Which PA System?

MrJonesey

That Behringer powered mixer operates best at 4 ohms. So I suggest you run your two 8 ohm mains off one side, and two 8 ohms monitors off the other. This will allow the powered mixer to operate at full power. If you only ran one 8 ohm speaker off each side you will only get about 70% power. This is how all amps operate.

If I remember, that package includes two Speakon to Speakon speaker cables. So you would go out of the mixer into main speaker #1, and out of #1 into main speaker #2.

Your monitors most likely only have 1/4" inputs. So you will need to buy a speaker cable with a Speakon connector on one end, and a 1/4" male jack on the other. This would go from the mixer to monitor #1. Then you need a speaker cable with 1/4" male jacks on both ends to connect monitor #1 to monitor #2.

Speakon cables are expensive, but if you shop around you can find some great deals like this:

Speakon to 1/4" Speaker Cables

I buy all my cables off EBay like this and save a lot. :wink:

i agree with wes on the connecting the PA i suggest as far as cables go buy atleast 12 guage... there may be time when you need more than the cables included... my opinion do what i do.. Go to americanmusical.com buy you a 250' roll of 12 guage speaker cable. and buy you a bunch of connecters 1/4" jack connectors cost about 89 cents speakon connectors cost about 1.50 i make ALL my own cables its much cheaper and if you get a bad cable and trust me you will eventually you can make them on the fly not having to worry...

just my 2 cents though.....

Thanks guys. You have both been a ton of help.

Lear - I will definitely look into getting bulk speaker cable and connectors. It might be a practical idea for my guitar cable needs as well. I also think I might go with that Gator case.

Wes - I think we will have a problem connecting our monitor speakers. The current speakers we have do in fact use 1/4 connectors, but they don't have outputs. Am I at a dead end with using these speakers as monitors, or is there a way around this? I can see eventually investing in better monitors, but for now we pretty much spent our budget.

Thanks again for all of your help!!! :P

speakers don't have outputs... they are parallel inputs meaning if you go from your board to speaker one, u can then use the remaing connection in speaker to go to speaker too. Either one it doesn't matter no matter what which one you go into you can go out of the other one. So you're not at a dead end no problem...

Thanks. Good news on the speakers.

OK - here is another question that has come up. The plan is to chain the two mains through output A on the back panel and the two "monitors" through output B (as long as they are each at least 8 ohms, so I get a combined 4 ohms imp (I think I have this part right)). OK, we have two other singers and the drummer who want monitors. They actually have a couple of these near field monitors ( http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-PM100-Personal-Near-Field-Monitor?sku=609022 ). Is it OK (or even recommended) for me to use either the "Main 1 Out" or the "Mon 1/2 Out" on the top of the mixer to send a signal to our current small powered mixer and use it to power these "near field monitors?" I'm really not sure how to run these.

Thanks again for all of your help.

PS the user manul for this mixer is here: http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pdf/man/m_631249.pdf

wow loaded question:

This should be your setup From Output 1 on the board go into speaker one... From speaker one got to speaker two. This is your FOH (front of house, or AKA Mains) From Output 2 of the board go into monitor one then from monitor 1 to monitor 2.

Now on that board there is a way to use each output seperate making one for mains and one for monitors this way you have control of stage volume.

More than likely all ur speakers are 8ohms. If you connect the mains like above your board will then see ONE 4ohm speaker (2 8ohm speakers make a 4ohm load) thus using full power the same with the monitors. Unless that board is super amazing you can NOT connect more than a 4 ohm load on it. Doing this will cause damage. so if you are thinking of going from Monitor 2 to monitor 3 and 4... NO DO NOT ATTEMPT... you must buy another amp. I have a stage plot showing your setup i use on occasions for small local bands who need help. If you like I could email it to you if you PM me your address

Also WES!!!! put some input in please. I probalby made this too confusing.

