My band is starting to play live?
by admin on Jun.04, 2010, under Other - Music
Sammi asked:
We’re looking for open spots everywhere!, BUT i need to know what equipment do you need to play live?
We’re looking for open spots everywhere!, BUT i need to know what equipment do you need to play live?
we have all of the instruments, but do we need a mixer or anything like that kind of stuff?
im new to the live playing thing.
Please helP!
We are a Rock Industrial grunge etc band.
Ramon
June 5th, 2010 on 11:19 pm
Nellie
Sammi do you have vocals? How are they amplified? How loud do you have to be?
What does the band sound like from 50 feet away with just the equipment you own.
A PA is used to give a trusted member of your crew the ability to balance the sound from the vantage of the audience (it’s impossible to do well while you’re playing because each player here’s a different mix because of where they’re standing in relation to the other amplifiers and kit.
The PA can just be used for vocals, or it can be used for vocals and drums if the rest of amps drown out the drums, and the next step is to run the whole band through the PA (if your equipment amplification isn’t loud enough) so the the front of house mixer has control. But if you don’t have to be that loud and you already have decent vocal amplification you may not need a PA – but have friend there at set up to tell you from the audience position what needs to be louder or softer (use the drums as a reference point – they have no volume control) and get that friend to stick around because members will turn up their instruments for solos and ‘forget’ to drop them again.
Then there’s the question of foldback (that is what the band sounds like to the band). This can be tricky without a PA but if your happy with your rehearsal positions on stage you might get away with it. With a vocal PA you should have some foldback speakers so the band and vocalist can hear the vocals otherwise the speakers only face the audience and the band can’t hear them. Foldback should always be in front of the mic to stop feedback (side is acceptable if you get the position right and the mic is decent.
If none of you have any experience with this you might want to hire a local guy with a PA (they’re always around) ask other bands/muso’s you know if they can recommend someone. Trust him. Learn from him.