Karaoke Forums

[font=verdana]What I have, 2 Peavey Impulse 1012 speakers, VocoPro PKJ9090 mixer, Behringer EP2500 amp, assorted Peavey mics, stands, cables, and of course music. What would you put on your list of things to add first to this system? Monitor speakers?  Subs? [/font]

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Dusty Rose
Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
More Sound! More Selections! More Fun!
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If people aren't having a problem hearing themselves, then i'd put at least 1 18" sub or 2 15" subs (1 under each top).  They would either need to have a separate amp & external crossover or be self powered with it's own crossover - which most active subs have these days.

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Are any of your mics wireless? If not, that might be a good thing to add.

Totally agree with Lonman on this - subs add so much. Don't really notice that they're not there, except that everything sounds a little 'weak' but you sure do notice a huge difference when they are there. Watch Craigslist in your area (if it is available) - I've seen 15" and 18" subs on CL in our area for $500-700 for the pair. I picked mine up at a pawnshop. In the interest of saving my back (and having to get a bigger van if I did carry them) I've put my big subs and speakers under a tarp in the garage and in the smaller venues I'm using a pair of active 12" Mackies with a powered 15'' sub and the sound is just so sweet.

Cordless mics are a great addition though not something that is really vital. I do have a pair of cordless SM58s but there are some venues I wouldn't dream of putting them in. I suppose a cheap set would be okay but don't sacrifice your sound for them.

k

[font=verdana] Lonman, Thank you again, you are always so helpful. I was kind of leaning towards subs, as the two 12” don’t have quite the full sound I’m looking for. Karen K. Did I read your post correctly, you are running one sub with two 12” speakers, and getting the sound you want?  I have this problem with weight, add to the fact that I am not very big or strong, I had shoulder surgery last August, and the darn thing still isn’t right. It seems every young man/woman I know that would be willing to help me setup/teardown works second shift like I did, so they aren’t available. If I get a powered sub, can I run that off of the booth outputs on my mixer? Stogie, I only have wired mics, but pretty good ones.  I really want the sound the best I can get it, before getting into wireless.  I’m afraid it boils down to the fact that I have to get this system put to work before I can purchase any more equipment.  I was originally saving up to put a down payment on a house, now I look at my karaoke equipment setting in my living room and at my son’s house, and wonder, maybe if I put a couple of those huge speakers he uses together???  LOL[/font]

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Dusty Rose
Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
More Sound! More Selections! More Fun!
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Yes, you read that right. We bit the bullet and spent the money (speakers are Mackie SM350s at about $550 apiece - active speakers, and the 15" Mackie sub, also active, about $800). Eliminates the need for an amp. We have basically three components to our system now - a mixing board with built-in effects (VERY necessary to have effects)...a computer that contains all our karaoke music, and a laptop that contains all our filler music. (the rack also contains a Tascam CD burner for burning live).   Two corded SM58s on stands, and a cordless SM58 for the KJ.  We have a small tv ($20 from a pawnshop) on a rolling stand. That's it.

We're in our 50s and don't have roadies so we do all setup and tear down ourselves. This setup involves a lot of cords because the speakers are connected directly to the board and can't be too far from the board as a result. But in the venues we use this setup for, the speakers are in close proximity anyway.

We do have two other systems complete with pairs of speakers & subs but those are for BIG venues ... and weddings, etc. The sound we get from these active speakers and sub is really high quality so until I pick up a gig in a bigger venue, I'll continue to use this setup. SO easy to transport and set up and tear down.

k

I can vouch for Karen's system... popped in to see her show. Nice system! Great sound!

Didn't know you were in the area, woo hoo, another Pacific Northwesterner!

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Karen your set-up sounds nice. It's very beneficial you have help to carry the equipment with. I decided a couple years ago to stop using my subs and extra srm450 as a monitor because i no longer have help. It was burdensome even then and 5 different venues being completely mobile was hard since my help was a 5'4 125 pound girlfriend.

I think it's great you've computerized to cut down on equip poundage and i love the fact the mackies are powered so you don't need an amp, but i can't help but wonder why you still use a tv stand while having mic stands. Maybe you can save space by purchasing an lcd tv and mounting on a music stand eventually. i keep mine in a tupperware container along with a martin dj light and props. My old tv stand kept ruining my trucks headliner and was awkward loading/unloading.

