Hi i play in an acoustic traditional group. and i would like to get some pa as we need this from time to time with gigs. A vocal and maybe two to three instruments (not always) would need to be put through an amp/desk. I would like something in the 150 to 300 watt range, but do not want to spend crazy money! I was wondering if anyone out there could recommend something portable and that fits this bill or what do you use? I see a peavey escort system on there site it as five channels and 150watts and is reasonably priced . has anybody used this and what are theie impressions? it has good reviews on musicgearreview.com but seems to be just inclined towards vocal/acoustic guitar. Any thing else and maybe it does not have the required sound balance across all channels. So what are your experiences with PA and irish music and what do you recommend for somebody starting off to do small pub gigs etc.
thankyou.
I played with a group a long time ago that used a Peavey system and it was fine. However, if you want to get a really great system that is superb for acoustic instruments I would suggest BOSE - as far as I am concerned one of the very best PA systems around. A good [cheaper] alternative is HH.
You might also consider going to a sound engineer who can build you a system to suit.
I've tried to locate a H&H web site without much luck but if you input H&H amplifiers or amps into google you will get a number of retail sites where you can buy one of their power amps.
I would recommend going with Peavey equipment. I don't have experience with the Escort system, but I have other peavey equipment and it is nearly bullet proof. Very high quality, affordable, road worthy and reliable.
Another company you might want to look at is Carvin http://www.carvin.com Look in the "Pro Sound" section. Carvin sells everything factory direct so you can't go to a store and check it out. I have a Carvin bass that is awesome and a bass amp that compares to amps costing twice the $$.
You need to do lots of microphone shopping in addition to the PA itself. Different mics pick up instruments better. A good mic for guitar may not carry the fiddle or dulcimer equally as well. In general a good mic for instruments is the Shure SM-57 for vocals the Shure SM-58. The mics have been the industry standards for years now.
Good advice would be to try out everything in a shop and not buy anything blind. Peavey will be great, but a lot of it's personal preference, you might like another better after trying it.
Ofcourse the main consideration is how big a room/hall and packed with how many people. I made the mistake of buying a system too small once. Could only crank it up half way in the shop without bursting eardrums, but at the venue, full volume got lost in the atmosphere.
In my experience,a 200W PA is only good for cafes, or small halls where youre not expected to compete with conversation/or antthing else,ie intimate.
It will get lost in a lively bar or a ceilidh, or a bigger hall area.
Maybe a small bar where you don't have to have it really loud would be ok.
Aim your purchases also at minimising feedback (especially those expensive mics that you'll need).
I agree with Kenn, based on sad experience, if you buy a system that's too small, both in terms of channels and power, you'll soon have to replace the board and amp. If you buy a little more than you think you need, it really won't cost a lot more. I started out with our band with an all-in-one powered mixer (500 watt Samson 10 channel) and it was barely adequate for small pubs and couldn't handle a noisy room at all. There are 5 of us and all sing and play, so theoretically 10 channels was enough. It soon turned out that since we all play more than one instrument, we really needed more like 16 channels, otherwise we had to change a lot of channel settings every time there was an instrument switch (often in mid-song!).
For about the same price as the Samson powered mixer, I bought a Mackie 16 channel board with integrated digital effects. Then I picked up a 1400 watt power amp for about $350. With that combination, we've had no problems. The Mackie is a great board with super preamps and it's been trouble-free.
For instrument mics, I can't say enough about the Oktava small condensers. For under $100 each, they work spectacularly well with acoustic instruments, especially fiddle.
For our 5-piece all-acoustic band, here's the equipment we've found has worked for us for everything from small pubs to outdoor festivals:
You may think you won't need effects, but if you want to make the output sound anything like the real acoustic sound, you will need some reverb and delay. Also, feedback is the bane of existence for acoustic groups and the more mics you use the worse it gets. The Feedback Destroyer was worth the
covcity, (are you a football fan?), you might find some links about this in that section.(links, not football).
Sound gear can be a never ending thing, seams like we always need more or better bits and pieces, they always sound really powerful in the shop, then you get them to the gig and they're crap (to put it Scottishly).
Good sounding system of Scotts, if youre thinking of lively bars and descent sized venues. Probably the best thing would be to find a band that does much the same scale of venue as you're looking at and see what they use, talk to them afterwards about all the mistakes they made when buying their equipment.
I think thaaaat Peavey amps, well I dont like them. Bose are great as are Marshall even though marshall stacks are aimed at electric guitarists. Maplin electronics (www.maplin.co.uk) Sell an amp called the Prosound 400 (400 W per channel) For less than
PA and irish music
PA and irish music
Hi i play in an acoustic traditional group. and i would like to get some pa as we need this from time to time with gigs. A vocal and maybe two to three instruments (not always) would need to be put through an amp/desk. I would like something in the 150 to 300 watt range, but do not want to spend crazy money! I was wondering if anyone out there could recommend something portable and that fits this bill or what do you use? I see a peavey escort system on there site it as five channels and 150watts and is reasonably priced . has anybody used this and what are theie impressions? it has good reviews on musicgearreview.com but seems to be just inclined towards vocal/acoustic guitar. Any thing else and maybe it does not have the required sound balance across all channels. So what are your experiences with PA and irish music and what do you recommend for somebody starting off to do small pub gigs etc.
thankyou.
