Beginner PA setup 3K Budget

[jbuntz]

What should I get assuming I'm starting from scratch?

[Jam]

I'm not sure what the USA prices are like (I'm assuming it's better value than in the UK) but check out the Mackie stuff SRM450 and a CFX mixer it's not stunning but it's good value for money IMHO

Jam

[Remoteness]

jbuntz,

You must be talking about a really small system.


$3,000.00 does buy you much. Keep in mind you're talking about "X" amount of mics & stands, plenty of cables, "X" amount of band & audience speakers, then you have to get power amps or go with powered speakers. What about the console and additional toys?

What kind of (or size) rig are you looking for? You may need to reconsider if it needs to handle more then 500 people.

[jbuntz]

It will be for small shows more than likely (100ish). I've got some 57's and mic stands I could probably donate. I don't need anything fancy.

[ProFool]

Get yourselve a nice stereo vocal pre like a Langevin and a Kurzweil rumour reverb.
for the rest use what you already have and rent some gear for the gigs, builld it up from there.
try to include the renting gear price in the bands price.
If it is for your guinea pig band?
you could do this, band x $ AE $ Gear rent x$ = xxx $ to book the band or include in the contract that the organizing party should rent xxx gear. It works for me, Rome was'nt build in a day

good luck

[John Hedger]

I have a four piece blues band and probably spent much less than 3K for all my PA gear last year. I spent about $600 on an 8-channel Peavy 200W PA head with a 200W Monitor amp built in. I believe it is an XR684. Then I paid about $500 for a pair of JBL eon 1500 main speakers and about $500 for a pair of EV monitor speakers, $50 for speaker stands,$60 for cables,etc.. However I already had my Shure SM58's and mic stands. this rig is good for all the moderatw size clubs I play plus most outdoor gigs!! I would recommend Peavey over Mackie because I think it simply sounds better and is probably more durable in the long haul.

John Hedger

[ProFool]

jbuntz did you heard of LEM ultimix?

Very interesting 20 channel mixer.
I had a demo this afternoon of the smaller model, they are available in September and +- 15ooEuro

Features are

20 inputs
12 mono 4 stereo 16 mic inputs yes the stereo channels have xlr's on them to. + insert
Comp and noise gate on each mono channel + gain reduction display
3band intelligent eq with Low Cut
3 monitor sends also with intelli eq, HFP, LFP, + 2 notch filters
4 subgroups with Mix L&R routing + mix 2 and CR outputs
Built in stereo FX processor + 60mm fader FX returns
Built in stereo 15 band graphic eq on the master
24bitADC & DAC and 40bit processing
+20db max input and +20d max output
Carrying bag

I did a web search and there is still nothing to find about it, except that it was opening of it at the music messe.

Anybody saw it, heard it?
What do you think of it?