Your Main Speakers and Audio Equipment Speakers Can Help You Sound Great!

Sooner or later it was bound to happen. And, it is a good thing. Your band finally gets the chance to play for a real live audience, and get paid to perform. But, that leads to the problem of equipment. Up until now you have been able to get by with one or two speakers, and maybe an amplifier. Now, you are going to have to have enough audio equipment and speakers for the band, and that will mean purchasing or renting it, and learning how it works, so you can perform.

Depending of course on the size of your band, you will need some sort of amplifier and speakers. If you have a vocalist, at a minimum you will need an audio system so that he or she can be heard. If your budget is not too restricted, you may want a system that includes main speakers and a main amplifier and mixer that can handle your entire band input.

For your main amplifier unit, you can concentrate on two ways to go. The first option is to get a single amplifier that combines a power amp and the mixer functions. And many time, these units will also include an equalization function. This is an advantage in poor sounding venues. The outputs for this type unit should be main speaker outs, left and right, and a monitor out.

A single unit with all these audio functions is the perfect choice for a smaller size band. And, it is also the preferred choice for groups just getting out into the public arena. And, if a band does not have a sound person for the performance, a single all-in-one amplifier can be the way to go.

Using a component system, comprised of main speakers, monitor speaker, a mixer, and a power amplifier is the preferred method for utilizing audio equipment. Using a variety of speakers and amplifiers as separate components, you can achieve greater choices and range of sound options. Obviously, the setup time for a performance is increased with more equipment. And, your upfront equipment costs are steeper than a more sparse approach. But, your band will be able to accommodate more instruments and singers later at no additional cost.

As you are building your audio equipment system, you will need to decide on how many speakers you want to use. You should seriously consider going with two main speakers, traditionally a left and right stage speaker, and at least one monitor speaker. For any set other than a very small room, this should be your basic speaker support.

As far as monitor speakers go, if your band members perform in close proximity, you might only need one monitor. However, most bands set up using most of the stage area, so multiple monitors will be needed. This is not an equipment item to take lightly, since band members need to be able to hear the whole group to perform best. If you need to save money, do so somewhere else. Monitor speakers are very important.

Main speakers are used to balance your band sound in the room, so place them to enhance the sound. While the left and right speaker terminology is used, this is not a reference to stereophonic band sound. It is merely a reference to stage placement. Each speaker produces the same sounds as all other main speakers.

You will most probably need an audio snake for your cable runs. Having any number of separate cables all consolidated into one larger cable is a smart way to have a clean installation for your performance. With a connection box at one end, you can connect many pieces of audio equipment gear and have one simple cable run to your amplifier. You can also do the same for cable runs to your speakers.

There are many different strategies for your band microphones. For sure, each vocalist will need an individual microphone. Shared mics can be used for show, but the actual sound reproduction of each vocalist is greatly diminished. And with individual mics, each can be adjusted for the vocal qualities of the singer.

You should also balance the amplified sound of electric instruments with the acoustic instruments by using a microphone or a pickup. Keep in mind that feedback is always an issue if you use too many microphones. This is why pickups are the recommended way of amplifying non-electric instruments.

All bands have the challenge of balancing the sounds running through the main audio system with the sounds produced by the various individual instrumental amps. One possible solution is to run an additional input line from each onstage amp to the main system to help balance the overall sound of the band. The goal is great sound presence of the band as a whole, along with perfect individual clarity of individual band member performance.