Live Music Question

Mic all instruments. In other words. Set up a mic in front of the guitar amp or keyboard amp, etc... Monitors are another story and you will need more equipment.

Granted most bands today play with an accompaniment track so a qaurter inch or impedance jack is all you need.

Welcome to ODJT hope you find your experience here an informative and enjoyable one.

Paul

Live sound is a whole different animal. I've done live sound for over 30 years with some BIG name national touring bands and to do it right, you need a lot of gear. The last board I used about a week ago was a Yamaha M7CL Mixer. The board alone runs around 28K. Now add mikes for everything, cables amps and speakers, monitors, mike stands and racks and racks of outboard effects.

Also when they are talking about miking the amps, that does not mean putting your vocal mikes down by the amps. You will need specially designed guitar amp mikes for it to sound properly. And miking a drum kit, well, that is an entire discussion on it's own.

this gives you an idea of what you would be looking at adding

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/CAD-KBM412-Bass-and-Kick-Drum-Microphone?sku=270774

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...e906-Dynamic-Guitar-Amp-Microphone?sku=270865

Billy,

First of all, welcome!

Second of all, I really commend you for researching out old threads to find info and for absorbing what has already been said.

That being said, I'd ask the gents so far to back up a bit since I feel more clarification is needed here.

All of the answers here are spot-on if by "live sound" you mean amplifying multiple musicians and performers in an ensemble type setting through your system, and I think this is what most have taken from the title of your thread and your post as written.

HOWEVER, I am suspecting you might not be talking about that type of scenario are are simply looking for the easiest and most fool-proof method for integrating these elements into your setup for something like say a solo or duet for a ceremony or during a reception.

In this case, I would opt for a K.I.S.S (Keep it simple stupid!) type approach utilizing direct lines for keys, and a DI Box for guitars (assuming they support plugs and have preamps installed, if not, micing will be your only choice).

This will minimize the number of cord runs, decrease setup and soundcheck time, insure the cleanest signal, give you the most control over the final mix while leaving out many potential negative variables, eliminate feedback scenarios and bleed, etc. In the types of environments we were discussing in that thread, ie ceremonies and solo or duo performances at receptions, volume-wars or performers not hearing themselves won't be an issue.

Please clarify exactly what you're asking and evenb better yet give a sample scenario so we can provide the best response.

If it turns out you are looking for advice on how to run sound for an ensemble, percussion, vocals, the whole nine yards, then this is an entirely different animal honestly beyond the scope of all but a few gents here.

Basic it is then, quick in, wuick out,m and crystal clear sound with total control over your signal. DI box will be less than 6" x 6" or so, so it's something you can have on you in your bag/box in the vehicle "just in cased" and plug in on the spot.

Carry an extra 25' or so run of xlr dedicated for/available for the DI to your mixer, and consider using one that is battery or phantom powered as all locations may not have easily accessible power by the performer for a wall wart unless you're going to run an extension cord.

Billy, for your application the DI box, instrument cable and an extra XLR is a step in the right direction. I would recommend picking up 2 boom mic stands (one for vocal, one for instrument) and either the standard Shure SM57 or Audix i5 for mic'ing nearly anything else. A decent music stand would be a good addition too.

I run live sound though my gear quite often.

1/4" cable is all that is needed for a keyboard.

I use direct out on most guitar amps now days.

I really only use direct boxes when recording.

DJ Cam, there's 2 reasons that I can think of to have a DI in the toolbag, just in case.

Eliminating hum, many models have a ground lift.

Also, you get to the venue and the guitarist/keyboardist is a considerable distance from you. We've had Sheila in the middle of the dance area playing live dinner music. It was the impact of the presentation that they were looking for. Had to use a DI that night.