Karaoke Forums

This is pretty off-topic for the karaoke forum, so I hope you guys don't mind if I ask for opinions here. I have posted over on the PSW Lounge regarding the system we're going to be using for live sound shortly, which has been upgraded a little from DJ/KJ duty. Here is what it is so far, in a ~150 capacity bar with mostly rock bands:

Soundcraft LX7ii
Behringer dynamics
Lexicon MX400XL
FoH: Behringer DEQ1024, DriveRack PA, (2) XTi 2000 amps, (2) JBL MRX525, (2) Behringer B1800X Pro (sub upgrade coming soon, probably 2 - 4 Yamaha CW118V)
Mon1/2: ART XL231 GEQ, (1) XTi 2000 amp, (2) Kustom 15ML wedges

Wedge upgrades may come soon, I am looking for a deal on some CM15Vs or similar. I also have more amps and will add one or two more if needed, e.g. for more sub power and monitor channels.

I would like to add a drum monitor. I was hoping a CM15V would have sufficient bass response to reproduce the kick drum effectively with no dedicated sub for that monitor position. A JBL MRX512M would also be an option but the 12" driver is not going to be efficient down to 60Hz and will probably require substantial power and EQ. The Kustom 15" wedges are probably not up to this, but I will probably try an experiment with them next week and see.

Opinions welcome. Thanks, everyone!

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I would actually go with a standard cab for the drum monitor like the S115V. It's cheaper & will have a bigger bass response that the drummers seem to like. We used to use a Peavey SP2 with 1000 watts for the drum fill & only one drummer complained - that it wasn't enough!
What is nice is to be able to mix the entire drum kit as well. We did this with a smaller 12 channel mixer (usually was sufficient enough) that the drummer would have by him and then feed the output to the main FOH mixer.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

granted I have not worked with a ton of bands, but the drummers I have worked with could not care less about having the drums in there monitor. unless they are electronic drums he can here them fine. for feedback reasons i wouldn't want to mix the drums into the drummers monitor on a miked kit. I would agree about using a single 15 pa cab for the needed bass.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Isn't it usually the guitarists and keys that want a bit of kick in their monitor?

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Yeah, but this is a pretty small stage, and those guys aren't more than 5 feet from the kick drum on one side of them, and 5 feet from an FoH stack with subs on the other side. I am not too worried about the musicians not being able to hear the kick, honestly; but there are two drummers that play here who use a drum monitor, and I would like to be able to accommodate them with the house rig. The guy who mixes them suggested I use a dedicated sub and top box for drum monitor!

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

AHH....hmmmm

Any 15" main speaker will do. As a drummer for 20 years, I can deal with stage volume. If I have a choice a monitor with a little guitar and bass is cool.

I personally use a Shure in ear monitor, I would suggest buying a set of them.

Mainly they want kick & snare with a little bass & guitar - occasionally vocals. I haven't worked with a drummer yet that didn't want a little kick & snare Not the enitre drum mix usually - but some wanted aLOT, had one drummer actually bring in a separate PA for his monitor - no lie had 2 18" subs & a dual 15" cab on both sides of him - can't believe he can still hear. But then most of the shows I ran sound for were pretty hard core rock, metal and the likes.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I would like it if all the musicians used IEMs and no wedges were needed, but this is a house sound gig, not my own band or anything where I have the ability to steer them toward spending money on IEMs. I guess I'll try a regular 15" wedge and if drummers say they want a bunch of kick or low bass guitar notes I will upgrade it.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I know I'm late to the thread (sorry, been a long busy weekend) but I would echo the suggestion here about using a standard 15" 2-way cab. That's all we ever use with our bands (except the one band that is all In-Ears). Drummers that do want some kick in their mix should be fine, I've never had an issue with any drummer.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

OK, I admit im not a pro drummer. But i have played plenty to know nobody needs a monitor to tell him he just kicked the bass or hit his snare..they do say most drummers arent really bright. but "they" are guitarists .
Its a House system, if it isnt to there liking they can hire sound or bring there own. really from what ive seen most places that run house sound hire low buck bands that are happy with whatever they get. a single 15 should be fine.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Actually, the reason we are doing this is 6 bands this year have asked if they can use the "house system," which is my karaoke rig. Most of the bands that play here try to do it with way too little PA, or they have sound techs who are idiots. So they will not even be ALLOWED to bring in their own FoH; however I do plan to allow them to substitute their own monitors if they want. I thought about letting them use their own mixer, but seeing as how every band here uses Behringer, I am pretty sure their techs can choke down mixing on Soundcraft once in a while.

The only bands that play here who do use a decent sound company & tech, all use the one my friend works for. I have discussed my rig with him and he is looking forward to mixing on it, hopefully in about 2 weeks.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