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After spending the last 6 months practicing at home, arguing about song selection and trying to learn every lick, you finally feel confident enough to get out there and play a real gig. You’re going to need an amplification system of some sort to get your vocals and perhaps some of your instruments loud enough to be heard by the masses.
PA or “Public Address” Systems are commonly used in everyday life. The paging system at the bowling alley, the amplification system the minister uses in church, even the speaker system that the pilot uses to talk to the passengers in a jet …all PA Systems. |
The difference is the systems used to reproduce live music are designed for higher fidelity and louder volume than a system that is simply used for announcements.
In order to pick out the right system, it’s critical that you know what your goals are. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you start spending those hard-earned bucks…
Answer these questions and be honest with yourself. Trying to save a few bucks by going with a smaller system than you really need is a bad idea. There’s no money saved if you end up blowing speakers and realize you’ve got to trade-in and move up. You can’t make demands that are more than what a system was designed for. (I promise you, you’ll end up bitter and disappointed.)
| Who will you be playing for? |
A noisy hard rock audience? A quiet congregation at a religious service? A conversational coffee house? Your dog, Raymond?
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| What kind of music will you be playing? |
Electric Blues? An acoustic duet? Metal? Gospel?
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| Where will you mostly be playing? |
What is the size of the venue(s) that you will be performing in? Small? Large? Inside? Outside? Noisy? Quiet?
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| How many performers will be going through the system? |
Will you be amplifying a full band with drums and bass, or just a vocal and acoustic guitar?
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After you’ve put together a mental picture based on the questions above, check out some of these general guidelines to help you figure out what size of system you’ll need:
Solo or Duo - This type of gig performed in a coffee house or small restaurant environment requires an average of 100 to 250-watts of power. This is what is known as a “PA-on-a-Stick” with speakers mounted on tripod stands (often sold separately) to get the sound up near the audiences head instead of their kneecaps. Speaker enclosures should contain a 12” or 15” speaker with a horn. If the rooms you play are on the larger side and somewhat noisy, stick with a 15” speaker and at least 200-watts. Putting drums or bass guitar through a system of this size is not a good idea.
Small Rock Combo (3 or 4 piece) Vocals Only – If your situation is a combo with bass and drums playing smaller venues and you just want to get your vocals out front, a 300 to 500-watt system will suit you just fine. Getting your vocals heard over amplified electric guitars and live drums will require a bit more power than the solo systems You want to be sure that your vocals are loud and clear with no distortion. Stick with a 15” speaker w/ a horn for your enclosures.
Rock Band (4 to 6 piece) Everything mic’d – Here we’ve got mics on the drums and guitars with keyboards and bass going direct into the PA. Add multiple vocalists with perhaps a horn or two and you’re looking at a kickin’ system! To get this combo cranked up you should have at least a 1000-watt system (Sometimes described as 1000-watts stereo/500-watts a side) with 2x15” speakers and a horn per side.
(If you’re looking to perform outside, be sure to stay on the higher end of these guidelines. Sound seems to disappear outside with no walls or ceiling to reflect and contain the sound.)
Once you’ve got your wattage and speaker requirements figured out, you must take into consideration how many mic inputs you’ll need, if you’d like built-in effects like reverb and echo or if you’d like the option to expand in the future.
As you consider what is necessary for your particular situation, you’ll undoubtedly need additional cables, stands and various accessories to complete the picture. Check out Recommended PA Pack Accessories to tailor the system to your specific needs
A PA pack is a simple, easy solution that takes the guesswork out of buying a PA. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that the components are perfectly matched up for optimum performance. If you’re unsure, it’s better to error on the larger side.
Our site has a complete and varied selection of PA Packs for just about any situation, all backed by our 45/45/100 Guarantee. Call and speak with one of our Product Specialists to help you find the pack that’s perfect for you.
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