PA / Mixing desk - must be lightweight

[farmer61]

Looking to replace our PA.

Only used for Vox / 1 x guitar. Ours is Bloody heavy and is proving a tadge unreliable. I would guess at 300 w output, needs to be able to cope with Pub and private function type size venues, not wembley Stadium. We don't need speakers just the PA

I have a Peavey XR 684F which we use as a standby, but this sort of spec would be suitable.

Any ideas???

[Happy Jack]

How many vox?

What about vocal effects (reverb etc.)?

Will it be used for anything else, e.g. home recordings?

[farmer61]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1224515' date='May 8 2011, 08:51 PM']How many vox?

What about vocal effects (reverb etc.)?

Will it be used for anything else, e.g. home recordings?[/quote]

Cheers HJ

Need 8 channels min, 3 vox plus guitar poss bass & drums, not for home recording purely live stuff. Vox effects only basic stuff required, as long as each channel as configurable eq settings. 2 monitor ports would be good aswell.

[Bankai]

If you can find a smaller Soundcraft Spirit that might do the job.

Alternatively, it pains me to say it but consider one of the powered Behringers? They're probably spot on for what you need.

[Monckyman]

If you want more than two band EQ and a couple of aux outs, I`d def go for the Spirit SX range, they do a few input sizes.
They have a swept mid +high and low EQ and 3 aux outs, two of which can be sent pre-fade for monitors.
Of course, they aren`t powered, but a good 3 to 400 watts a side amp wont cost the earth and has the advantage of being able to upgrade/fix/borrow etc if anything breaks.
The behringers have good spec and for all the critics, don`t sound that bad in a live situation, great price obviously, just check online reviews for reliability, behringers great curse.

[Happy Jack]

Before we parted company with our keyboard player, my covers band PA needed to handle:

1. 5 x Vox input (we all sing)
2. Keyboard input
3. Sax input
4. Occasional bass DI input
5. Occasional bass FX input
6. Line out for IEM
7. Basic vocal FX
8. Facility for mp3 playback for parties etc.
9. Facility for output to various types of recorder
10. >500W amplification
11. 2 x Speakon output for main cabs
12. 2 x Speakon output for foldback

The rig I put together 18 months ago comprises [url="http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/RX1202FX.aspx"]http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/RX1202FX.aspx[/url] plus [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tamp_d1600.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tamp_d1600.htm[/url][i] [size=1](or, pedantically, the then-current equivalents of these products)[/size]. [/i]

They both sit in a Gator rackcase, along with a couple of 1u items, and of course all front-facing controls for easy access on stage.

The rackcase sits on top of my Barefaced Big One, with my OTB perched on top of it along with assorted picks, reading glasses, and recreational drugs ... such as London Pride.

We've used this rig at about 20 gigs now, and allowed other bands to share/borrow on occasion. It has performed perfectly, not a single glitch to date. Having the mixer and the power amp as separate units allows for future upgrades and also makes it easier to route the foldback signal through a Sabine 1020 Feedback Suppressor. Having the mixer unit as front-facing rather than top-facing is not only easier to use on stage but also keeps it much cleaner!

Edited May 10, 2011 by Happy Jack

[farmer61]

Does anyone have any experience of this unit or Mackie's in general.

I'm thinking that I need to go down the Powered monitor route rather that separates

[url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/mackie-ppm1008-powered-mixer/22724"]Mackie PPM1008[/url]

Edited May 11, 2011 by farmer61

[Monckyman]

Sorry, no. I just don`t trust/like powered mixers.
All yer eggs in one woodchip basket.

[jim_bass]

The Behringer desks sound okay, but I don't think they last that long. We are on our second Behringer mixer and the built in FX unit have broken. I also think that one of the main outs is playing up. It does get a lot of use through, set up and packed down 2/3 times a week - put in a flight case in the back of a transit van with the rest of the PA. It's lasted us about 2 years.

When this one dies, I'll be looking to upgrade to an Allen and Heath mixer.

I would also recommend a small soundcraft desk, or maybe a Mackie.

[stingrayfan]

[quote name='jim_bass' post='1227707' date='May 11 2011, 04:12 PM']The Behringer desks sound okay, but I don't think they last that long. We are on our second Behringer mixer and the built in FX unit have broken.[/quote]
Mine's done 300+ gigs and works like new.

[tauzero]

My Behringer powered mixer (PMX3000) has blown up. The guitarist's one (next model up - PMX5000) wasn't really powerful enough, just about coped with the one gig we used it at. I'm currently using a Behringer EP2500 which weighs a ton but can pump it out, driving the mains (pair of Eurosys 2s) on one channel and the monitors (cheap Skytronic speakers) on the other. Also using a Yamaha MX12-4 mixer.

[markstuk]

The mackie desks I've used have been fine (we currently use a CFX16 into Mackie 1501 subs/1521 tops)

The PPm looks good for the money...


[quote name='farmer61' post='1227134' date='May 11 2011, 09:14 AM']Does anyone have any experience of this unit or Mackie's in general.

I'm thinking that I need to go down the Powered monitor route rather that separates

[url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/mackie-ppm1008-powered-mixer/22724"]Mackie PPM1008[/url][/quote]