I agree with Leear

Yep, those are parallel inputs on your monitors. You can daisy-chain your monitors.

Do not mix speakers. Run your Behringer speakers off one side, run monitors off the other. Always try to keep identical speakers together.

Run two 8 ohms speakers off Output A. Yes, this is a 4 ohm load. This is what you want for maximum power. This system will crank at 4 ohms.

Run two 8 ohms monitors off Output B. This is also a 4 ohm load.

Now, this is the most speakers you can run off the 2 amps in the powered mixer. Don't go below 4 ohms, this will cause the amp to overheat and could damage it.

But yes, you can go out of any "line out" on the mixer into another powered mixer or amplifier to power additional monitors. Read your manual, but yes, you should be able to use Main 1 Out, or Mon 1/2 Out to go to your powered mixer. If your other powered mixer has inputs labeled "Power Amp In" use those. But you can simply go into any of the channel inputs as well. Read the manual on your other powered mixer to use the proper inputs.

Just remember that a "Speaker Out" is very powerful and can only go to a speaker. If you ran from your speaker outs on the powered mixer into another amp or powered mixer it will fry the other amp or mixer. :shock:

But outputs labeled "line out", "pre-amp out" or Mains/Monitor outs are a low level signal. This is exactly what these outputs are designed for, to run to another mixer or amplifier.

I just pulled up the manual on your Behringer powered mixer. On page 12 of the manual there is an illustration showing the many configurations you can use. You can see that they are coming out of the "Mon 1/2 Out" on the top of the board into an amp (their EP1500 in the illustration) and then from the amp into monitors. This is exactly how you want to do this. Come out of the Mon 1/2 into your other powered mixer, and then use the 2nd powered mixer to power additonal monitors.

By the way, this powered mixer has stereo features but for live sound you really should go mono. If you run stereo, people on one side of the room will only hear 1/2 the mix. You could probably go stereo in very small venues and sound great, but in larger venues you should go mono.

Hope this helped.

Edit- What is the make and model of your other powered mixer? And what is the make and model of all your monitors? Knowing this will help a lot.

Thanks for the additional input.

Here is the old system we currently have. Works OK for the basement, but that's about it.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/AudioChoice-by-SoundTech-C100-100W-Portable-PA-System-?sku=630130

The speakers are 8 ohm, but only have one jack on the back. I'm hoping we can add a jack to one of these speakers so we can daisy chain them and use as monitors. May not have the best sound, but may be passable until we can afford better.

I'm starting to feel a bit more confident that we can put this together without blowing anything up. I really appreciate all the help!

MrJonesey

Hmmm... the single jack is a little problem. If you put another jack, make sure to wire parallel.

You have several options:

1)Run one 8 ohm Behringer speaker off each side of the Behringer for an 8 ohms load. Then go out of Mon 1/2 into the Audio Choice (use any 1/4" channel input jack) and use that to power the two monitors.

2)Use just one side of the Behringer to power both Behringer speakers for a 4 ohms load. Do not use the other side for now, it will not cause any problems (solid-state amp). Then use Mon 1/2 into the Audio Choice to power the two monitors.

3)Run both B speakers off one side of the B amp. Run one Audio Choice speaker off the other side for a 8 ohms load. Go out of Mon 1/2 to the Audio Choice to power the remaining monitor.

Any of these options will work. Option #1 is probably best until you get monitors or install the extra jack on the Audio Choice speakers. You will still get plenty of volume with an 8 ohms load on each side of the Behringer. But you will get even more power and volume with a 4 ohms load.

You would probably want to set the channel EQs flat or in the middle on the Audio Choice, but you could use them with no problem. So this gives you a little extra control over these two monitors.

You could raise or lower the volume on these two monitors with either the Behringer's or Audio Choice's controls.

It will work fine. Make wedges or a 2" X 4" so you can lay these speakers on their side and angle up at about 45 degrees.

