fractalz
Power User
Imagine you and your hard-rocking band can afford to pamper yourselves with a top-quality PA and in-ear monitoring solution, regardless of the fact that you are just playing the local bars. What would it be?
I know these very items have been covered in many threads, and I've read a bunch of them. The challenge here is to pick the right elements to hit a budget, making trade-offs where necessary. Let's say you have $20k (list price) to spend. What would you get? Would you make any trade-off decisions if you wanted to recoup some of the cost by renting the system out? What products have lasted you the longest, have good availability of replacement parts, etc?
A few priorities / goals might help:
- consistent & great in-ear sound from rehearsal to stage
- minimal setup time per-venue (dial-in at rehearsal and, hopefully, quick tune at venue)
- as set-and-forget as possible (may or may not have experienced "sound guy" at gig)
- ability to integrate in-ear solution with larger venue's in-house mixing environment
- wireless in-ear & guitar/bass/vocal solutions
Here are my (long-winded) thoughts so far. Thanks in advance for yours...
*** MIXER ***
Behringer X32 RACK
PRO:
- I have one already, works well, I know how it works
- I have a bunch of P16Ms too, so setting up personal in-ear mixes is a snap
CON:
- no native monitor mix without the P16M (there is a basic iOS app, but not vendor supplied) so possibly wonky setup to allow folks their own "mix panel" on the P16Ms and cable back to in-ear transmitters. Or, have someone else deal with monitor mixes using the general mixing app.
-- POSSIBLE UPGRADE TO --
Midas M32C + DL32 Stage Box
PRO:
- maybe better quality? but will the anyone hear it?
CON:
- no front panel GUI to work with
- more expensive
*** IN-EAR ***
Shure PSM900 (P9T & PSRA+) x 4 for 4 band members
Shure PA421B Antenna combiner for 4 x PSM900
PRO:
- should work
CON:
- holy mother of god that PA421B is expensive!!! Wouldn't the PA411 work at 1/3 the cost? Is it needed at all?
-- POSSIBLE UPGRADE TO --
Shure PSM1000 Dual-channel x 2
Shure PA421B Antenna combiner for 2 x PSM1000
PRO:
- ???
CON:
- more expensive
- more antennas to deal with
-- POSSIBLE DOWNGRADE TO --
Shure PSM300-based system
PRO:
- cheaper
CON:
- non-replaceable antennas on body packs?
- non-rechargeable batteries
- so, more costs down the line?
-- POSSIBLE ADDITION OF --
KLANG.fabrik : dedicated monitor mix engine (https://www.klang.com/en/products/klang_fabrik)
*** WIRELESS Guitar/Bass/Mic ***
Shure ULXDQ4 Quad Wireless Receiver
3 x Shure ULXD1 Wireless Transmitter (Bass, Guitar, Guitar)
1 x Shure ULXD2 B87C Cardioid Vocal Mic (Lead VOX)
- seems a no-brainer... but, expensive
*** PA ***
Lots of options here from QSC, Turbosound, JBL, Mackie... Let's say I've already decided on a 2.n system (2 x 2-way tops, ? x subwoofer) but I'm not yet decided on an Ultranet-based system to go along with the X32 / M32 mixer.
Decisions to make:
- size of "top" speakers (8, 10, 12, 15") - I think 12" would do with...
- size and quantity of "sub" speakers (12, 15, 18") - I think 15" or 18" will probably be plenty...
- Ultranet or not? Ultranet = Turbosound (only vendor since it's proprietary), so:
PA OPTION #1 : Turbosound (Ultranet integration, DSP, 10-year warranty)
2 x Turbosound "Sienna" TSP122-AN 2-way Powered Speaker
2 x Turbosound "Sienna" TSP118B-AN 18" Powered Subwoofer
PA Option #2 : QSC (I have the K12's and like them, so this is somewhat a known quantity)
2 x QSC KW122 2-way Powered Speaker
2 x QSC KW181 18" Powered Subwoofer
--- POSSIBLE "Downgrade" to 10" top, 12"/15" bottom? Only one sub?
