Opinions please!!! regarding simple PA for practice.

[rockironwebb]

rockiron-newb, again. Here it is.........My most recent band project is taking shape, all musicians are in, me(drums), guitar, and bass. Apparently a vocalist is hard to come by, or rather, I should say a vocalist that already has, or is willing to provide their own PA. This has been my recent dilemma. Tried out two guys that have their own PA but could not sing, at least not without sounding like a dog possesed by the devil, no offense to anyone. I have also been in contact with four other people who fit the bill quite well, but due to lack of funds or a reluctance to spend, don't have their own PA. I am now willing to spend a little, and I mean a little on some gear so I can make some tunes. I already have a 16 channel mixer, so no I will need power, and some speakers. These will be for jamming, writing, rehearsing only and I do not intend on investing in a full out, go on tour PA system. It will be for the basement of my house and need to loud enough to contend with the musicians in the band.....................so here is my question????????? Could I get by with buying a $200 to $300 active PA that can be connected to my mixer????? or would it be more wise to get a PA power amp and a couple of passive PA speakers?????
Anyway, please set me straight THANX

 

[Armistice]

As a practice PA, a small active system is fine. I use one with a small Yamaha mixer. Actually mine is big enough to gig but rarely gets used as such.

Here's a tip if you're short of cash... buy one active speaker with whatever you've got, then save up for a second, or hit your singer for cash...

Or tell the damn singer that, hello, they need to provide amplification if they're going to be in your band. Everyone else does...

Damn singers...

 

[stevieb]

You don't say how hard you (as drummer) hit the skins, or if you have a command of dynamics (rock drummers often do not,) or what amp power your guitarist and bassist are driving or how high they crank their amps- in short, we don't know much about how loud you three are. That will make a difference in what you need, but I do know that the kids at the rock n roll summer camp I provide rental gear for, usually do just fine with little 100-watt, 4-input channel PA's that cost about $300, new. This is in rehearsal in pretty small rooms, too.

Seeing as you have the board, I prefer separate power amps and passive speakers, feeling that if one part goes "poof!," you need only replace it, and not have to throw out the otherwise still-good part out, too. Lately, I have seen several speakers on Craigslist that were once active speakers but something blew. Separates give you more flexibility for other uses- you can add a second power amp, more speakers, etc. much more easily. But, to answer one of your questions directly, yes, you probably could do fine buying one active speaker in the $200 range.

On a distantly related note, I do a decent amount of live sound, and hate using active speakers at shows. You gotta run TWO cables to each one- power and feed.

Singers, like lead guitarist, can be devas/devos, and it often never occurs to them that perhaps they should spring for the PA, or at least part of it. Downside to that is, well, if they pay for it, it is theirs, and they may be (somewhat understandably) reluctant to allow others to sing through it. Certainly, you could not expect the singer to spring for mics for however many backup singers you have, now could you? I do agree with Armistice- everybody else has ponied up for gear, why not the vocalist? But, consider this, too: if the singer owns the PA, they take it with them if/when they leave the band- back to square one.

Maybe tell the vocalist you like for the band: You're in, and you got two choices: Spring for a PA that suits the band's rehearsal needs, or understand that a part of his/her gigging take will go towards rental of the PA you (bandleader) buy. That's RENTAL, not eventual purchase. And, they have one week to decide, with no mind-changing. Once you (bandleader) have bought a PA for their use, you can't bring it back for a refund.

But I wonder: how do you audition singers with the band without a PA?

 

[rockironwebb]

Thanx for the feedback. I apologize for not providing better detail of my needs. I am a loud drummer, it is heavier rock music. The guitar amp is a crate 2x12 combo and the bass is just a head and a 15in cab. Do know wattage of either. Oh and the basement is pretty tight and I am sure many of members of the recording world would not even want to whistle a tune in such an acoustically unsound place. but......................I agree with both Stevie and Armistice. 1. It doesw kind of blow my mind, I've dropped some pretty good cash on my gear just like my bandmates, so why shouldn't the singer? But I do prefer to own my own shit as well. I think I will just buy the components I need for my unused mixer, and if we do end up with a singer, it won't be money wasted, I'll put it to use somehow.
Thanx again.

 

[stevieb]

Sounds like a plan, but you might want to find some way of getting a "buy-in" from the vocalist, so he/she feels invested in the project.

 

[arcadeko]

I can sing like a dog possessed by the devil does that help any?

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Get powered wedges. You should be rehearsing on wedges because that's what you'll get on a stage if you get that far. Powered speakers will be more flexible and easier to manage (no figuring how many speakers per amp channel etc.). You can use them for gigs to supplement or replace the provided monitors. There are several good powered speakers that can be used as either monitor or main.

 

[Armistice]

Get powered wedges. You should be rehearsing on wedges because that's what you'll get on a stage if you get that far. Powered speakers will be more flexible and easier to manage (no figuring how many speakers per amp channel etc.). You can use them for gigs to supplement or replace the provided monitors. There are several good powered speakers that can be used as either monitor or main.

This is a good point...

I use our PA for practice but it doesn't have wedges/monitors.... I'm sort of used to the monitor/front of house difference, but the other half of the band isn't and it throws him every time we play live..

 

[JimmyS1969]

I am a fan of monitor wedges for rehearsal as well. I however prefer to use a separate power amp with a wedge. Especially if you are using it for small gigs, running power on the stage to the wedges can cause obvious issues. Not to mention I would prefer not to have AC current anywhere near my beer. I am also a big fan of a beefy drum monitor. Not just for hearing vocals, and other instruments, but having the kick drum beating at your chest seems to enhance and tighten rehearsals as well. Play one gig with a drum box the size of a small clubs main PA, and you will know what I mean by this.

 

[Bobbsy]

I agree with idea of finding some wedges--ideal for rehearsal purposes and then can do double duty for monitors when you actually get a FOH PA and start performing.

What I'd probably suggest is looking for some decent gear second hand rather than cheap stuff brand new. It'll likely perform better and hold it's value to. With careful shopping, you can often sell stuff purchased second hand for the same as you paid for it. There's no point in suggesting specifics if you go the second hand route...it depends what you can find near you on Fleabay or Craig's List. However, in your price bracket I wouldn't give much odds on the reliability of anything you buy new.

As for powered speakers vs. passive with an amp, both have advantages and disadvantages. With actives, you are carrying fewer boxes--but each one is heavier. Also, if a driver or an amp fail, you lose everything. With passives and an amp, you have more to carry but usually less weight per box--and if something goes wrong, there are more options for patching around things and working single channel or whatever. Also, Jimmy 69 makes a valid point about AC issues. I wouldn't rule out either option--just shop around a pick the best deal whichever way it falls out.