# Posted on January 9th 2003 by covcity
Re: PA and irish music
Oops! When I saw PA in the title of the discussion, I thought it was referring to Pennsylvania!
# Posted on January 9th 2003 by Andee
Re: PA and irish music
I played with a group a long time ago that used a Peavey system and it was fine. However, if you want to get a really great system that is superb for acoustic instruments I would suggest BOSE - as far as I am concerned one of the very best PA systems around. A good [cheaper] alternative is HH.
You might also consider going to a sound engineer who can build you a system to suit.
# Posted on January 9th 2003 by breandan
Re: PA and irish music
I've tried to locate a H&H web site without much luck but if you input H&H amplifiers or amps into google you will get a number of retail sites where you can buy one of their power amps.
# Posted on January 9th 2003 by breandan
Re: PA and irish music
I would recommend going with Peavey equipment. I don't have experience with the Escort system, but I have other peavey equipment and it is nearly bullet proof. Very high quality, affordable, road worthy and reliable.
Another company you might want to look at is Carvin http://www.carvin.com Look in the "Pro Sound" section. Carvin sells everything factory direct so you can't go to a store and check it out. I have a Carvin bass that is awesome and a bass amp that compares to amps costing twice the $$.
You need to do lots of microphone shopping in addition to the PA itself. Different mics pick up instruments better. A good mic for guitar may not carry the fiddle or dulcimer equally as well. In general a good mic for instruments is the Shure SM-57 for vocals the Shure SM-58. The mics have been the industry standards for years now.
# Posted on January 10th 2003 by Longbeard
Re: PA and irish music
Good advice would be to try out everything in a shop and not buy anything blind. Peavey will be great, but a lot of it's personal preference, you might like another better after trying it.
Ofcourse the main consideration is how big a room/hall and packed with how many people. I made the mistake of buying a system too small once. Could only crank it up half way in the shop without bursting eardrums, but at the venue, full volume got lost in the atmosphere.
# Posted on January 10th 2003 by Kenn
Re: PA and irish music
In my experience,a 200W PA is only good for cafes, or small halls where youre not expected to compete with conversation/or antthing else,ie intimate.
It will get lost in a lively bar or a ceilidh, or a bigger hall area.
Maybe a small bar where you don't have to have it really loud would be ok.
Aim your purchases also at minimising feedback (especially those expensive mics that you'll need).
# Posted on January 10th 2003 by Kenn
Re: PA and irish music
I agree with Kenn, based on sad experience, if you buy a system that's too small, both in terms of channels and power, you'll soon have to replace the board and amp. If you buy a little more than you think you need, it really won't cost a lot more. I started out with our band with an all-in-one powered mixer (500 watt Samson 10 channel) and it was barely adequate for small pubs and couldn't handle a noisy room at all. There are 5 of us and all sing and play, so theoretically 10 channels was enough. It soon turned out that since we all play more than one instrument, we really needed more like 16 channels, otherwise we had to change a lot of channel settings every time there was an instrument switch (often in mid-song!).
For about the same price as the Samson powered mixer, I bought a Mackie 16 channel board with integrated digital effects. Then I picked up a 1400 watt power amp for about $350. With that combination, we've had no problems. The Mackie is a great board with super preamps and it's been trouble-free.
For instrument mics, I can't say enough about the Oktava small condensers. For under $100 each, they work spectacularly well with acoustic instruments, especially fiddle.
For our 5-piece all-acoustic band, here's the equipment we've found has worked for us for everything from small pubs to outdoor festivals:
Mackie 16 ch mixer
QRS 1450 power amp
Hafler 200W monitor amp
Behringer Feedback Destroyer
Behringer Virtualizer effects
DBX 2ch graphic EQ
2 ch Thermionic preamp (needed for fiddle and bass)
Shure AXS1 vocal mics
Oktava condenser instrument mics
12" monitors and 15" mains
You may think you won't need effects, but if you want to make the output sound anything like the real acoustic sound, you will need some reverb and delay. Also, feedback is the bane of existence for acoustic groups and the more mics you use the worse it gets. The Feedback Destroyer was worth the
# Posted on January 10th 2003 by ScottC
Re: PA and irish music
covcity, (are you a football fan?), you might find some links about this in that section.(links, not football).
Sound gear can be a never ending thing, seams like we always need more or better bits and pieces, they always sound really powerful in the shop, then you get them to the gig and they're crap (to put it Scottishly).
Good sounding system of Scotts, if youre thinking of lively bars and descent sized venues. Probably the best thing would be to find a band that does much the same scale of venue as you're looking at and see what they use, talk to them afterwards about all the mistakes they made when buying their equipment.
Good luck!
# Posted on January 10th 2003 by Kenn
Re: PA and irish music
I think thaaaat Peavey amps, well I dont like them. Bose are great as are Marshall even though marshall stacks are aimed at electric guitarists. Maplin electronics (www.maplin.co.uk) Sell an amp called the Prosound 400 (400 W per channel) For less than
# Posted on January 10th 2003 by Dafydd Monks
RE
sorry about the typo error! in that
# Posted on January 10th 2003 by Dafydd Monks
RE
OK the prosound is 200w per channel
# Posted on January 10th 2003 by Dafydd Monks