Recommendations for amps
- Thread starter tpaairman
- Start date
Well, it's kind of hard to answer those questions. My goal is to be ready by next April/May timeframe, so I'm getting what I need a bit at a time.
I'd like to be able to hook up both top and subs. As for budget and power, I'm kind of open to suggestion. If I had to set a number, I'd say south of $500 or so. The lower, the better, but again, I don't want to buy junk either.
I'd like to be able to hook up both top and subs. As for budget and power, I'm kind of open to suggestion. If I had to set a number, I'd say south of $500 or so. The lower, the better, but again, I don't want to buy junk either.
Hey Tpaairman,
Well you have plenty of time. Sounds like you have a party or event definitely booked, since you have a need by date. Might be useful to look at the bog picture first and then get it a piece at a time. First how big is the party (helps determine the number and type of speakers you need); Then go speaker shopping to see what speakers you want and then buy an amp based on the speaker requirements. At least this is the route I would probably take. But this is a great place for information and opinions.
Well you have plenty of time. Sounds like you have a party or event definitely booked, since you have a need by date. Might be useful to look at the bog picture first and then get it a piece at a time. First how big is the party (helps determine the number and type of speakers you need); Then go speaker shopping to see what speakers you want and then buy an amp based on the speaker requirements. At least this is the route I would probably take. But this is a great place for information and opinions.
As speaker requirements are all over the place, it would be tough to make any specific recomendation, but with a sub(s) and tops, you are looking at 2 amps, and if I had to wing a guess, an amp (1) for the top pushing 250-400 wpc and (2) for the subs, 500-700 wpc (again, YMMV). Without knowing what you go with it's tough. A EV ELX112 top might run with a 250 watts/ch amp, while a JBL SRX712 (same size components) really wants over 800 watts/ch. $500 will buy you 1 decent amp. I bought QSC PLX2 amps (used) for between $450 and $750 each. Can you buy cheaper .. Yes .. just need to understand what you are trading off.
heres a good rule of thumb. Determine the job you will most likely be doing on a regular basis and overcompensate the equipment to use by 50% or more for those events that push the ticket. You can also rent additional gear or purchase when you get regular gigs under your belt. We need to know the basic size of crowd and room you are gearing for and type of event and then we can give advice or suggestion.
How much in total do you want to spend?
What size and type of events will you be doing?
Will you be doing any outside events?
Do you do karaoke or other non-DJ work (or do you expect to).
As mentioned, some of us have multiple systems depending on the situation, so we can tell you what we would buy if you can answer the above questions so we get an idea of the expected use. There is no one system that works everywhere.
What size and type of events will you be doing?
Will you be doing any outside events?
Do you do karaoke or other non-DJ work (or do you expect to).
As mentioned, some of us have multiple systems depending on the situation, so we can tell you what we would buy if you can answer the above questions so we get an idea of the expected use. There is no one system that works everywhere.
I would get out...... and I'm only halfway kidding.
But seriously, without knowing what you want, I wouldn't get into this business w/o at least $4000 to start, but that's just me.
Price - I'm still not 100% certain of a number. Once I get an idea of size and type, I can go from there.
Size and type of events - I'm mainly looking to do weddings. I'm already a wedding vendor (videography), so I'm comfortable with the business end of those. Size of event is the tough one there. I know there's a lot of variables, but if I had to put a target on it, I would say your average hotel banquet hall type setting. I've filmed weddings that didn't fit into that category, but a large number of them are that type of setting. On that note, would I even need subs, or would the top speakers be enough in those situations?
I may want to do outdoor events down the road, but I'd say for now I can keep it indoors. I'm in the Tampa area, and the humidity around here can be hard on electronics to say the least.
Karaoke and other rnon-DJ work - No on that. Maybe someday, but honestly, I don't see that on the radar.
