14
votes
Accepted
Can phantom power damage an unpowered microphone?
The existing answers are correct, but just to simplify a bit into a 'common rule'.
If your mic was made any time in the past 50 years or so & you use standard XLR>XLR cables, there is no ...
- 27.5k
10
votes
Should I use PA speakers for a full band all the time?
I went down a similar path to eventually starting a full band to accompany me on stage in paying gigs vs playing just for fun. My band has bass, two guitars, drums and vocal mics for all four ...
- 27.2k
8
votes
Accepted
Acoustic guitar with humbucker pickup sounds like an electric guitar, not acoustic
So this guitar is quite a unique model, the John Lennon signature. Its pickup is not an acoustic-guitar pickup at all but, well, basically a standard high-impedance humbucker in small format.
It's no ...
- 35.3k
8
votes
How can I prevent clipping when using a microphone with a tube amp into a PA?
As already said, mic-preamp clipping cannot possibly be an issue if you use any amp that's legal to operate without a strategic weapons license, and the sound guys know what they're doing. I would add ...
- 35.3k
7
votes
How can I prevent clipping when using a microphone with a tube amp into a PA?
Get better sound guys.
Clipping is an electronic phenomenon when the input signal is too hot for the circuitry, so the tops and bottoms of the waveform are getting shaved off. (This is bad because ...
- 35.1k
7
votes
Accepted
Why would I use the "high pass" option of a subwoofer?
Without precise time alignment, trying to provide bass from multiple sources could lead to interference patterns which would cause the low end sound to be way too loud in some parts of the room and ...
- 56.1k
7
votes
Can phantom power damage an unpowered microphone?
As long as you don’t have a ribbon microphone then it will not damage your other microphones.
- 969
7
votes
Can phantom power damage an unpowered microphone?
It depends on how your microphone is wired. If your microphone is wired symmetrically the two +48V contacts will just sit on opposite sides and create a 0-potential. This is why it is called phantom ...
- 18.7k
6
votes
How can I prevent clipping when using a microphone with a tube amp into a PA?
Clipping in this situation could be caused by:
1) the microphone not being the most appropriate to the task at hand, and not being able to capture your audio without, well, clipping. Positioning the ...
- 4,224
5
votes
What are my options to incorporate a sub-woofer into a PA system for live music performance?
I agree that looking at the future configuration you want is a good idea becuase that way you're not spending money on something now and then spending more to replace it later. From that point of view,...
- 56.1k
4
votes
Accepted
Should I buy an amp or a monitor (PA system)
Based on the scenario you described and the way you plan to use your system, I would recommend a Powered Speaker/Monitor/Portable PA.
This Harbinger Vari V2212 600W 12-Inch Two-Way Class D ...
- 27.2k
3
votes
1 or 2 PA speakers?
I do plenty of 'little' gigs on one speaker. And it's often pointing at me more than at the audience.
Also consider this point:
Some gigs have the audience sat down in rows with everyone wanting to ...
- 90.4k
3
votes
1 or 2 PA speakers?
It depends. If you are outside then having two speakers will help in two ways:
First, you need a lot more power outside than inside. The sound just goes and goes and never bounces off a back wall, so ...
- 56.1k
3
votes
Are there different standards for XLR cabling?
Are there different standards for XLR cabling?
Yes. The XLR connectors has been used for a lot of different things. They were invented around 1950. In audio today it is mostly standardized, but ...
- 2,052
3
votes
Why do PA speakers driven with more power deliver clearer and better sound?
Leaving aside questions of build quality, component quality, etc.:
The answer is actually very simple. All audio reproduction systems have what we call an "operational range." This is the softest ...
- 1,878
3
votes
Should I use PA speakers for a full band all the time?
Rockin Cowboy has comprehensively covered a lot of points!
A couple more thoughts for you.
Consider what sort and size venues the band may be gigging at. There's a fair difference between a bar that ...
- 190k
2
votes
Why do PA speakers driven with more power deliver clearer and better sound?
Several reasons:
Size Matters Not: You write, "But I have observed that a 1000 watt speaker compared to a 500 watt speaker of the same size" (emphasis mine). It doesn't matter that the sizes are the ...
- 56.1k
2
votes
Why do PA speakers driven with more power deliver clearer and better sound?
It is all about headroom. I will use arbitrary numbers. If I was playing in a club at a volume that is not very impactful with three part harmonies and maybe an acoustic guitar in the system depending ...
- 31
2
votes
How can I prevent clipping when using a microphone with a tube amp into a PA?
If your board has VU meters (input level meters), that would be a great way to determine if the mic is clipping your signal. If there is audible clipping before your meter indicates your signal is in ...
- 21
2
votes
How can I prevent clipping when using a microphone with a tube amp into a PA?
Two options not mentioned so far are:
Run another amp and cab offstage and mic that one. This does require a signal splitter, so you can get the tone you want on stage, while doing something ...
- 36.8k
2
votes
Accepted
Daisy Chaining Mixers
Plug the mixer straight into the powered mixer, using one channel (or two if stereo). Plug whatever you need into the mixer, which I guess is a powered mixer amp., leaving the eq. flat on the powered ...
- 190k
2
votes
Which way should I point subwoofers in a small-medium sized venue?
It's somewhat dependent on what the speakers are for. One assumes p.a., for vocals. That will mean there's no great need, in smaller venues, for sub-woofers anyway. If it's for the whole band, a disco ...
- 190k
2
votes
Equalize on Mixer vs equalize on Instrument
I started writing a long answer about the different responsibilities of the performer (make the sound you want the audience to hear) and the engineer (convey that sound as accurately as possible, ...
- 90.4k
2
votes
Live set-up for electric guitar without any amp
'connect my guitar to the PA system'.
We don't know what type of PA system it is. It might be a real PA, or it could be a glorified home stereo. So we're going to have to make an assumption that it's ...
- 1,890
2
votes
Should a singer songwriter play chord voicings outside their vocal range?
Guitar and voice are generally so tonally different it isn't really an issue. It depends a bit on playing style and guitar sound as well.
I think for any singer songwriter an awareness of space is ...
- 3,448
2
votes
Should I use PA speakers for a full band all the time?
Using low volumes on stage and micing/DI'ing your amps to a console gives your sound engineer more control on how your music sounds in the audience, which hopefully improves the quality. At the price ...
- 123
1
vote
Which way should I point subwoofers in a small-medium sized venue?
If you’re making a single enclosure, all the drivers should face the same direction for time alignment purposes. Below certain frequencies, it matters a lot less, but you’ll get the tightest bass ...
- 56.1k
1
vote
Are there different standards for XLR cabling?
If the cable is simply acting as an XLR extention cable - female wall box or plug at one end, male at the other, it's reasonable to expect standard wiring, pin 1 to 1 through the shield, 2 to 2, 3 ...
- 90.4k
1
vote
boss loop station rd 2 with pa system
If anything, you may run into the issue that the loop system is too quiet coming into your mixer, and has trouble getting loud enough. If that is the case, you should consider purchasing a tool called ...
- 503
1
vote
boss loop station rd 2 with pa system
There should not be any problems but, just in case, the connection layout you may be looking for is:
Guitar -> [IN]LoopStation[Out] -> PA
Unless you plug an amplified signal to your PA or use ...
- 461
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible