after the FOH sound.