Here is an idea:

These little Kustom monitors are pretty good because they will operate at either 8 or 16 ohms (go to Kustom to find specs).

Kustom 10" Monitor

Kustom Spec Page 10" Monitor

You could run four of these monitors (set at 16 ohms) off side B of your Behringer for a 4 ohms load. Each monitor will get 100 watts power which is ideal.

These little Kustoms are not bad at all. The gig I played with David Hodge last week he was using these Kustom speakers. They really sound very good.

And these would not be so large and get in the way. But Kustom also has 12" and 15" monitors that are also switchable 8/16 ohms.

Thanks Wes. We'll take a serious look at those Kustoms. Looks like a pretty good deal and a nice solution to our monitor issue.

The options so far (I think):

1. Add a jack to one of the Audio Choice speakers (parallel) and run those out of B and the Behringer speakers out of A. Then run to the Audio Choice mixer from an output to power the two vocal monitors (still not sure why they need em, but they have em and are convinced they need them).

2. Go the last step and pony up for the Kustom monitors and run four from side B - placing one in front of each of the two guitars, one by the drummer and one in the middle front . Then run to the Audio Choice mixer from an output to power the two vocal monitors.

I think we my start with option 1 and work toward option 2 within the next couple of months.

Sound about right?

I really appreciate the help. I wish I would have found this forum before we bought the Audio Choice last year. It sure didn't take us long to outgrow that thing. We performed with it twice, and now people are asking us to do some medium sized venues this spring/summer and I'm sure our current set-up just wouldn't have cut it. I think we're going to be much happier with this set-up.

BTW, how difficult is it to play lead guitar and sound man at the same time?

HARD AS #$%^&*( I DO IT ALL THE TIME... My Christian band i own the PA (obviously) and I play lead i not only have to ring out the system and sound check the band then I have to setup my rig, (i'm particular who sets up my pedals amp and guitar) then try to sound check yourself is hard. I got the band members to help me setup and run cable for PA then I just sti behind the board until its my turn...

My best advice i purchased an in expensive wireless guitar system I can play and stand behind the board and make sure we are all balanced. I even used the wirelss playing sometimes and walk out front if its that kinda show.... thats my best advice for that one.

My best advice i purchased an in expensive wireless guitar system I can play and stand behind the board and make sure we are all balanced. I even used the wirelss playing sometimes and walk out front if its that kinda show.... thats my best advice for that one.

That sounds like GREAT advice!

mmmmmmmm.... nest question ....... does the BUYING ever end? I mean, will there come a time when I can tell my wife "don't worry, honey, I've finally got all of the gear I will ever need"...???? :roll: .... with a straight face? :wink:

:lol: :P :D :) :o :!: :!: HA HA HA.....you are funny does the buying ever end..... NO!!!!! I mean eventually you will get like me where you have everything you need to put on a show I mean down to the littleset thing like a zip tie. or spare 1/4" plugs incase you have to make a cable on the fly..... But it never ends GAS kicks in those two speakers will work great for you for a few years then yo :shock: :lol: :wink: u'll decided to go purchase a pair of subs to match, then that requires more cable and more amps, crossovers, you'll start buying FOH units like drive racks and EQ's it never ends.... just when you think it does you find that upgrade that you can get... I just sold a board I had for a year was perfect didn't need another one, but I saw those Mackie Onyx boards I had to buy the 24channel? So NO it NEVER Stops, like I told mine hope you love me for me and not money cuz I will never quit buying and doing this I love it too much... I got a snicker and a grin... Not to promising LOL :cry: :lol: :? :wink:

oh i forgot the wirelss is great advice I know if you got a small show i'd even use it for that but you do loose some tone (from one guitar player to another) I'm not sure depends on ur taste but in all honesty the tone loss is hardly recognize able unless you play completly clean.....

and what is awesome is that this entire board all 28 posts and 2 pages are done by You MrJonesey, Wes, and Myself.... Just thought that was interesting