I've learned to upgrade equipment-downgrade weight in the interest of saving my back. My venue now has 20 stairs to climb and i'm doing it by myself. Question- does your venue allow to leave any equipment there? Mine won't even let me leave my books in the back- no room.

Bluerose- a sub can add great depth to your sound but 60-100 pounds each can wreck havoc on your back. And $800 is quite an investment. I would make sure you really needed it or had help carrying it- or were able to safely leave it there. Karen did have a good suggestion by going on craigslist to buy a used one.

The Best of Luck to You!  :wave:  J.R.

I have thought of adding a sub to my rig, but to be honest I wouldnt be able to carry it now its bad enough carting the two big foh speakers, plus I dont do big venues anyway, I sing at restaurants or small to medium venues for weddings and other private gigs. I supposed I could go to 12 inch speakers and a sub that might be easier on my back.
I use active speakers too Karen, the extra control is fantastic for low volume work in restaurants. Folks can sit right underneath my speakers and yet speak in normal voices, and people over the other side of the room can hear the sound perfectly. I never had that kind of control with passive

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Get a sub and a 2 wheel dolly.  PM me and i'll share "my" secret to saving your back.

I use 2- 90 lb- 18" subs.

NO WONDER you're so cranky sometimes! You're lumbar discs are twisted like a pretzel and ya can't sleep well at night!

I hope you're getting paid well enough to haul those rocks to your show. And you MUST need them, otherwise WHY bring them?

I've seen too many a KJ bringing in stuff they don't necessarily need. Only a few venues i've kj'd at needed or had space for subs and monitors without overcrowding. Corporate events just the opposite- they're paying big bucks for everything so they get the whole enchilada AND chimichanga.

I saved my girlfriend a lot of headaches and backaches when i realized what i could get away with without sacrificing sound quality much in the smaller type venues. No 90 lb SUBS for HER to haul anymore. no sir.

She gave me better sex without the "Not now! I've got a backache excuse!"

Personally I would buy a new mixer with compression and better effects. You don't mention the player -- unless you are strictly CDG based with a dual player and separate video outs from those players, I don't see your mixer as being the right choice at all. It has no midrange on the channel EQ, no monitor channel, little effects capability, and I doubt the mic preamps are anywhere near good.

You would find it difficult to run a show in a large venue with what you have -- you have the power, but you would be highly constrained in speaker placement if your singers were to be able to hear themselves.

Subs are nice, but if the singer can't hear themselves and the vocals are not intelligible, more power to add mud to the sound isn't what you need. All in my opinion, of course.

[font=verdana]I have a CAVS 203G player, so I can use the SCDG discs. Cuts down on the discs I have to pack around. I have a benefit show coming up next Thursday up in Kalkaska at a Senior Resident Facility where one of my daughters works.  I don’t know the size of the room I’ll be in, but I’m guessing that it will be larger than most of the clubs around here that I hope to get my show into. I agreed to do this because I really need to get some time behind the system under my belt, I keep doing my ‘faux’ shows in my living room, but not much comparison between that and having a live audience out there to entertain.  The main reason I chose the mixer/preamp that I did is that it is very similar to the one that I purchased previously that my son runs, (VocoPro KJ7900) so familiarity had a lot to do with the choice. Being the novice that I am, when I bought it, I was thinking that it was a mixer/amp combo so it would be less weight (24lbs) for me to have to move around.  When it arrived and we hooked it up to some speakers and there wasn’t much volume I investigated further and found out that it was just a preamp.  They didn’t state this in the advertising. So now I have that plus an amp that weighs 36lbs.  I would love to be able to put everything in a large road case like I bought for my son, but if I did, there would be no way I could move it, and my present vehicle wouldn’t be able to haul it. If I had found this forum a year ago, before I started purchasing karaoke equipment, I’m sure my choices would have been a lot different.  I already have some upgrades in mind, but need to get this system to work so I have some money coming in. Until then I am going to have to make do with what I have.  I've been off on medical again, this time since Feb 5th and all that I had in my nest egg is pretty much gone. [/font]

You said you just got a full size van.    That can haul everything you need.     Just remove the two middle seats, leave the back bench seat in.    I'll teach you all the tricks to save your back.  PM me.    You'll never have to dead lift (carry) all the weight or carry anything heavy.    Trust me.  I'm loading hundreds of pounds of equipment nightly.   I don't carry anything heavier than a disc bag.

Honestly a sub or two will make a bigger difference before a new mixer will - even though I do agree a new mixer will be in order - the subs will make the bigger difference right off the bat.

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