Live Sound Reinforcement
- Thread starter Thomas
- Start date
Once you start doing events closer to the 2000 people mark you're really going to want to look into moving to Arrays. It gets a bit more complicated to cover crowds this size with a FOH system. EV has some great Arrays that are worth a look once you reach this point, and for even more money i LOVE Active RCF arrays, i don't own them myself but do rent the RCF"s when the need arises.
Also....Badblood, Please do your self a favor and look into the JBL SRX 728 subs. When it comes to live audio.."buy once, cry once"
They really are nice subs, (yes, more expensive) but...the RE-SALE on them will be MUCH better than MRX stuff. Buying cheap stuff only to be upgraded in less than a year is simply a waste of money...
And trying to find MRX subs to cross-rent if you need more, will be next to impossible. I'd check with other local sound guys, and sound co's to see what equipment there running, and buy accordingly....if you need more...it it easily rentable
They really are nice subs, (yes, more expensive) but...the RE-SALE on them will be MUCH better than MRX stuff. Buying cheap stuff only to be upgraded in less than a year is simply a waste of money...
And trying to find MRX subs to cross-rent if you need more, will be next to impossible. I'd check with other local sound guys, and sound co's to see what equipment there running, and buy accordingly....if you need more...it it easily rentable
I'm assuming arrays = hanging arrays (from ceiling or truss above). If I may ask, what is a rough estimate when you roll this?
If you mean an estimate as to the amount of people, for me it all depends on the venue ( indoor or outdoor, Dimensions of the space , location of the audience ) etc.............but typically outdoors if it's going to be a concert for more than 1500 people we use the Arrays instead of the FOH system.
For events where we use Line Arrays, we get at least $2,500 it it goes way up from there. Again it is all dependent on the type and length of the event, amount of equipment required, location, etc......When it comes to events this size there isn't a package deal it's different each time.
Gotcha. Thanks for the input. Trying to figure out if it's something I want to even tangle with.
It's a lot more difficult that DJ'ing. You need to know signal processing, how to mic, how to set up a good monitor set-up without feed back.
For a drum kit alone, compressor and gate for kick, gate, compressor, and reverb for snare, etc. etc. etc.
My learning curve has been extreme and my wallet has felt the pinch. When all is said and done this year I will have made no money at it, but I do have lots of cool gear.
But it is very fun and gratifying at the end of the night.
The more I look into it, digital boards may be the way for me to go. I don't know how I will like having to search for a screen vs just reaching over to the rack and giving it a little tweak though. Pretty cashy investment to decide I don't like it.
And there are no other sound guys in the area, I think the closest is over 200 miles away in St. Louis. I have the same dillema with renting gear having to go so far.
I really don't think I want to do venues more than 2000 people. To be honest I think it will be out of my skill set. Better to respectfully decline than to do a bad or inadequate job. Over 2000 people usually means big name bands with big expectations. I am still exploring my options, I am looking into some of the EV speakers as well as the JBL
And there are no other sound guys in the area, I think the closest is over 200 miles away in St. Louis. I have the same dillema with renting gear having to go so far.
I really don't think I want to do venues more than 2000 people. To be honest I think it will be out of my skill set. Better to respectfully decline than to do a bad or inadequate job. Over 2000 people usually means big name bands with big expectations. I am still exploring my options, I am looking into some of the EV speakers as well as the JBL
One thing i would recommend is before you buy try to find some way to rent a digital board and see how you like it before making a purchase. There is a bit of a learning curve but i love them.
If you look into EV speakers for live sound and decide to go up a level definitely look into the EV Phoenix Speakers, to this day they are the best speakers i have ever owned. We usually run the Dual 18's and the Dual 15's as tops but the Dual 12 tops are also great. We power our Phoenix speakers with the EV CP4000 amps. Good luck!
Badblood....
all of this advice is very good, and you seem to have your head in the right place.
in my experience in working with a sound company...
being the only guy in town is a good start
but I would look into two other variables:
how much of a NEED is there for SR in your area (local bands, festivals, smaller concerts, etc)
also, where would people FIND you?
the number one place we get business from is referrals...
experience is free, so you're gonna need to spend some more cash on marketing
all of this advice is very good, and you seem to have your head in the right place.
in my experience in working with a sound company...
being the only guy in town is a good start
but I would look into two other variables:
how much of a NEED is there for SR in your area (local bands, festivals, smaller concerts, etc)
also, where would people FIND you?
the number one place we get business from is referrals...
experience is free, so you're gonna need to spend some more cash on marketing
Dynacord power is incredible for my needs and also a leader at most major European venues. Ask anyone who knows what they can do. Obviously the little brothers EV are similiar in high end Reinforcement.
