Curious - how many - and what are you using?

[FrankJohnson]

So - I am curious. How many of us are gigging - small - med - lg ...... whatever.

How many are doing our own sound - and what are we using (for PA)? It probably depends on the venue/gig......but what typically?
This is not a how cheap can you build it, or cheapest possible setup, or bragging rights or anything like that. Just a "Whats currently typcial for me" type thread. Thanks

I'll start -
We are typically a four piece, not always the same four - and usually in a 100 +/- room. Sometimes more - sometimes outside and more - but outside is a gamechanger - PA wise.

We found that as much as we like using a full PA - subs and 4 monitors, space/volume constraints and pay dictated a scaling down for many rooms. we don't feel that we have forfeited anything, just met with a solid compromise. In the rooms which pay a little more and/or the space/pay/crowd all work with more system - we use it.

[FrankJohnson]

We have been using QSC K12 or K10 as tops for a couple of years now. I am glad I bought them - and yes they cost a lot. That said - I can put some kick in them and they project it. they haven't hiccup'd once and although becoming a little scarred - are holing up great. I also hace the QSC KW181 subs - and use them when needed, but honestly - for band gigs, I like the Carvin Passive 18s and a Peavey IPR2 5000 amp. They are light - and for our gigs, I am willing to negotiate a little, and compromise. At the end of the night - I KNOW I made the right choice. I have tow sets of 4 - monitors. One set I leave at the venue I do sound for, but sometimes bring them out - they are Mackie SRM450s - older ones. For most band gigs, I have been using mackie thump 1000 12's for about 4 years now. They are GREAT as monitors, have used them as tops, and mostly use them for vox, although they do fine for instruments - but not kick.

[FrankJohnson]

I upgraded lighting this year to ADJ TBAR Dotz, and also picked up bracket that mount to my speaker stand, and the lights mount on them. BEST choices I have made re. lighting to date. I found that if you remove the focus lenses fromt eh lights, they go from 40-45 deg to 90 deg spread and wash the area so much fuller, being placed in close. I will try to get a couple of pics this weekend with one set if anyone is interested.

[FrankJohnson]

Still using Shure SM58s mostly, Beta 52 on kick. have other mic's but mostly that is what I am using. I started getting my mic cables through amazon - and they are about $7 ea now and between sound, venue shows/jams/band - I do about 110-120 shows a year. I end up reparing about 2-3 a year. Not too bad considering some are 5-7 years old now and get handled by helpers.

Another cool find - was a CBI extension cord with outlets every 8 feet. good for front line - mains, monitors, pedal boards, etc. One in front, one in back for amps etc and them put subs on a separate line.

I carry band PA, mics, stands, cables, lights and bass rig in my minivan - and pay myself a little extra for all of that and maint. the guys have always been great helping with load/unload and teardown. I Provide the PA for 98% of our work - to maintain consistency and ensure that it is all there.

and ......
Go..........

[OldStrummer]

I like the way you circumvented the 1,000 character limit.

[dirtdog]

Before I retired from gigging this time last year, my band was (is) playing about 30 gigs per year - mix of bars, gig venues and private parties - always in the 150-300 person range. A small handful of larger gigs. We supplied PA for most events. We used my PA which consists of: Mackie DL1608 mixer, 2x E-V ZLX15P mains, wired IEM using an ART headphone amp./ We would rent subs for larger or outdoor gigs as required. Worked well, cost effective.

[FrankJohnson]

I like the way you circumvented the 1,000 character limit.

[FrankJohnson]

Before I retired from gigging this time last year, my band was (is) playing about 30 gigs per year - mix of bars, gig venues and private parties - always in the 150-300 person range. A small handful of larger gigs. We supplied PA for most events. We used my PA which consists of: Mackie DL1608 mixer, 2x E-V ZLX15P mains, wired IEM using an ART headphone amp./ We would rent subs for larger or outdoor gigs as required. Worked well, cost effective.

DD - yes sir - definitely followed you on TB -
i actually started playing about 2003-4 and kind of cut my teeth here with some of these guys. The discussions here don't usually go into this part of stuff - and I was wanted to see if there was any interest in discussing any of it.

[FrankJohnson]

Your choices of gig gear are right in line with what I had mentioned I think.
As a side note, I never meant to get into sound at all - but did a little bit out of necessity. Then - it became a quest.
Now - its a side job - and mostly fun. I am learning to say no to gigs I don't want to do. It doesn't pay enough to be unhappy, or risk equipment for people who can't recognize when enough is enough *Volume wise*.

[renderit]

Fascinating! You are makin' me realize how old my PA stuff is...

[Laker]

FJ, my main gig that we control our sound is using a little Mackie 6 channel powered mixer with a pair of cheap speakers where one is used as a stage monitor and the other is a (very small) stage fill. I run a direct line into the house PA system (it’s huge and top end) and we cover the entire club quite well. For mics I use a Beta 57 and our lead singer uses an SM58 while I set up an old Shure 545 for our guest vocals/instruments. It sounds cheesy, but it works really well.

[dirtdog]

DD - yes sir - definitely followed you on TB -
i actually started playing about 2003-4 and kind of cut my teeth here with some of these guys. The discussions here don't usually go into this part of stuff - and I was wanted to see if there was any interest in discussing any of it.

Right on!

[FrankJohnson]

DD - BTW -

I posted a couple of videos, in on the road .....

The lighting is from wash from one ADJ TPAR set, focus lenses removed for broader wash - with that Stagg Speaker stand mount I mentioned.

very adequate I think