Explain PA setups to me like I'm an idiot

[proy900]

Hello all,

 

A promising opportunity has arisen for my band to make use of a space for rehearsal for an egregiously small monthly fee dwarfing quite considerably our outlay for our current room, which means we would give up our 12 years long slot in a wonderful, acoustically treated, 500sq/ft studio fitted out with a high-end PA and desk. We will have to setup our own PA in the new space of course as it is not a space intended or made for musical endeavours.

 

Due to our local music venue closing it's doors recently we have been able to obtain a Peavey Power Amplifier and 15" speakers, desk, stands, cables etc... etc...

These bits of kit were never used together and the venue owner wasn't able to give any insight on if these were a suitable match.

Now none of us in the band understand the magic smoke that is power ratings for these kind of things, and I'm really friggin' dumb; so can anyone advise if the following equipment is fit for purpose. Please can any advice be explained as if you were providing a teachable moment to a 5 year old, which coincidentally is my approximate reading age.

 

Peavey PV-1200 Power Amplifier (link to manual > PV-1200)

Peavey PRO-15 (MK1?) 4ohm 600w speakers (Cannot for love nor money find the manual for this model, only the 300w 8ohm MK2 version)

Behringer X2442USB Mixer

 

I'd really like to know if putting two guitar modelling boards, 3 vocal mics, and an ambient backing track module through this setup to play modern metal stylings, at not entirely cranked volumes, is going to cause damage to, or small fires within the equipment.

In case you wonder, my bass will be running through a wonderful Ashdown ABM 8x10 EVO separate to the desk because the flap is strong with an X7 and 900w DG Microtubes. 

 

Thanks in advance for any advice proffered.

[warwickhunt]

With regard to power ratings etc (speaking in simple terms), you'll be fine... so long as you don't whack the desk sliders to max!  

 

Start off at zero and bring it up gradually, if the speakers start to complain/fart, you've reached the speaker's max level but I'm confident they should give you enough volume before then.  

 

Set with your EQ flat and don't start cranking the bass, that can push speakers.

[Dad3353]

1 hour ago, proy900 said:

... Thanks in advance for any advice proffered.

 

The equipment itself is compatible, assuming it to be in good working order, but may not give the same result as the 'high-end' stuff you're used to. As it's for practice, I'm supposing that it'll be set up at one end (or side...) of the locale, facing you, not facing in the more usual 'FOH' direction. You may find that mic feedback (larsen...) sets the limit as to how high volume can go. The useful volume limit will be set by how hard-hitting your drummer is (if you have a drummer...).

I would recommend finding a decent technicien for the initial setting up and cabling, just to be sure that the simple mistakes of plugging the right cable into the right equipment are avoided. This is important regarding the cables from the PA amp to the PA speakers, as they have to be of suitable section, and the 'phase' correctly respected. With these amps, it's usual to use bare wires to the terminal posts on the amp, which can go very wrong if not done properly. Good quality connections here will pay dividends; any skimping or ignorance here will ensure lots of 'magic smoke'; these amps are very solid until they go wrong, when they are a pig. Be very attentive, then, to the correct connections to the speakers.

Hope this helps.  

Edited 5 hours ago by Dad3353

[Beedster]

1 hour ago, proy900 said:

Hello all,

 

A promising opportunity has arisen for my band to make use of a space for rehearsal for an egregiously small monthly fee dwarfing quite considerably our outlay for our current room, which means we would give up our 12 years long slot in a wonderful, acoustically treated, 500sq/ft studio fitted out with a high-end PA and desk. We will have to setup our own PA in the new space of course as it is not a space intended or made for musical endeavours.

 

Due to our local music venue closing it's doors recently we have been able to obtain a Peavey Power Amplifier and 15" speakers, desk, stands, cables etc... etc...

These bits of kit were never used together and the venue owner wasn't able to give any insight on if these were a suitable match.

Now none of us in the band understand the magic smoke that is power ratings for these kind of things, and I'm really friggin' dumb; so can anyone advise if the following equipment is fit for purpose. Please can any advice be explained as if you were providing a teachable moment to a 5 year old, which coincidentally is my approximate reading age.

 

Peavey PV-1200 Power Amplifier (link to manual > PV-1200)

Peavey PRO-15 (MK1?) 4ohm 600w speakers (Cannot for love nor money find the manual for this model, only the 300w 8ohm MK2 version)

Behringer X2442USB Mixer

 

I'd really like to know if putting two guitar modelling boards, 3 vocal mics, and an ambient backing track module through this setup to play modern metal stylings, at not entirely cranked volumes, is going to cause damage to, or small fires within the equipment.

In case you wonder, my bass will be running through a wonderful Ashdown ABM 8x10 EVO separate to the desk because the flap is strong with an X7 and 900w DG Microtubes. 

 

Thanks in advance for any advice proffered.

I’m sure if you let us know where you are someone could help out in person? 

[Downunderwonder]

You should me more concerned with blowing up your hearing.

 

Never plug more than one amplifier into a speaker.

 

If it isn't obvious what cables are what you should check with someone before hooking it up.

 

Mind out with the output sliders. If something isn't making any sound, turning up the output won't fix it.

[Steve Browning]

One very important thing to remember is always turn the mixer on first and off last. Every time you use the system. 

[Suburban Man]

1 hour ago, Downunderwonder said:

You should me more concerned with blowing up your hearing.

 

Never plug more than one amplifier into a speaker.

 

If it isn't obvious what cables are what you should check with someone before hooking it up.

 

Mind out with the output sliders. If something isn't making any sound, turning up the output won't fix it.

This amp doesn’t have Speakon outputs so be careful with the amp-to-speaker cables. Like Dad3353 says, if you’re going to do any damage it’s likely to be this end of the system.