For what you describe, I would most likely select a passive system that can be used indoors & outdoors. Because you have no solid ideas or numbers, I would also be looking at a budget of 4k or so, as a starting point. The advice about used equipment in good shape is valid. I've played small and large (and everything else) banquet halls. Subs should definitely be considered. Again, this is all depending on what you want to achieve.
Not trying to be offensive here, but it sounds like you may not know if you want to do DJ work - like you want to dabble your toes in the water. In this instance, it may be better to ride along with some established DJ's to see if this is what you want to do / invest in. DJ'ing, is by no means, a cheap investment.
On another note (and IMO), when done properly, weddings are some of the more elaborate and formal (critical) parties - why would you pick this area to start performing?
Filming / taking pictures at a function is alot different than performing said function (as a DJ). From my side, I'm certain I could not replace a photographer / videographer. I mean, I can point and shoot - but 'photographers' are usually much better at this than I am. Photographers "have an eye", I "have an ear". I'm not in any way trying to turn you away from the business. Just tossing food for thought out there.
Not trying to be offensive here, but it sounds like you may not know if you want to do DJ work - like you want to dabble your toes in the water. In this instance, it may be better to ride along with some established DJ's to see if this is what you want to do / invest in. DJ'ing, is by no means, a cheap investment.
On another note (and IMO), when done properly, weddings are some of the more elaborate and formal (critical) parties - why would you pick this area to start performing?
Filming / taking pictures at a function is alot different than performing said function (as a DJ). From my side, I'm certain I could not replace a photographer / videographer. I mean, I can point and shoot - but 'photographers' are usually much better at this than I am. Photographers "have an eye", I "have an ear". I'm not in any way trying to turn you away from the business. Just tossing food for thought out there.
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If you are sticking with weddings, figure around $2000 for a pair of tops (with amps or powered), $2500 for a pair of subs (with amps or powered), $1000 for a mixer/controller/DJ app, and maybe another $1000 to start a music collection. This assumes you have a laptop setup already, so we're looking at a start point of $6500 give or take. A system like that would be good for weddings up to say 250-300 people, as well as small-medium sized outdoor events.
If you have some of the pieces, you might get in cheaper. You might save a little buying some used gear as well .. this is just a realistic shot to make sure you understand the cost points.
If you have some of the pieces, you might get in cheaper. You might save a little buying some used gear as well .. this is just a realistic shot to make sure you understand the cost points.
I totally agree with Steve. I'd like to emphasize the buying music part. If you equate it to $1.00 a song, that's 1000 songs. Make certain you cover as many bases as you can. In the DJ world, music is usually the single largest investment.
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No offense taken, and I understand what you are saying. Mainly it's because I'm comfortable working at weddings, doing the business end of that, and so on.
I know that I am not an expert at DJing, but I think I would be OK. I've been to enough weddings that I have a good idea of what to play for the different parts, and knowing that you meet with the clients prior to find out what they want, and paying attention to the crowd. In fact, it's from observing DJ's that I've decided to give this a go.
When I'm filming, I'm paying most of my attention to the viewfinder on the camera, and tuning most of my surroundings out. But, the sound is something that I'm not filtering as much, and when it comes time to edit, I'm seeing the cake cutting and bouquet toss about 3 times.
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I appreciate it. This is the type of advice that I need right now.
I get it - but please try to understand that comfortable working at weddings, from one aspect, is not the same as working at weddings from another aspect. You'll be standing in a totally different pair of shoes. If you can do it successfully, more power to you. We all started somewhere. Weddings was not my starting party though.
I'm not certain what you mean by 'the business end of that'. Are you speaking of something specifically, like contracts, money, taking the pictures - or all of it?
I don't think any of us are an expert at DJing and if you think you are, you're most likely not. Most of us are professional in what we do. An expert is 'a person who knows more and more about less and less until they know absolutely everything about absolutely nothing'. Here alone, I don't think there is a DJ amongst us that has every single DJ skill / talent / musical knowledge that there is. Collectively, we have quite a bit!
