Looking for help with my PA problems.

[CyberStrat]

All the members of our band are newer musicians, been playing about 4 years each, & together a little over a year.

Our first couple of gigs went good sound wise, but the bars were small.

We used our Peavey powered head 2x600 watts, split to mon/main and each has a 9 band EQ. Speakers are 2 EV force 15's/horn, 2 Peavey PR15's, and 2-12" peavey monitors. Normally we have the EQ in the V shape, but I'm thinking that's probally not right.

The last 4 or 5 gigs the places have been larger and our powred head doesn't seem to be working for us. We are fighting feedback during the sound check, and reduce the volume to reduce the feedback. We've had comments that our mix seems lacking, no punch. That peavey head has worked well for us, but seems when it gets turned up more that 1/2 way, the sound just is uncontrollable.

Anyway,

I while back I bought a Peavey 16FX mixer & a couple of Crown amps. I also have a Furman power conditioner. The mixer has an onboard 7 band EQ.

We've only used the new system for practice, and we still have feedback problems. Not having much knowledge about EQ's, should I work with the on board eq, or mabye pick up a dual 15 or dual 31 eq? Any brands that are better than others, and a price point? I was thinking PV, DBX, BBE, etc.

How do I learn how to use the EQ? Is it something I set and leave alone? Does it change with each venue?

What really sucks about this problems, is nevering feeling comfortable enough to really play, because I have to be ready to jump on the feedback problem.

Cyber.
Thanks

[chuckocaster]

Not having much knowledge about EQ's, should I work with the on board eq, or mabye pick up a dual 15 or dual 31 eq? Any brands that are better than others, and a price point? I was thinking PV, DBX, BBE, etc.

How do I learn how to use the EQ? Is it something I set and leave alone? Does it change with each venue?

What really sucks about this problems, is nevering feeling comfortable enough to really play, because I have to be ready to jump on the feedback problem.

Cyber.
Thanks

just like guitar it's all about practice, getting familiar with the EQ, and experimenting. rack EQ's are usually better than board EQ's for fine tuning.

as for set it and forget it? never going to happen. each place you play is a different acoustic environment, so you've got to start from scratch each time.

i think the best thing for you is to get a book on live sound, or see if you can go stage monkey for a good sound company and do some shows. it is not a quick process, there is A LOT to learn. but really, you've got to use your ears.

and the be all of end alls, "you can never have too much PA!" headroom, power, and speaker real estate are your friends. that is what makes PA's sound good, clean, loud, and able to reproduce the frequencies you need to. it is in no way like guitar, where you want distortion and feedback.

[phantomman]

+1 to Chuck's comments!

As well, an outboard EQ as you mentioned would give you more sonic control to help tame the "feedback beast". The larger number of bands will offer more flexibility to isolate problem frequencies and tailor your sound to the specific venue.

HTH

[CyberStrat]

I think I'll go the book route first. I just don't get out much to see other bands, as I have 4 kids here at home.

So I would also assume on the EQ there wouldn't be any drastic changes in the curve?

What about the auto EQ functions like these: or should I just learn how to EQ by ear? And how do you learn that?

Behringer 2496

or

DBX driverack

[chuckocaster]

learn it by ear, it's really not that hard. they even have cd's and stuff with that on there.

as for the auto, maybe buy one of those feedback suppressors to start with? but really, it's all about eq. that way you can cut out offending frequencies. TRUST YOUR EARS. move all the knobs, make all the mistakes. that's how you learn.

stay aways from anything that says behringer.

i think yamaha sells a book on live sound, let me look at mine when i get home.

dbx drive rack is overkill for what you need.

[chuckocaster]

yep. "sound reinforcement handbook", written for yamaha by gary davis and ralph jones. published by hal leonard.

http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Reinforc.../dp/0881889008