Walker

BTW, a workmate's brother (a sound engineer) pointed me to great reference booklet freebie: [i][b][url="http://www.soundcraft.com/support/gtm_booklet.aspx"]The Soundcraft Guide To Mixing Booklet[/url][/b] "This handy written tutorial explains what a mixer is, what the functions are, and the basics of setting up and using a PA system.[/i]" It answered lots of questions for me in a language I could understand! May be useful to others?

Thank you for that brensabre79. Seems we play same size as you, pubs and small function rooms - with the occassional marquee or festival stage! Our PA system specs are 250W + 250W @4ohms and my current bass rig, a PJB Suitcase and 4B ext cab is 300w @4ohms. Now I'll be honest - I don't understand what those figures mean! I assume that's enough bass power to match the PA ? I think the decent Yamaha mixer with some FX is the way to go after reading all the comments and the £'s we have available. We've no amabition (or talent!) to play huge venues and as you say, house PA's will be used anyway. We played a festival last summer and went straight into their gear with no issues although the mandolin and banjo threw the sound guys for while! Your 2p worth is very welcome!

So, my bass rig should provide all of the bass for our gigs? Nothing into the PA at all? Keeping in mind guitarist don't use backline amps and as our current PA is 250W + 250W, what sort of power should I be looking at for my bass rig then? What about if we upgraded to a 1k PA? Thanks! Chris

Thanks brensabre79. It's good to hear you have come up against similar issues and found a solution that works. That's the second mention a Behringer mixer has had - they certainly seem good value. I'll check them out on ebay tonight.

Yes, lots of vocal harmonies I'm afraid! None of the guitarists use backline - straight into PA via their FX/DI as they are acoustic instruments (guitars, mandolin, banjo). At the moment, my bass rig provides all my bass. I've had a quick look at the Mackies you mentioned and the review I read said that if i wanted to put my bass through it, I would need the subwoofer too. From what I've told you about our band, do you reckon we'd need a powered subwoofer as well as the mackie 450's? Sorry about all the questions - I want to get it right this time! When we started, there were 4 of us and we were playing in tiny pub backrooms. Now venues and crowds are getting a touch bigger, so we want to be equipped to play to 100-150 people. For example - this weekend we did a golf club function with 100+ up-for-it people dancing. Volume was absolutely fine but the room was wide and we were playing across it rather than down the length of it. Cheers again! Chris

[b]LawrenceH[/b] - cheers, that is a great price, have kept a watch on that one if we decide to go down the submix route! [b]Thumperbob[/b] - really interesting stuff. Thank you. Could I DI into this setup (not use my cab for reinforcement) or would PA need some sort of sub too? We each have a powered 100w Yamaha monitor so wouldnt need by cab for backline. Something less to lug around We are not a loud band - mainly acoustic, keys and drum and me on electric bass.

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1322497251' post='1451563'] My opinion, buy a decent desk and plan ahead.You won`t lose money on it. [/quote] Yes, this does look like the route we are going to go down now, just a bit of persauding to be done Although we are going to pick up a small 2nd mixer to submix while we raise the £££'s for a new Yam powered desk. Thanks everyone for your input (boom boom). Chris

Couldnt agree more about the cable. I've got the 80's and everytime I use them I swear I'll get the cable replaced. They look and feel cheap in my opinion, but they sound so damned good - looks like all the budget was blown on the drivers. The What-HIFI 5 star thing did it for me.

Thanks Bill, assuming I would need to look at the max output of any mixer and not exeed the 250 wpc?

Thanks very much, lots of options here. So if I went for a powered mixer, could I still use the passive speakers I have? http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/proaudio/pa_systems/stagepas_500/?mode=series#tab=feature

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1322155924' post='1447379'] You might like to also think of looking at a mixer which takes all of your inputs and just feed the stereo output to the Stagepas which will act as an amp. The Yamahas have a great sound if you can put up with the relatively low sound output. [/quote] We gigged last night and I talked to the guys about this and we love this idea. The Yam' has an amazing sound and suits our music and typical venue size perfectly. So if we bought a non powered Peavey or Mackie desk with enough inputs, we could just mix on this and send to the Yam? That simple? Thanks again for the advice.

Grado's. Best £80 I ever spent. I rediscovered my music collection! Open backed though, so those around you will hear what you are listening too, so not great for the commute. Also, you look a bit like a Sputnik when you are wearing them.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1322219284' post='1448031'] Personally, I wouldn't sub mix the vocals above all else. They would be the last thing, IMV and sub mixing would be a stop-gap.[/quote] Thanks for the advice, another mixer isn't an option at the moment I'm afraid. Can i ask why you wouldn't sub mix the vocals above all else? What about the acoustic guitars then? They all DI into the PA using the XLR inputs.

Just sold a high value pedal to Alan, absolutely perfect transaction - thanks Alan, a pleasure to deal with. Chris

OK, this may be a really stupid question so apologies if it is. Our 5 piece (2 x acoustic guitars (both sing), keys (also sings), drums and me on bass) has a Yamaha Stagepas 500. It's plenty loud enough for our gigs. Thing is, we have run out of inputs. Is it possible, for example, to run the 3 vox into a small seperate mixer, then into one of the PA's XLR's? Could we do the same with the guitars? Thanks very much! Chris [attachment=93775:PA.jpg]