stage monitors

Subject: stage monitors
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 08:57 AM

Hi
Anyone recommend a pair of active stage monitors that preferrably clip together and are robust and easily portable (built in wheels and handle would be great)

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 11:51 AM

I use a pair of JBL EON10 active speakers as stage monitors. They're relatively lightweight. They can also be used as mains for small rooms and have great sound. They come with carrying bags. And best yet - I got them at about 2/3 price used through Craig's List.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: Mark Ross
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 01:01 PM

You can get them cheaper than that on e-bay.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: michaelr
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 01:31 PM

Instead of big, heavy "floor wedges", you might look at smaller, mic-stand mounted "hot spots". I have two of them; they're about 10x6x5" and weigh 5 lbs. Mine are made by Galaxy; I believe Carvin makes some as well. Having the speaker on a stand brings it closer to your ears, which is a great advantage.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 02:02 PM

For price and size (low) against quality and voume (high) you can't get anywhere near the Galaxy Hotspots.

The smaller little ones are actually louder than the bigger little ones, but only have treble and bass (no mid).

Two channels, XLR and 1/4" Jack, and they'll drive a passive monitor too.

If you're happy with mono get a powered one and a passive one. They don't clip together, but they go nicely in a small rucksack or even a big shoe bag.

I do not represent this company!

But i do swear by them

Tom

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: GUEST, TB
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 02:03 PM

Sorry Michael - the phone rang while I was typing.

Yes they're great on the old stands as well.

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 02:23 PM

Smallest and lightest mic stand clips probably the "Flea". You drive them off the FoH speakers.

Bangs per buck - probably the Carlsboros, but not light.

It really depends how loud you want. You can hear the Carlsboro 15 inch ones over 4 or 5k FoH rig easy.

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 03:11 PM

I have used stand mounted Hot Spots by Peavy. The are light, unobtrusive and very acceptable.

Now the band uses Shure in ear monitors. Pricey but the best Item I have found to isolate outside noise, like drums. My requirements are a little different because I have profound hearing loss ( No ear drum) in one ear.

I suggest either but the Shure or something equal if money isn't a serious issue.

Don

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: mandotim
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 04:19 AM

If you are in the UK, and want floor monitors, you can get a very acceptable four-monitor setup from Class D design of Mansfield. Suitable for nedium to high-power FoH rigs. Four monitors costs you £198, plus you will need a power amp of between 600 and 1000 watts. They do the full package including amp for £350 or so. Good people to deal with, and their kit is robust and sounds good. They design the gear in the UK, manufacture it in China then quality assure and setup back in the UK. Link here
Tim

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 04:44 AM

That's interesting Mandotim - I'd often wondered about their stuff.

I have previously known people buy good-looking cheap speakers, and find that they were extremely inefficient.

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: mandotim
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 06:00 AM

I was worried too Richard, but I thought that at the price it was worth a punt; irrespective of price, they are really very good! I also have a 1.5k FoH rig of theirs; solid, reliable and easy to get a good sound. I also use EV, Mackie, Peavey, Cerwin Vega and Hughes and Kettner kit, and these compare very favourably. The only one that would be better would be the Cerwin Vega bass bins, and they retail at about £1000 apiece. The guy who does the design and commissioning used to be the head design honcho at Carlsbro, and he has 25 years experience of audio design and development. Well worth a look.
Tim

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 09:14 AM

I build my own bass bins using Eminence drivers and calculations from the subwoofer d-i-y page. But not relevant to monitors.

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: mandotim
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 11:32 AM

I may be wrong, but I think that Class D use Eminence drivers pretty well exclusively. The monitors have a 12" driver and can be had with either piezo or compression driver horns.
Tim

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: ossonflags
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 03:27 AM

I use both powered floor monitor and hot spot.

Only problem I have with hot spot is mic stand mounted and I need to use barbellweights to stop stand falling over.Has anyone hot spot users got any better suggestions for this problem?

