Simplifying and sub-mixing without compromise or breaking the budget

[OnyxLive]

I am trying to round off my keyboard and vocal sub-mix rigs for small to medium club performance and would like some advice on toping them off. I have a hefty budget but not unlimited... So price is an issue as long as it doesn’t compromise sound.

Keys

I use a Kurzweil K2500, Nord Electro, Nord C2 and a Waldorf Q+. My rack consists of a Speck XTRAMIX with a Speck Model 16EQ. For extra effects processing I use an Eventide Eclipse V4.

For my main key section I send the mains directly to the FOH and for stage monitoring I use the Motion Sound KP-500SN. However, for larger venues I also like to bring a Motion SoundPro-145.

• I would like to also add a nice musically sounding program compressor on the main mix for rounding off the mix and giving a nice warm and tight level sound like when I mix in the studio. I was considering an Art Pro-VLA II but would like some other possible suggestion?
• When I use the Motion Sound Pro-145 on stage I usually go directly into the Pro-145 and dual mic it with sm57’s for that vintage sound and run to the FOH but I would like to bring it back into the XTRAMIX so I will want a decent preamp for those mic’s. I was thinking to stay Speck and purchase two MicPre 5.0’s. Any suggestions on preamps and mic’s for that matter?

Vocals

For vocals, each artists usually has their own preference but to simplify things for club work I wanted to set up a sub mix section on stage using multiple T.C. Helicon Voice Works Plus units but will need a good line mixer and summing along with a good compressor to round off the sub-mix. I need to keep this all in one rack on-stage for ease and convenience.

• Suggestions for line mix/sum?
• Suggestions for an all around compressor for submix? Individually I would use the Helicon for a shaping and effect compressor but want a nice round mix to meld smoothly together for that studio feel and sound.
• Any comments on the TC Helicon Voice Works Plus units?
• Also I was considering on using a feedback eliminator on this sub-mix for when we don’t use a FOH engineer… this happens a lot. (I do not like or will ever use one on the mains or monitors… I don’t believe in them!) But for the vocal sub-mix I thought why not? Any suggestions?

[ybakos]

Sorry this isn't a response to your question but you just turned me on to the Speck EQ16-32. How the heck can I find one of those? (gearnoob)