A good sound system is imporant for live sound.
The most important thing in any live band setting -- next to musicianship, of course-- is great sound. Whether playing for a crowd of 10 in a coffeeshop or 10,000 in an outdoor venue, it's important to have a great sound or "PA" system. No matter how excellent the musicianship onstage, if the speakers are not right for the job, the band's sound will not reproduce accurately.
With a little planning, it's not hard to buy the speakers most suited to your live-sound needs.
Instructions
The Gig Setting
1. Determine the type of venue most likely for your band's gigs. Is it a large venue that requires large and loud speakers? Is it a coffeehouse or a small, mellow bar? All of these are important factors. It's better to a build a versatile sound system so you can tailor its size to the needs of the room.
2. Plan with versatility in mind. It's better to have more gear and power than needed, so your band can play a variety of venues.
3. Set your budget before shopping. A full PA system can cost from hundreds to many thousands, depending on quality and size.
4. Decide where you want to shop. Big-box music stores have a large selection of professional audio gear. Some of the shops have knowledgeable staff on hand for your questions. You can also test the gear in the store. Some mail-order and online stores have associates available by phone to help you.
The Mixing Board
5. Decide how many channels your band needs onstage. In a rehearsal setting, a band may be able to get away with a small mixing board, especially if the musicians play through their own amps. In a live setting, everything -- amplified instruments, mics, acoustic instruments and even drums -- goes through the mixer.
6. Read reviews of several mixing board brands to determine what's best for your band and budget.
7. A quality mixing board with spare channels is a good investment.
Test several good boards out in a store. Be sure to consider whether you want to mix monitors from the board, or if built-in effects are necessary.
The Speakers
8. Pick speakers that can reproduce sound accurately at high volumes. There are speakers geared toward just about every type of setting, from coffeehouse acoustic setups to full-on, extremely loud speakers with a full array of high- mid- and low-range speakers built into each cabinet. Remember that portability is a plus, especially if your band moves its own gear from sshow.
9. Choose a powerful subwoofer if your band plays loudly or plays a style heavy on bass.
10. Pick a nice set of jack stands capable of holding the weight of the speakers. The sturdier and more portable, the better.
11. Determine whether monitors are important to your band. If there are singers or many musicians, chances are, they will want monitors. Ideally, everyone onstage should be able to hear themselves well, so choose the number of monitors that will accomplish the task. Monitors with volume knobs are nice, so each player can adjust his own.
The amplifier
12. Pick an amplifier based on the power needs of the speakers and monitors.
13. Consult with the in-store audio to make sure you pick something suitable. More power than needed is always a good idea; otherwise, the amp may blow, or the sound just won't be loud enough.
14. Determine whether you need a separate amp for your monitors or subwoofer. Once again, the more power, the better.
