NWB - Community Blog

24 Mar 2010

Help! Re gear

Filed Under : Gear

Posted By : jeni | Comments : 9

I'm not a tecky so any info/advice re band gear would be appreciated

I bought some gear back in September as I was gonna go back into self-contained stuff. I then joined a band instead and the gear just doesnt cut it., so will be selling the lot.

We have just bought Peavey Hisys 2 mids and Peavey Hisys 115XT bins (all at 4ohms) and a Peavey PV2000 amp to power them.

We need tops, a crossover, desk and amp and amp for our monitors.

I've been looking at the Mackie CFX12 passive amp, also been told the Soundcraft powered amp 2x500w is decent? Also looking at Eliminator 400w 15inch tops but they are 8ohm so not sure if they are compatible when hooked up to everything else?

What would u go for? Passive mixer and seperate amp or powered mixer/amp and what speakers to go with the mids and bass cabs that we already have? What makes/models of amp/tops would u rate highly?

There is so much choice out there that my head is mashed lol. What do u guys use?

jeni

Comments

# Posted by Dresden North End - 24/03/2010, 22:26 (GMT)

I would just get a decent mixer and an amp for the monitors, ya can mix the monitors thru yer desk

Mark

# Posted by jeni - 24/03/2010, 22:44 (GMT)

Ok, what do u reckon is a decent mixer/amp? I'd like sommat with good pre amp/effects and eq? Would u go for passive with separate amp then?

# Posted by Rumble Fat Band - 25/03/2010, 11:52 (GMT)

Hi Jeni,
It looks like you are trying to build a system like this.
www.northwestbands.co.uk/.../pa-system-possible-for-sale
If you use the existing Peavey Power amp for the Tops/Mids, you need another Power Amp for the Subs, A set of Top's, a Passive mixer, an active crossover, a monitor amp and monitor speakers.
The power Amp you have will handle 2 Ohms OK, so you need another set of 4 Ohm tops to work with it so likely you will have to use Peavey.
Any amp that handles 4 Ohms will do for the subs. the whole lot will weigh a ton and take up half a Transit Van..

One question though.....
Do you Mic up the Drums/ guitars and DI the Bass or is it just vocals going through the PA?
If only vocals I would sell what you have, buy a pair of Mackie 450SRM's, (Mk 1 preferably), a decent mixer, (we use a 12 channel Yamaha one and love it). All you need then is some monitoring. Alec, (Night Train), is selling an HK powered monitor, so job done.
You could add some powered subs if you need them.
I personally wouldn't go for a powered mixer, particularly as you already have a power amp and if you go "active", you don't need it anyway.
Drop me a PM if you want to discuss further..

# Posted by NIGHT TRAIN - 25/03/2010, 12:16 (GMT)

Yeh I agree with RFB. If you add EV Eliminators to the equation you've got a big PA...but you've also got a fair weight to shift around...we certainly wouldn't consider anything that heavy these days.
Depends where you're thinking of gigging I guess but there's not many venues on here that need (or can even take) a PA that size!
Modern PA gear like Mackie/RCF/EV stuff can certainly hold their own against these big heavy boxes.. for vocals...and if you're gonna put instruments through just add a powered sub.
There's nothing worse than lugging big heavy boxes (and that Peavey gear and Eliminators are about as heavy as it gets...I've owned em LOL)
Might be fun the first couple of times, but a real bind once the novelty has worn off.
PS I think my powered monitor has been sold

# Posted by NIGHT TRAIN - 25/03/2010, 12:18 (GMT)

what band have you joined, and where do you play? also what gear did you have before that doesn't cut it?

# Posted by jeni - 25/03/2010, 12:45 (GMT)

up to now the guitarists have used there own amp's and I have been using a Studiomaster 1000w powered amp but a new cheap model (which is rubbish compared to the older models like vision 8 etc). It didnt cut above the band well and the sound was very trebly. As we are looking to all go through a mixer, it made sense to start over. The bass player picked up the bass cabs, mids and amp, so I'm hunting for something to go with it. I can see from past blogs that everyone rates the Mark 1 Mackie 450SRM's.
I do want a decent mixer with decent pre-amp and eq, been lookin at A & H, Yamaha and Soundcraft. What do most bands on here rate highly when it comes to quality mixers?

# Posted by NIGHT TRAIN - 25/03/2010, 13:23 (GMT)

any of those...although a couple of em have external power supplies which is a drag. Yeh the Studiomaster stuff is now made by the same company as run Soundlab so quality has slipped somewhat.
Its a pity you didn't see that Mackie CFX20 mixer I sold last month...bloody good buy that but too big for me. i just downsized to a CFX12. they actually have a built in independent sub out which is handy.
Best bet is to test a few at FULL volume...i've used all them makes and the only one i couldn't get along with was the Yamaha 16summat...just couldn't get it right although it had a few extras like compression. The eq and reverb had a kind of rasping sound...wasn't bad but certainly wasn't as 'pure' as any of the others.
I'd go for (assuming price band is the same)
A & H...well respected with good resale value
Mackie...if you're gonna use mackie powered speakers..good reverbs
Soundcraft...one with Lexicon effects and no external power supply
Yamaha...loadsa features but not totally convinced about sound

# Posted by Dresden North End - 25/03/2010, 17:29 (GMT)

We use a Yamaha mixer about 6 yrs old. Never let us down. We have a reverb unit for vox, and 2 amps. 1 for PA and 1 for monitors. Works really well with just vox or all-in. Also we can still play if somethin packs up.

Mark

# Posted by jeni - 27/03/2010, 21:37 (GMT)

Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone that has posted here and pm'd me with info and advice. Some of u have really gone out of your way to help...u know who u are :) ..... I'm very grateful. Cheers guys.

Jeni x

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