Hi I am wondering about getting a small yet powerful mini rig for home concerts, small halls, etc. I'll need to mic up at least 2 vocals maybe 3 as well as 2 guitars and keyboard and maybe a laptop. I was looking at something in the vein of the Fender Passport 500 /Bose L1 (if i had the cash). I like the passport from a portability point of view. I don't know prices atm either so will have to go to a store to find out, but any hints or help would be appreciated
A mini Rig
Bose L-1 is great! Great sound and it's bose! ? However, it is EXPENSIVE in SA. So is the solo amp which is very similar to the Bose L-1.
I bought a used fender passport and am blown away by it! It really is great. the price I paid for it was 1/4 of what the solo amp is selling for new locally. However, I'm not sure what they go for new.
I bought a used fender passport and am blown away by it! It really is great. the price I paid for it was 1/4 of what the solo amp is selling for new locally. However, I'm not sure what they go for new.
The Fender Passports are good systems. The Yamaha Stagepas 500 is another option. A little pricey, but both eminently portable and good sounding.
I needed to get a small rig in December and opted for a pair of Proel Flash 12A (Muse mag review of the range - not mine) powered speakers and the Proel M16USB mixer, which are a lot more bang-for-the-buck and full-featured compared to the compact systems (which trade off features for size). About R20K retail, so you can expect to pay +/- R15K - probably a grand less if you shop around and haggle (or you can probably squeeze a pair of speaker stands out of them instead). And all in all, not much bigger than a Stagepas or Passport and with better low end extension.
Aside from the feature set (which suits my needs perfectly, with room to expand), the mixer also came standard with a soft carry case and rack ears included. I got the matching Proel speaker stands, which are ridiculously lightweight (I can carry both in one hand), but still sturdy enough. I also grabbed a standard BNC gooseneck lamp (the M16 for a few hundred (essential, IMO).
If I need to upgrade (which experience tells me is more a matter of when, rather than if), adding on a pair of the matching Flash15sa active bass bins will extend the low end and add another 700W (upping it to a 1200W tri-amped system) for another R14K retail. For me, I think a couple of channels of compression are priority first.
The Yamaha MG166CX mixer was another option I considered for the mixer - nice in that it has basic one-knob compression on the first half dozen channels. Ultimately the features of the Proel won out for me, plus it's a Cape Town based distributor, which makes service and support easier with a faster turn-around time (also essential for PA IMO, as in the long run, something is bound to happen).
I needed to get a small rig in December and opted for a pair of Proel Flash 12A (Muse mag review of the range - not mine) powered speakers and the Proel M16USB mixer, which are a lot more bang-for-the-buck and full-featured compared to the compact systems (which trade off features for size). About R20K retail, so you can expect to pay +/- R15K - probably a grand less if you shop around and haggle (or you can probably squeeze a pair of speaker stands out of them instead). And all in all, not much bigger than a Stagepas or Passport and with better low end extension.
Aside from the feature set (which suits my needs perfectly, with room to expand), the mixer also came standard with a soft carry case and rack ears included. I got the matching Proel speaker stands, which are ridiculously lightweight (I can carry both in one hand), but still sturdy enough. I also grabbed a standard BNC gooseneck lamp (the M16 for a few hundred (essential, IMO).
If I need to upgrade (which experience tells me is more a matter of when, rather than if), adding on a pair of the matching Flash15sa active bass bins will extend the low end and add another 700W (upping it to a 1200W tri-amped system) for another R14K retail. For me, I think a couple of channels of compression are priority first.
The Yamaha MG166CX mixer was another option I considered for the mixer - nice in that it has basic one-knob compression on the first half dozen channels. Ultimately the features of the Proel won out for me, plus it's a Cape Town based distributor, which makes service and support easier with a faster turn-around time (also essential for PA IMO, as in the long run, something is bound to happen).
well i use what you consider a mini rig for my pro gigs......... just before i started a resident musician (as in permanent gigs every day ) contract at The palace hotel at sun city last nov ..... i bought a super compact pair of behringer powered speakers the 550W ones with 12 inch and horn ....... and yeah they gigged to date about 40 gigs a month non stop for 7 m0nths since nov and i'm still gigging there ....and they never broke down once......... and in last 7 months they done gigs , outdoors and indoors some huge rooms and some intimate bars ...and coped well , i even bought some powered bass bins just in case i needed then and never used them ......but the speakers only cost me about 5 -6K for th pair and they outperformed their price, and in return i made that investment back in a few gigs ....... and i work in a 5 star upmarket hotel where they would not tollerate bad sound .
so i'm not saying these are the best ...ect ec t but i am saying i use these to do pro gigs and lots of em and they coped with all spaces and most importantly are reliable......and yes they get moved almost every day so they do take the knocks of the road well........ so before you spend 20 K on a system consider the lower ranges....... in my opinion the standards of the "cheaper" gear has improved radically in last years as technology is more effecient and cheaper
so i'm not saying these are the best ...ect ec t but i am saying i use these to do pro gigs and lots of em and they coped with all spaces and most importantly are reliable......and yes they get moved almost every day so they do take the knocks of the road well........ so before you spend 20 K on a system consider the lower ranges....... in my opinion the standards of the "cheaper" gear has improved radically in last years as technology is more effecient and cheaper
Thanks for the tips, I really appreciate it. I will look around at some more affordable options. The reason I'm looking at a compact system is that my car (a 2 door corsa) isnt that big, so getting my guitars, my wifes keyboard, and gear pa gear into it is a packing challenge, and thats without the kiddie seat in the car ?
With regard to the behringer speakers, can you place a product link? are you using a small desk etc?
With regard to the behringer speakers, can you place a product link? are you using a small desk etc?
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/B212D.aspxtheantirockstar wrote:
With regard to the behringer speakers, can you place a product link? are you using a small desk etc?
this is the exact model i use. ........ and yes i use a small mixer ..... and they will need reverb or whatever fx you use ........ and they are small so should fit your car easily with all the other gear but quite heavy ......for their size.......
Sent you a PM, theantirockstar.
Thanks for all the advise. Bought the fender passport from a mate of mine for a fairly good deal ?
Congrats dude! ?
besides, now i can tell you that BOSE stands for Buy Other Sound Equipment!
So you made the right choice! ? ?
besides, now i can tell you that BOSE stands for Buy Other Sound Equipment!
So you made the right choice! ? ?