I know these very items have been covered in many threads, and I've read a bunch of them. The challenge here is to pick the right elements to hit a budget, making trade-offs where necessary. Let's say you have $20k (list price) to spend. What would you get? Would you make any trade-off decisions if you wanted to recoup some of the cost by renting the system out? What products have lasted you the longest, have good availability of replacement parts, etc?
A few priorities / goals might help:
- consistent & great in-ear sound from rehearsal to stage
- minimal setup time per-venue (dial-in at rehearsal and, hopefully, quick tune at venue)
- as set-and-forget as possible (may or may not have experienced "sound guy" at gig)
- ability to integrate in-ear solution with larger venue's in-house mixing environment
- wireless in-ear & guitar/bass/vocal solutions
Here are my (long-winded) thoughts so far. Thanks in advance for yours...
*** MIXER ***
Behringer X32 RACK
PRO:
- I have one already, works well, I know how it works
- I have a bunch of P16Ms too, so setting up personal in-ear mixes is a snap
CON:
- no native monitor mix without the P16M (there is a basic iOS app, but not vendor supplied) so possibly wonky setup to allow folks their own "mix panel" on the P16Ms and cable back to in-ear transmitters. Or, have someone else deal with monitor mixes using the general mixing app.
-- POSSIBLE UPGRADE TO --
Midas M32C + DL32 Stage Box
PRO:
- maybe better quality? but will the anyone hear it?
CON:
- no front panel GUI to work with
- more expensive
*** IN-EAR ***
Shure PSM900 (P9T & PSRA+) x 4 for 4 band members
Shure PA421B Antenna combiner for 4 x PSM900
PRO:
- should work
CON:
- holy mother of god that PA421B is expensive!!! Wouldn't the PA411 work at 1/3 the cost? Is it needed at all?
-- POSSIBLE UPGRADE TO --
Shure PSM1000 Dual-channel x 2
Shure PA421B Antenna combiner for 2 x PSM1000
PRO:
- ???
CON:
- more expensive
- more antennas to deal with
-- POSSIBLE DOWNGRADE TO --
Shure PSM300-based system
PRO:
- cheaper
CON:
- non-replaceable antennas on body packs?
- non-rechargeable batteries
- so, more costs down the line?
-- POSSIBLE ADDITION OF --
KLANG.fabrik : dedicated monitor mix engine (https://www.klang.com/en/products/klang_fabrik)
*** WIRELESS Guitar/Bass/Mic ***
Shure ULXDQ4 Quad Wireless Receiver
3 x Shure ULXD1 Wireless Transmitter (Bass, Guitar, Guitar)
1 x Shure ULXD2 B87C Cardioid Vocal Mic (Lead VOX)
- seems a no-brainer... but, expensive
*** PA ***
Lots of options here from QSC, Turbosound, JBL, Mackie... Let's say I've already decided on a 2.n system (2 x 2-way tops, ? x subwoofer) but I'm not yet decided on an Ultranet-based system to go along with the X32 / M32 mixer.
Decisions to make:
- size of "top" speakers (8, 10, 12, 15") - I think 12" would do with...
- size and quantity of "sub" speakers (12, 15, 18") - I think 15" or 18" will probably be plenty...
- Ultranet or not? Ultranet = Turbosound (only vendor since it's proprietary), so:
PA OPTION #1 : Turbosound (Ultranet integration, DSP, 10-year warranty)
2 x Turbosound "Sienna" TSP122-AN 2-way Powered Speaker
2 x Turbosound "Sienna" TSP118B-AN 18" Powered Subwoofer
PA Option #2 : QSC (I have the K12's and like them, so this is somewhat a known quantity)
2 x QSC KW122 2-way Powered Speaker
2 x QSC KW181 18" Powered Subwoofer
--- POSSIBLE "Downgrade" to 10" top, 12"/15" bottom? Only one sub?