need advice on garage band (not the program) set up

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Member Since: Mar 20, 2007

I'm in a band, and since none of us have any experience in setting up equipment I'm looking for some good advice on set ups.

Right now, we have:

- 1 old 60w head stacked guitar amp (its huge)
- 2 Bass amps (80w/60w)
- A pretty cheap Mixer (3 inputs) + $90 Mic

Everything is just plugged in individually (guitar into 60w guitar amp, bass into 60w bass amp). The Mic is plugged into the 80w bass amp through the mixer.

This most likely isn't the best way to connect everything, I was wondering if anyone has advice or links on good setups.

Spending more money shouldn't be a problem (as long as the equipment isn't too expensive)

Right now in the band theres just drums, bass, and guitar. In the future there will be a trumpet, trombone, and saxophone.

Thanks for reading.

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Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Mar 21, 2007 05:27 am

To be honest If that is all you have then that is pretty much the only way to set it up.

I would consider maybe investing in a pa amp and speakers. You would then be able to have the vocals seperate and clearer. This would also give you a bit of scope if you need to use another instrument through the desk.

Ultra Magnus
Member
Since: Nov 13, 2004


Mar 21, 2007 07:09 am

Yeah, get a PA. You'll need that and a few more mics when the brass section arrives and a bass amp isn't ideal for vocals as you probably already know.

I'd be interested to hear you guys when the brass is in place, don't forget to pop back when you're rolling.

Member
Since: Mar 20, 2007


Mar 21, 2007 12:47 pm

Thanks for the replies guys.

One more question... how/where do you suggest placing the amps/PA system?

Also, I've scouted the following PA system:

www.musiciansfriend.com/p...kage?sku=632200

It seems to be very cheap with good product reviews.

Edit: My drummer plays quite loud, and the PA above might not be loud enough, so I found this:

www.musiciansfriend.com/p...stem?sku=636502

Member
Since: Aug 13, 2005


Mar 21, 2007 01:19 pm

Yes,the Phonic is a handy PA set up and will handle small gigs:)

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Mar 21, 2007 02:51 pm

Think of a PA speakers in at least 2 different pieces:

- monitors (so the band can hear each other)
- FOH (front of house, so the audience can hear the band)

For practice you really only need monitors as far as speakers go, and that's mainly so the drummer can hear the vocals.

We used to have an ungodly loud drummer as well and if I could go back and change anything about my gigging days, it would be to tell the drummer to SHUT THE HELL UP and back off on banging the drums. It just made a sonic mess out of everything else because everybody else was cranked to compete with the (un-mic'd) drums. Every frequency of the entire spectrum was pushed to the limits of human hearing and all we ever heard out of our vocalist was something that sounded like "wawawawawawawaaaa". I never knew the words to any of our songs since I coud never understand what the singer was saying. All I could hear was CRASH! SNARE! HIHAT! SNARE!

If the drummer would just back off, then all of the other instruments can operate within more normal volume levels and things almost mix themselves (almost). But have you ever tried to talk a drummer into beating the skins more softly? Good luck! :)

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Mar 21, 2007 02:54 pm

Indeed Tadpui, and this is truly a problem in smaller clubs as the whole crowd hears that sonic jumble. I did ask our drummer while recording to pound the skins and lay off the cymbals though, he did pretty good.

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