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: mandotim
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 04:24 AM

Hi ossonflags. Couple of suggestions; Use a heavy, solid based mike stand rather than the tripod based type? Or, try adapting a speaker stand. These generally have a much wider spread on the tripod base. Easy enough to adapt; I did this once using reducing plumbing fittings.
Tim

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 07:13 AM

Hang a beer mug on the other side to balance it up.

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 07:39 AM

Hi Tim and Richard,

We used tripod type stands with our Hot Spots. I don't believe they were anything special and the Spots hit the deck more than twice. But they were usually very stable. There is a type of weighted base that has the appearance of a tripod but is actually cast iron. Perhaps that will be the ticket.

Don

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: ossonflags
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 03:10 PM

Thank you all for your help.

Couple of things; were would one purchase a beer mug heavy enough to balance the other side of a hot spot and how would that work?

The speaker stand is good Tim, but the cast iron tripod sounds better, were could I purchase one of them?

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 03:18 PM

Atlas MS 25 Pro Mic stand for recording studio work. $ 100.00 at Musician's Friend.

Don

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 07:37 PM

"need to use barbellweights to stop stand falling over"

Funnily enough, you can make up some sandbags - of convenient weight to carry one or two at a time. Even dry sand, when inside a slighly mouldable bag, will have a lot of mass and inertia, and a couple around the base of a stand, even the 'open tripod base' type will add stability. The sand itself has the ability to absorb some vibration that may cause a stand to fall.

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 07:46 PM

A beer mug should be heavy enough to act as a counterbalance if kept full.

Perhaps this is too much to expect of thirsty musicians...

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 11:30 AM

Hi Folks -

Ordered a set of Galaxy Hotspots with case which look like they will do the trick. Will try and bastardise some old speaker stands.

Thanks

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 03:47 PM

Having changed over to "In Ear" monitoring about 18 months ago, I would never go back to Wedges, whatever flavour.
I use a Trantec wireless system, and moulded Shure ear inserts.
The rest of the band are also wired up. We set up a monitor ringmain Mix 1 being a generic basic band mix, but, we have the option of splitting our own inputs, and adding more of ourselves into our personal "ears.
The result.....Audio Bliss, and a very happy FOH engineer....No Feedback!!
Other advantages.....No humping strange triangular boxes around.
The whole monitor system fits into three or so metal boxes that weigh nothing.
The only speaker on stage is for the caller.
Job Done.
I would personally never go back to wedges in any band I might be involved with.
One Jack or XLR feed from an Aux send, and I'll do the rest

The only problem is that you are totally isolated from the rest of the room.
Answer to that, have a mic pointing at the audience, and bleed a little into your monitor send, and you can then hear the rapturous applause!!!

No more back problems methinks.

Hope this helps.

Regards Ralphie

Housewives Choice Dance Band

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 04:00 PM

RE the Galaxy Hot Spots.

Are you using the powered spots? Our Peavy's weren't powered so if the volume was raised to accommodate the deaf guy on the left, Me, the volume was way too hot for the rest of the band. Our stage sound was always too hot for everyone just allow me to hear.

I really like the In Ear systems and if they can be afforded they would quickly become indispensable.

The Galaxys have a standard mic thread on the bottom so no basyardizing is required. Use the bottom half of a tripod boom mic stand and elevate it to a good hight to hear.

Good luck with the new gig gear.

Don

Subject: RE: stage monitors
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 04:39 PM

Hi Don.
The only monitors I would contemplate would be the AER's
But, they are hellishly expensive too.
Think I will stick to my little Ears!!
At least that way, I'm in complete control of what I'm hearing!
(depending on the competence of the Monitor/FOH engineer.
I picked up my Trantec system for less than 300 pounds sterling off E Bay, and the ear inserts were about 100 pounds, (I think)
A price worth paying IMHO for the peace of mind that they bring!!!!
Regards Ralphie