Karaoke Forums

With increased obligations in my day job and continuing education, I have moved away from regular shows in clubs and now focus strictly on private parties and events.

I have several systems, but at a recent show, even my smallest system (Fender PD-150) was overkill. It was in a small home with only a space of about 4x6. I had just enough room to set up a 6 foot table and put the speakers under the table. I didn't even have room to set up my speaker stands. It wasn't the ideal situation, but it worked out ok.

I know there are small sound systems made for situations like this (Roland Cube, Vocopro Soundman, Carvin Soundstage come to mind), but I wanted to try to keep the costs down, since these micro shows only happen once in a while.

In the future, I thought about planning for shows like this by using my smallest mixer (Alesis Multimix and a single small powered speaker. I have an 8" GPX GX-800 that I sometimes use as a monitor that would probably work out well. I have never used a single speaker for a show before.

My question is this - Would I just plug the powered speaker into one output on the mixer or get a XLR y cable of some type to mix the 2 L and R out on the mixer into the single speaker?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

I did a gig in about a 10x5 room one time as a tax-time promotion at a Liberty Tax franchise. I thought for sure they would have me outside, but they wanted me inside.

Since I thought I was going to be outside, I brought my full mobile rig, including two subs, which was way too much, even though it sounded outstanding.

Anyway, they hired me to do a few more weeks, and the next time I just brought my mixer, an MP3 player, and two 8" powered speakers, which worked just fine.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Thanks Topher. What do you think about going with only 1 speaker?

I ended up with a VocoPro Gigman which I bought for my dad. That might do that trick, 6" speakers and all.

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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.

Topher's got it right. I'd use my laptop instead of the MP3 player, but it really is the best way to do a small room.

One speaker WOULD probably work(at least after a fashion), and you PROBABLY won't fry anything, but I don't like the idea.

Here's my basic rule of thumb: If you can't afford to IMMEDIATELY replace a piece of gear, then don't experiment with it. Use it as the manual intended. Although, to be fair, I don't think what you're suggesting would be harmful but I can't predict the results.


-DeCarabas

Pan everything to one side, and only use that one output.

If your mixer has it, engage the 'mono' switch so you won't have to pan everything (some DJ mixers have this on them).

A single speaker will be fine. If nothing else, consider running one on the floor as a wedge monitor and one on a speaker stand.

If you're running the Fender PD-150 (or 250) they make a twofer adapter that let's you put both speakers on a single stand.
http://cachepe.zzounds.com/media/fit,40 ... a45d8a.jpg
http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN0699007000

I use one of these when I do wedding ceremonies to cut down on the amount of space I require. It works exceptionally well with the Fender speakers, but don't try using powered speakers on them - it's just not designed for that. (I considered it, but just can't bring myself to do it since I'm about 90% sure it would come apart with 100lbs of speakers on there - if they even fit!).

It's also consider cutting down the 'rig' some to fit those smaller spaces. Even when you play a 'large' space a 'small' rig can be a huge help. If you have a case consider looking at using a keyboard stand to hold the case. I've been doing this for quite some time with coffin cases and it works well. I use the Double X style stands and they not only hold up - but they are very stable.

I DJ a tailgate party every year in the parking lot of a small bar. They basically set up some TVs and a buffett outside by the trees in the island between the parking spacees. The other strip mall tenents raise hell about the noise and people parking in "their" spaces. I use a single 12" speaker bi-amped at 300 watts that I throw up in a tree and angle down towards the "dance floor" area of the parking lot for a crowd of about 20-25 people, and it works JUST FINE. It is loud with good bump for the "dance floor" area, but well below talking levels yet still audible for people that are in the buffett line or watching the game about 25 feet away. Plus, it doesn't upset the neighbors!

The first time i did that gig, I brought all of the big guns as well, but 2+ hours and several complaints that almost turned into fights from the pizza parlor and the Bulgarian nighclub, I settled on the single speaker configuration, and it was perfect!

If you do go with one speaker, make sure you run in MONO instead of stereo, or else the songs that do have stereo effects are going to sound funny in such a small room.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I use a BOSE L1 compact for my nursing home and small party gig's way cooler than my Fender 150 passport. the BOSE is 200 watts and is so portable its fantastic for many kinds of gigs

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/sho ... /index.jsp

Fot the price of a Bose compact you can get 2 really nice EV Zxa1's.

800 watts and less than 20 lbs.

This is what I'm using for very small gigs now.

They also work great for second room sound at events or perfect for wedding ceremonies.

ev's sound great, but if the passport was a bit too much, i might give the bose thought. i have used the compact as well at a wedding and even set up at the smallest size it did awesome. wouldnt work so well for lager crowds, but even outside in a field, everyone even in the back heard every word of the ceremony clearly and the music did not lack bass. having to get smaller than a passport is a bit tricky aint it?

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

This is what I would recommend. The Bose Compact is extremely light and very quick to setup. Its footprint is only 15inches and if you take off the extensions you can set it up on a small table with a 3-4 channel mixer and you are in business. Which makes it a perfect small venue setup. The Bose T1 mixer is an awesome choice and if you are using a laptop you can assign channels 4/5 to act as the soundcard and hookup via USB. Unlike other USB boards you have complete EQ and EFX control of your music input. The quality of this mixer is Awesome and I have found no better for Karaoke.

The Compact is on the spendy side but OMG the quality of sound is worth it. After all the question was posed by a professional KJ who wants a sound system that will work for very small venues. IMHO this is a perfect system for the task at hand.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott