Let's talk about live sound hardware: mixers, mics, monitoring systems, PA, playback systems, lights & c.

HotRats

HotRats

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Believe it or not in the last 25 years I've played only in bars/pubs and venues that had a resident PA, shared stage with bands that owned a PA or borrowed one few times.

Now I'm back in the area where I've grown up and here - just like it was 25 years go - you have to own and manage your PA if you want to gig.
The band I'm in right now needs to update things (I don't even know exactly what they have) and I'd love to read about your setups and steal ideas.

I also think that sharing gear choices, comments and real life experiences about how your gigging band manage to deliver their shows might be useful and inspiring for every one.

Beware, e-drums are not allowed, here. LOL
 
we dont play shows were we have to bring the pa but at the diy venue i run i have a pair of QSC k12.2s that are ceiling mounted, a mackie 18" powered sub and an allen and heath cq-12t mixer. sounds really good.


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I have a QSC Touchmix 30 pro for my mixer. I like the feedback elimination feature and the presets QSC dialed in for instruments and vocals. I'm using their cardioid subs QSC KS212c and it really reduces the low end on the stage. For mains and monitors I'm using Atomic CLR's. I also have 2 Yamaha DXR15mkii's in use as monitors for drums and bass. I saw on the Talkbass forum some guys recommending that those could handle even a low B and carry the room for bass. Guitars and bass are usually Fractal. Drums are the trick. I find I usually end up using the mic on the kick live.
 
TravisG406 said:
I have a QSC Touchmix 30 pro for my mixer. I like the feedback elimination feature and the presets QSC dialed in for instruments and vocals. I'm using their cardioid subs QSC KS212c and it really reduces the low end on the stage. For mains and monitors I'm using Atomic CLR's. I also have 2 Yamaha DXR15mkii's in use as monitors for drums and bass. I saw on the Talkbass forum some guys recommending that those could handle even a low B and carry the room for bass. Guitars and bass are usually Fractal. Drums are the trick. I find I usually end up using the mic on the kick live.
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Do you bring lights or other special stuff?
 
My band has also been using the QSC Touchmix 30, and while it is complete overkill for the dive bars we play, I used it to run sound at an outdoor music festival this weeend and it slayed. 2 x subs, 4 x 12" (2 for mains, 2 for vocals) for FOH, 4 x 10" for monitors. Mixed everything from DJ's, to singer/songwriters, to 90's punk bands, to instrumental surf bands, to reggae bands, my 6 piece Dead tribute & the School of Rock kids.

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I picked up an Allen & Heath ZED60-14FX 14-channel Mixer with USB Audio Interface and Effects about 10 years ago for use when hosting jam sessions at home and small venue gigs. It's a lot of analog mixer for your money, and it is still an actively marketed and sold product.

It's quite compact given the number of channels and 13 x 60 mm faders.

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The built-in FX are definitely usable, and with an integrated USB interface, recording live mixes to a laptop is a breeze.

It has 2 high impedance 1/4" inputs for direct guitar capture, and 8 excellent sounding microphone preamps. Each channel strip has a 3 band eq with a dedicated Q control. Multiple busses and monitoring options round out a solid mixing platform.
 
gearJunkie said:
I picked up an Allen & Heath ZED60-14FX 14-channel Mixer with USB Audio Interface and Effects about 10 years ago for use when hosting jam sessions at home and small venue gigs. It's a lot of analog mixer for your money, and it is still an actively marketed and sold product.

It's quite compact given the number of channels and 13 x 60 mm faders.

View attachment 50242The built-in FX are definitely usable, and with an integrated USB interface, recording live mixes to a laptop is a breeze.

It has 2 high impedance 1/4" inputs for direct guitar capture, and 8 excellent sounding microphone preamps. Each channel strip has a 3 band eq with a dedicated Q control. Multiple busses and monitoring options round out a solid mixing platform.
Click to expand...

This is probably the kind of mixer this band needs but I was looking also at the digital A&H offerings and the CQ12T is super cool.
 
HotRats said:
This is probably the kind of mixer this band needs but I was looking also at the digital A&H offerings and the CQ12T is super cool.
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For me, there is definitely a "satisfaction" factor associated with analog mixing, be it the zero latency, direct parameter control, or lack of menu diving.

I bought mine 10 years ago, and digital mixing has advanced a long way since then. If I were to get a new mixer now, it would most likely be digital.

Even with digital mixers, good mic preamps are essential, and I'm sure that the A&H digital offerings will have the same or better quality preamps than the ZED60. That CQ-12T looks tasty and would be high on my list if I was in the market for a new mixer.

:beer
 
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