PA speakers

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: Bernard
Date: 01 May 12 - 06:49 AM

No, Mister Trap, I will be mostly using my Bose 802 rig! See you there?

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: Vic Smith
Date: 01 May 12 - 06:23 AM

Our band has recently acquired a pair of second hand speakers - Celestion SR1 4ohms 350w inc. SRC3 Controller.

I am also the band's caller so I am moving about the room a lot of the time and able to hear what they sound like in different parts of the hall. The different think about these speakers from all the ones that I have worked with over the years, apart from the sound quality, is that there seems to be no drop off in volume at the rear of the hall and no dull spots where it is more difficult to hear. Can anyone explain this?

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: GUEST,Orson Trap
Date: 01 May 12 - 04:02 AM

Hi Bernard,
Don't think you will be using your JBL's at Greenfield on May 20th.
Unless somebody else is twiddlin' the knobs.

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: GUEST,alex s no cookie
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 09:09 AM

Using 2 leads is no problem at all.

If you have passive speakers and your amp dies (and I've had it happen) you are in trouble.

If one active speaker goes the other will see you through the gig.

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 08:14 AM

For smaller gigs (solo in a pub) I use a pair of JBL Control 1s with a Soundcraft Folio Notepad, and larger gigs (ceilidhs) a pair of Bose 802 Series IIs with an Allen & Heath PA12-CP...

It's all down to how much noise you need to overcome, though - with a really attentive audience (folk club) I wouldn't normally use any!

Active speakers are all very well, but it's an 'eggs in one basket' scenario... yes, they are convenient in some respects, but you do have to get both mains and signal cables to each speaker, and if the amplifier dies, until it's been mended you've lost the use of the loudspeaker as well (and vice-versa). That's why we don't have many in our hire inventory - just the battery powered Fohhn and Chaiyo wireless models.

Each to their own!

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: GUEST,alex s no cookie
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 06:40 AM

We use Wharfedale 12" actives and they are terrific.

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 06:22 AM

There is a wide difference in requirement for 'Folk' bands and most other forms of Music . In 'Folk' , bass and drums are not normally a major part of the mix ,except, for some ceilidh bands so speaker size is not as critical . For small venues we (either trio or duo) get away very easily with an old HH 100 watt mixer Sixteen Channel Peavey mixer and Four Carlsboro 110 watt 2x10 speakers which give very good coverage over a decent sized room without deafening any one .
I use the HH and Ohms as Monitor IF we feel we do need stage monitors
though we can get way without because with the reduced volume requirement we can angle the stage side speakers and hear ourselves throgh them

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 05:42 AM

The Kenny Jones Gang were pumped through 10,000 watts in Hurtwood Park club house - certainly a good test of my £14 Skytronics tie clip mic!

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: GUEST,Ted Crum
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 03:51 AM

Derek Kingscote, a very fine ceilidh dance caller, uses a pair of Fostex SP11 speakers which are truly tiny but which do wonderfully for voice and cut over the band pa brilliantly. Have a look at the HK range too. They are small but perfectly formed.

Subject: RE: PA speakers
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 03:42 AM

I've seen people pumping folk at over 1,000 watts into a pub gig and they've still been inaudible over Harry and Harriet on the pull, screaming at each other.

Subject: PA speakers
From: GUEST,Orson Trap
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 03:35 AM

Has anybody used a pair of Wharfedale Titan 8" speakers for a folk gig?
I used to use a pair of EV's S200 which were fine for most events.
However, one night my power amp was playing up and because the stage area was so small (not enough room for monitors) I used the 'mono out' on the desk and did the gig using for monitors for FOH speakers.
Nobody noticed the difference (other than no monitors). So what you might be saying...the monitors were a pair of Torque 8" 65 watt output! I have been to gigs in quite small halls where there was more than enough gear for 'Live Aid' and sometimes the amount of PA used was minimal in larger halls, and the sound has been fine. Lets face it, folky audiences at gigs tend to be listening audiences, if the PA is loud, people end up shouting to each other instead of the usual quiet whisper. So, has anybody any experience of the Titan 8's?
The guy in the PA shop insists they won't do, however, he plays in a rockband with 18" subs and 15" mid/tops. I get the impression they still use these regardless of the size of the room.