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Speakers w/ my mixing board

pearljam7pearljam7 Posts: 447
edited February 2005 in Musicians and Gearheads
alright soo uhh i got a mixing baord and stuff and its cool
but i def. need to run speakers out of it.
what would i do if i wanted to run more than 2 speakers out of it
like maybe 2 floor moniters and 2 speaker cabs.
do i need an amp?
crossover?
any of that stuff
thanks for any help
5/4/2006, 5/12/2006, 5/13/2006, 6/1/2006, 6/3/2006, 6/24/2008, 6/25/2008, 6/27/2008, 6/30/2008, 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 8/7/08
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    I have two minutes, which isn't long enough to reply...

    But I'll post here tomorrow.

    We'll get you through this, grasshopper...
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • KillerIsMeKillerIsMe Posts: 208
    so im guessing that this is for a live situation (i.e. band practice, gigs, ect..) not for a studio.

    first we have to know what brand/model it is, if it has a built in power amp, if not you will have to buy one. most boards have extra outs for monitors, so i dont think that should be a problem.
    http://www.myspace.com/cannedanimal
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    KillerIsMe wrote:
    so im guessing that this is for a live situation (i.e. band practice, gigs, ect..) not for a studio.

    first we have to know what brand/model it is, if it has a built in power amp, if not you will have to buy one. most boards have extra outs for monitors, so i dont think that should be a problem.


    Good points/questions...

    What make/model is the mixer? Is it a powered mixer (with an internal amp)?

    If the mixer doesn't have an internal amp, you will need either powered speakers (very popular these days) or an amp. Most amps have two channels, so you could go two ways: run your mains in stereo on one amp, and have two monitor mixes for two monitors on another amp. Or, run your mains in mono on one channel of the amp and one monitor mix on the other channel of the amp, and run the speakers in parallel (into the first speaker, then out of the first into the second). This will only work if your speakers have parallel inputs.

    Crossovers make things a lot more complicated... they split the signal from the mixer to separate drivers for different frequency ranges. In a regular PA cab, that usually means one signal to the woofer and the other signal into the tweeter (2-way crossover). This means you need separate amps for the separate drivers, so one amp for the woofer and another for the tweeter. This is a lot more complicated, but can provide better sound. Your speakers would need to be bi-ampable. Another way to use a crossover is to run your mains in full-range (one amp) and run a subwoofer for the really low stuff. You'd still need separate amps, and you'd also need a subwoofer. If you just have two main speakers, though, a crossover really isn't necessary. Unless you have really good monitors, you definitely won't need a crossover there.

    Once I know what kind of mixer you have, I can help figure these things out better. Also, do you already have the speakers, or know what you want?
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • pearljam7pearljam7 Posts: 447
    thats the mixer i have -- i was looking for stuff for a band practice type aplication

    http://www.behringer.com/MX1804X/index.cfm?lang=ENG

    i dont have any speakers yet

    so what do i need
    if i want like
    2 cabs and 2 floor moniters ect.
    5/4/2006, 5/12/2006, 5/13/2006, 6/1/2006, 6/3/2006, 6/24/2008, 6/25/2008, 6/27/2008, 6/30/2008, 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 8/7/08
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Okay, that's what I needed to know.

    You'll need either powered speakers like these:

    http://www.crateproaudio.com/products/psm_series_speakers/PSM15P.html

    Or a power amp and passive speakers. You have two aux. mixes on that board, so you can have two separate monitor mixes if you have two separate amp channels to use.

    Let me know if you have any other questions.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • pearljam7pearljam7 Posts: 447
    soo if i just wanted 2 speakers
    would this be a good amp

    http://www.music123.com/QSC-RMX850--830-Watt-2-Channel-Amplifier-i81989.music

    with a pair of these speakers

    http://www.music123.com/Nady-PS215-i108221.music


    heh


    and then what do i need if i want to have a couple or floor moniters?

    another mixer??
    5/4/2006, 5/12/2006, 5/13/2006, 6/1/2006, 6/3/2006, 6/24/2008, 6/25/2008, 6/27/2008, 6/30/2008, 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 8/7/08
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    I really like QSC amps. Mackie also makes good amps in that range, and Peavey is making good stuff lately in PA amps. Crown are my favorites, but they're a bit pricey, and their budget stuff doesn't take road abuse very well.

    Those Nady's are scary... very big... I think they'd work well with the amp, though, and would definitely be able to do most of what you want to do.

    For monitors, you'd need another amp and two monitors.

    Of course, you'll need signal cables from the mixer to the amp (1/4" cables, TRS would be best) and speaker cables from the amps to the speakers. You'd run signal from the Left and Right main outputs to the two inputs of your mains amp, and then from the speaker outs on the amp to the inputs of the main speakers. For monitors, you'd run Aux 1 and Aux 2 of your mixer into the inputs of the monitor amp, then out to the speakers. You definitely don't need another mixer.

    Got it?
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • pearljam7pearljam7 Posts: 447
    alright cool thanks alot i think i got it
    do you think im gonna need floor moniters??
    5/4/2006, 5/12/2006, 5/13/2006, 6/1/2006, 6/3/2006, 6/24/2008, 6/25/2008, 6/27/2008, 6/30/2008, 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 8/7/08
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    pearljam7 wrote:
    alright cool thanks alot i think i got it
    do you think im gonna need floor moniters??


    For practice, you can just use those mains. But if you wanna play a gig with your PA, you'll want monitors.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • pearljam7pearljam7 Posts: 447
    ok cool thanks
    5/4/2006, 5/12/2006, 5/13/2006, 6/1/2006, 6/3/2006, 6/24/2008, 6/25/2008, 6/27/2008, 6/30/2008, 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 8/7/08
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