Best set-up for the PA stuff we have ?
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Posted on Aug 14, 2008 02:05 pm
Hue
Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member Since: Apr 11, 2004
We've been working with our under-speakered PA for too long now . I finally found a couple of speakers that should give it the lift it needs . Now, I just have to wrap my head around how I should hook everything up... here's what we're working with :
-A Mackie 808M 1200w... this one:
www.mackie.com/products/808s/index.html
-An older Soundtech 500w Power amp
A digitech 3-way X-over .
Two 12" Two-way Bullfrog wedge-monitors.
Two 15" w/3 Piezos in ea. made by Ross.(These are the ones we're picking up today)
One 2x15" Fender cabinet.
We usually run two vocal-mics, and the bass pre into the Mackie which powers the Bullfrogs, and then out of the Mackies 'left mixer-out' to the Soundtech to power the 2x15 Fender cab .
We used to hook up everything to my Behri2442, and thusly able to incorporate the crossover between it and the amps, BUT a couple of channels in the Behri have left us, so we have been omitting it lately . I guess we could start using it again, if need be .(I really hate gear that only half-works)
Any suggestions ???
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Aug 14, 2008 02:09 pm I can tell you how to set it up, as I don't know how big your band is and stuff, but one thing I will ask is if you have stands for the hipacks...if not, bring crates or something to lift those up with...geting the tweeter up over head level of the audience will help dispersion a lot.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Aug 14, 2008 02:28 pm Well, this is for use in our 14'x22' practice room . We currently have the Bullfrogs set upon the 2x15" Fender, and pointed at the middle of the room . The drummer we have hits so damn hard, we had to baffle him into a corner... since that change our 'lil pa has had at least a fighting chance, but it's still not enough, with as loud as we play just keeping up with the volume of the drummer .
Aug 14, 2008 02:52 pm You should be able to still use your crossover, more or less, the same way you have been.
Just instead of running to your behringer board, go straight to the crossover. If your not getting enough level at first, there should be a gain knob on the Digitech.
You don't have to worry about the 15"'s and piezos at that point. No sense in using a crossover on them to begin with. As piezos do not have an ohm load to them.
Just kind of leaves you stuck with the FOH in mono, and only one monitor mix. Which is OK.
What dB suggested is key as well. You really have to get the horns about head height. Other wise you'll never fill the room for your FOH.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Aug 14, 2008 03:01 pm [quote] Just instead of running to your behringer board, go straight to the crossover. If your not getting enough level at first, there should be a gain knob on the Digitech.
[/quote]
Go straight to the crossover ? You mean...
Behri--> Crossover--> Amps--> Speakers . Right ?
Is there anyway to do this without the Behri ?
Aug 14, 2008 03:56 pm I mean Mackie 808s left main out (not the powered) --> Crossover--> Amp--> 2x15"
Then Mackie 808s powered out--> FOH--> Mix 1.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Aug 15, 2008 09:11 am
I ended up going out from the 'monitor line out' with the compressor in place, into the 500w Soundtech... to the 2x15" . We set the new cabinets on top of the Fender 2x15", and put one Bullfrog inside jackhammers cubicle, and the other on the oposite corner of the room for the vocalist . Everything sounds awesome as we're able to designate what goes where pretty well .
Thanks guys !
Aug 15, 2008 09:13 am awesome, glad it worked out.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Aug 19, 2008 06:07 pm FOH?
Aug 19, 2008 06:12 pm "front of house"
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Aug 20, 2008 03:46 pm Ahhh, live sound guy term.
Aug 20, 2008 04:26 pm Actually, it's a theater term. Just like up stage, down stage, stage left stage right. Then Front of House.
mclir9www.witchsmark.comMember
Since: Aug 13, 2006
Aug 21, 2008 08:00 am You guys must be playing loud as hell to have to use monitors as well as Mains in a 14' x 22' room for practice. My band plays in a 12' x 24' room an we get away with just 2-SP2's. I remember when back in the day we would all walk out of band practice with ears ringing, and little by little we ultimately turned things down some which in turn gave us 2 very important thing. 1. it preserved our ears for future use, and 2 it allowed us to really tighten up as a band because we could actually hear the distinctions and details of our playing together and it wasn't just one big wall of sound. Almost like the Loudness War in recording,but live. Granted your drummer would have to learn to control himself, which can be a large part of the task right there, but I promise you it's worth it. Geeez, I'm talking about turning it down, never thought I'd see this day, lol.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Aug 21, 2008 10:22 am Yeah mclir9, it's a bit loud, but like yourself we have been working on getting volumes down to a tollerable level. The new speakers are part of that effort, as we now have the ability to exploit the headroom that comes with having just the vox come out of those, and the bass coming out of the Fender 2x15s... and then whatever we need to send into Jack Hammers 'cubicle'-monitor . So, yeah, it's loud, but doesn't sound like a muddy wall of sound anymore .
Alot of it does have to do with the drummer hitting so damn hard . Without the baffles in place, his snare hits actually 'hurt'... piercing . He's working on it, but as anyone who plays drums knows, it's easier said than done, especially when you get 'emotionally involved' . heh