Again, attending weddings and performing them are completely different. The caterer stands in different shoes from the cake person shoes, which is different from the florist, which is different from the photog, etc. Every vendor has a different pair of shoes and different angle. The one constant for the DJ is that most of the time, all eyes are on him / her.
IMO, meeting with the B/G is a must. Paying attention to the crowd is a must. A 'good idea of what to play' for different parts may pose a problem. You really should have a vast amount of musical knowledge and be able to cater to however you see a floor moving or how you would like a floor to move. Some of this comes with experience.
Just trying to prepare you for what you may see.
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BTW, and you should know this: as a VIDEOGRAPHER, you don't "film" anything.
Usually I am one of the nice guys here, but in this case, my opinion is much like ittigger's. Seems like DJing will be a dalliance for you. If the water turns out to be too cold or the pond is too crowded, you will step right back out. And from the very little info you have provided, you can't expect much solid help to come back to you. At the absolute minimum, you need to know the minimum and the maximum you want to spend on starting your "business". Obviously you haven't even started a business plan, yet, or you would at the very least, know that much.
I said $4000... well that is what I think is enough to buy basic quality gear for events up to about 200 people. I'm not including cables, mics, music, BACKUP gear, and computers...... as you will likely want a backup computer unless you have some other backup plan.
Do your due diligence, create at least a bare minimum business plan, and then ask yourself if you really want to DJ.....
Usually I am one of the nice guys here, but in this case, my opinion is much like ittigger's. Seems like DJing will be a dalliance for you. If the water turns out to be too cold or the pond is too crowded, you will step right back out. And from the very little info you have provided, you can't expect much solid help to come back to you. At the absolute minimum, you need to know the minimum and the maximum you want to spend on starting your "business". Obviously you haven't even started a business plan, yet, or you would at the very least, know that much.
I said $4000... well that is what I think is enough to buy basic quality gear for events up to about 200 people. I'm not including cables, mics, music, BACKUP gear, and computers...... as you will likely want a backup computer unless you have some other backup plan.
Do your due diligence, create at least a bare minimum business plan, and then ask yourself if you really want to DJ.....
Does that mean I'm not a nice guy?
I do agree with this part - and I really am all for getting your feet wet - but investing in something you don't have your heart in could turn out bad, especially if you're not prepared for it. All of the BEST equipment in the world is meaningless unless you know how to use it. All of the music in the world is meaningless unless you can figure out what it takes to move that particular crowd on that particular night in that particular mood. Believe it or not, they don't want to dance all the time.
From what I have read - I really think you should spend some time with the DJ's (in various venues) vs watching / talking to the DJ's (at weddings). Like I said, things are quite different in the shoes of a DJ vs a Videographer. I don't believe you should attempt this business without hanging with some experienced guys. Attempting this without the experience could have very bad consequences, for your DJ and Videography world.
Hanging with DJ's costs you nothing other than time and personal investment. You get to see different equipment, different styles, etc. Depending on the DJ (and venue), he / she may even let you run the controls for a bit. This would be the perfect avenue to see if this is something you want to take further. Let me take this further by saying that a 'One time outing' is not enough to figure this out.
I agree here too. Whole heartedly.
I agree here too. If your heart (and mind) is not in it, you will be wasting your time. Contrary to what some believe, this is not a way to quick cash.
I am in no way trying to discourage you. I'm really trying to open your mind to angles you might not have taken into consideration. There are yet other angles not even discussed in here. There's more to it (the business) than just equipment and music.
Try to understand it being similar to me saying I want to be a videographer, so what camera should I buy? Knowing as little as I know about videography (and I have been told I do take good pictures / movies), I'm sure there's alot more to it than that. I'm also certain that you would agree that a wedding should not be my starting point, and that I should have a plan of attack for this venture. I probably also need to identify how much I'm willing to put into this venture (among other info) - which helps you tell me where I could probably fall and how I could best use it.
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