If you were to look into the Dynacord for your needs Badblood, you would want to look at the Cobra systems. I've had some success with them. They are right up there with the EV Phoenix, but my personal choice is still for the Phoenix Boxes, it's just 2 different systems is all, but either way you'd have success.
Good words. Great Subs. I want some however I have 4 JBL SR4719X dual 18's. Heavy, big and hard-to-move......however these sound great. Biggest issue for me was getting my hands on proper amps, and a good Distro. I don't do as much live sound as I would like, however I am patient.
Best,
Paul
I am already doing all the fairs and festivals in the area. Including a musicians memorial concert. I am just wanting to do it better.
I am also moving form DJing to SR and have been evaluating a few systems also
I really like line arrays as they are more in demand than regular boxes for corporate events. I am looking to cover up to 1000. I have heard great things about the phoenix line but have never heard them
Anyway I am really diggin the RCF NX line
NXL23 line array - up to 8 per side (up to 4 ground stacked) with out the 15 degree curvature
NXS25 and NXS21 subs and sub woofers (up to 8 per side ground stacked)
Basically you can stack an NXS21 on the ground, put an NXS25 on top of it and then stack up to 4 NXL23 boxes per side on top of the subs
The recommended setup is a sub per each line array, however with this setup I can have a line array with out flying them. I have not commited yet, but I am really leaning towards this setup which will let me start small (2 tops and 2 subs per side) and can grow up to 8 of each per side in order to cover up to 5000
BTW the NXS25 is a double 15 and the NXS21 is a 21 incher
I have heard the system (2 per side) and it really kicks!!
Right now I have 4 EV ZX5-60s and 2 TH-118s but I enjoy the kick coming from the NXS25 a lot better than the hifi sound of the TH-118s
Hope this helps
BTW I got the presonus 16.4.2, my clients are mostly DJs and small 2-4 person singing groups
I really like line arrays as they are more in demand than regular boxes for corporate events. I am looking to cover up to 1000. I have heard great things about the phoenix line but have never heard them
Anyway I am really diggin the RCF NX line
NXL23 line array - up to 8 per side (up to 4 ground stacked) with out the 15 degree curvature
NXS25 and NXS21 subs and sub woofers (up to 8 per side ground stacked)
Basically you can stack an NXS21 on the ground, put an NXS25 on top of it and then stack up to 4 NXL23 boxes per side on top of the subs
The recommended setup is a sub per each line array, however with this setup I can have a line array with out flying them. I have not commited yet, but I am really leaning towards this setup which will let me start small (2 tops and 2 subs per side) and can grow up to 8 of each per side in order to cover up to 5000
BTW the NXS25 is a double 15 and the NXS21 is a 21 incher
I have heard the system (2 per side) and it really kicks!!
Right now I have 4 EV ZX5-60s and 2 TH-118s but I enjoy the kick coming from the NXS25 a lot better than the hifi sound of the TH-118s
Hope this helps
BTW I got the presonus 16.4.2, my clients are mostly DJs and small 2-4 person singing groups
The Phoenix line would be amazing for you. If you primarily do Corporate Meetings and events though i'd actually look at the Dynacord Cobra Systems. My thoughts when using that system is that it's one of the best i've ever used for Corporate events. Talk to Ben over at NLFX ( One of the site sponsors ), he has some great deals on the Dynacord Cobra systems.
I reviewed the Dynacord Cobra System and it is way too much power for what I am looking for
I want a system that can strecht up tu 500 and the Dynacord can do far more than that. Maybe if I get into touring in the future I will look at it again but for the time being the NX is very pro to me. The Cobra is more comparable to the RCF TT than to the NX, albeit the Cobra has the corporate look that I want
Thanks for the suggestion!!
I want a system that can strecht up tu 500 and the Dynacord can do far more than that. Maybe if I get into touring in the future I will look at it again but for the time being the NX is very pro to me. The Cobra is more comparable to the RCF TT than to the NX, albeit the Cobra has the corporate look that I want
Thanks for the suggestion!!