Live music setup/sound HELP!!!

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tommmy

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Hi, I am in a small 5 person band and am very new to live setup/sound. I’ve performed numerous times at small cafes but not much in a small band. I’m wondering how to get the best sound/setup with the equipment we have. Also 2 questions: 1. Am I supposed to run everything through the PA and then EQ it? Or just vocals? 2. Can I use my acoustic amp as a monitor and run my acoustic guitar through the PA?

I realize we are SOL without monitors right now. Any comments and advice would be helpful and much appreciated. Thanks.

Tommy

Guitars:
-Two acoustic electric guitars
-Two electric guitars (Strat, Epiphone)

Drums:
-4-piece kit

Amps:
-Stagg 100w Acoustic Guitar Amp
-Fender Blues Deluxe
-
-Behringer

Mics:
-Shure SM58 (main vocals)
-Shure PG-48 (backup vocals
-Audio 2000s ADM1064 (third backup vocal if needed)

PA:
-Peavey XR684 mixer
-Two Sound Factor 15” Speakers

Monitors:
-NONE!! =[
 
You've got 4 guitarists, drums and no bass? Or 2/3 guitarists, drums and singer(s)?
I assume the 2 electric guitars are plugging into the two guitar amps?

Important to understand who is playing what at the same time to advise further. Biggest thing is to get a balanced sound.

What's the size of the places you are going to be playing? You may be able to set up the PA speakers enough back from front of the stage to use them as temporary monitors for the singers, but a couple of powered monitors should be your next purchase.
 
1 drummer, 2 guitarists playing (1 who sings), 1 bassist, and one female singer. Playing small bars, and small outdoor venues. 2 electric into the two amps yes.
 
Yeah, the important thing to be aware of, is how it sounds to the ones out front listening. Make sure they are getting a good balance of what your songs need. It is often tough to play next to a drummer, especially in a small room. Guitar player has to turn up, in order to hear himself. 20 feet away, all you hear is guitar in your face. Depending on the size and acoustics of the venue, it seemed best to face guitar amps towards the center of the stage. Due to the size of your PA system, you will want to limit what you put into it. Yeah, maybe some acoustic guitar, if it is needed. You can quickly make things crazy, by adding too much into a small system. Vocals IMO, are best kept separate from other instruments, in a small venue/PA system.

More info, as to what type of venue you are going to be playing....

:)
 
Outdoor venues? Oh my. Now that is even tougher....

Move more air. Bigger PA man.
 
jimmys69 said:
Outdoor venues? Oh my. Now that is even tougher....

Move more air. Bigger PA man.
Click to expand...

If it's one of those farmer's market type gigs then a small PA is generally fine as they don't really want rock concert volume. It's basically background music for the shoppers. A couple of speakers on sticks generally does it, and without walls and a ceiling bouncing the drum/amp sound back into the listening area there's not as much stage volume to overcome.

Then again, if it really is a rock concert he'll need a bigger PA.
 
tommmy said:
Monitors:
-NONE!! =[
Click to expand...

Singers will need monitors. There's no getting around it.

If you angle your amps up at the players' heads and get the guitars into the PA the sound can be more evenly distributed. Guitar amps tend to project a narrow beam of treble so it's nice to use the PA to spread it out a bit.

Probably drums and bass could be left out of the PA for now.

Once the band is set up and gets their instruments balanced use the PA to get the vocals just over the stage noise, then fill in with any other inputs (like the guitars) as needed.
 
We're assuming the bass player has an amp you did not mention.
The general notion is if you are playing a venue where you don't need to mic the drums (for overall volume), then each instrument should have its own amp (even the acoustic guitars), and the PA should be used for vocals. If anyone has a really small amp, you can mic that and feed it into the PA at very low volume for balance.
With that small PA head, chances are you will not have a 'front of the house' sound man, so you're going to need to experiment to get a good balance of everything.
 
If I were you, I would hire an experienced sound guy to come along to a gig, or even a rehearsal, and help you with the PA, you can then watch and learn and be a lot less stressed and have a happy gig. The money will be well spent.

I have done this often with bands, they have a new PA or they are playing their first gigs and they hire me to go along and help out, after a gig or 2 they are doing it themselves and any problems they can always give me a call.

Alan.
 
Maybe someone on the board lives close enough to help in person.
 
Buy monitors...

There's no world shortage I'm aware of and they're cheapish. Wanna be in a band? Pony up and get professional...
 
moresound said:
Lets see ..... You handle everything west of the Mississippi and I handle everything to the east. :thumbs up:

Lets just hope he's not from South America. :p
Click to expand...

And I live close to ................ nobody.

Alan.
 
moresound said:
Lets see ..... You handle everything west of the Mississippi and I handle everything to the east. :thumbs up:

Lets just hope he's not from South America. :p
Click to expand...

Actually, he is just north of Utica. So your designated area Moresound. Maybe I should send him your cell phone number huh?

lol
 
jimmys69 said:
Actually, he is just north of Utica. So your designated area Moresound. Maybe I should send him your cell phone number huh?

lol
Click to expand...

It's already written on every gas station toilet wall in the region. He'll know it....
 
ok so if i were to purchase monitors, what would be a good pair to get and how many do i need? do i need one for each person? (ie 1 guitarist who sings, another guitarist, a bassist, and a female singer) Im open to spending around 1000 but would rather go around 500 or less.
 
tommmy said:
ok so if i were to purchase monitors, what would be a good pair to get and how many do i need? do i need one for each person? (ie 1 guitarist who sings, another guitarist, a bassist, and a female singer) Im open to spending around 1000 but would rather go around 500 or less.
Click to expand...

On a small stage you can probably get by with a pair up front. In a real pinch use one shared by the two singers. Anyone not amplified already (keys or acoustic guitar plugged in direct etc.) is going to need to hear themselves somehow. One for the drummer would be good but may not be critical, depending on how loud he plays and how the amps are arranged on stage. If the ceiling is low the sound from the front monitors may bounce right to the drums.

In an ideal world each performer would have his own monitor with a separate mix, but that's not likely at this stage.
 
Hard to beat the Electro-Voice ZXA1 or for a little more cash the QSC K8/10/12. If you end up doing an acoustic coffee house thing later you can use them as your mains.
 
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