Amp setup for live show

Cobra Jet · Post by **Cobra Jet** » Thu May 23, 2013 9:22 pm

I was wondering what type of amp setup others are using for gigs. I currently have a Roland KC-500 and it seems to work well. I was wondering if I ran two similar smaller amps like the KC-150 in stereo if that would improve my overall sound. Will I get a more realistic Leslie rotary effect? I’m in a classic rock back that only plays out a few times a year.

I've read a few good reviews on the Traynor keyboard amps. Not so much on the Roland KC's

Thanks

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Fri May 24, 2013 12:29 am

I have a 4 space rack with a dual 15 band EQ, a QSC amp, and a 1 space rack panel with 1/4" jacks in it for in's and out's.

I connect it to a pair of Micron 160 Elite Monitors that are wedge shaped.

I can place them behind me if I need sound to go out to the front, or, place them on either side or even in front pointed back at me. I play in church so my stage volume doesn't have to be real high. However, these can be!

These speakers have a great sound and I have had them since the 90's.

For a more realistic Leslie effect I use a Ventilator.

Geo

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun May 26, 2013 2:05 pm

I'm never going back after switching to in-ear monitoring.
Use the Ventilator for organ fx and nothing else. Well a simple A&H mixer to send it to the FOH. In ears are universal Shure SE535s.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Mon May 27, 2013 2:43 pm

I am using 2 (old) JBL Eon 10's, active powered.

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Mon May 27, 2013 4:14 pm

I use (older) JBL EON 10s too...hard to beat: good sound, small, light weight, loud, relatively inexpensive...

df

Cobra Jet · Post by **Cobra Jet** » Wed May 29, 2013 11:23 pm

SanderXpander wrote:I'm never going back after switching to in-ear monitoring.
Use the Ventilator for organ fx and nothing else. Well a simple A&H mixer to send it to the FOH. In ears are universal Shure SE535s.

I’m curious about your setup. If you run your keys through this in-ear system how does the rest of the band hear you on stage? Also, do you sing at all? If so, how do you hear the vocals?

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Thu May 30, 2013 5:40 am

I sing backings. My vocals go into the Kronos and globally come out of individual out 2
When I have a vocoder patch they come out of the regular L/R.
So there are three DIs (keys L/R and vox) going to the FOH. I take the link outputs from the DIs and run them into my small mixer. I also get a line back from the FOH with a monitor mix of my bandmates, mainly lead vocals, bass and guitar.
So I have control over my own keyboard and vocal levels and over the total monitormix of the rest. I can even set the reverb for my own vocals from my mixer.

I used to do something similar but using the aux mix on my mixer for my in-ears. That made everything mono though. I didn't think it would make such a huge difference to go stereo until I tried it. It's bliss, especially on larger stages it's the sound I've been hoping for for years.

My bandmates hear my either through their own in-ears or through any monitors that may or may not be laying around. Obviously, this only works if there are any. I do have a monitor for smaller gigs but tbh I would still use my in-ears for myself and just run my monitor at a moderate level just for my bandmates.

guruteo · Post by **guruteo** » Thu May 30, 2013 7:08 am

SanderXpander, I think your overall setup is a brilliant idea. I wanted to do the same thing with backing vocals/vocoder but haven't tried yet. So you run L, R and 2 outputs all through DIs, does this mean that when you run vocals through the Kronos the mic level signal gets converted to line level, the same as L/R?

Do you use a limiter with your in-ears?

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Thu May 30, 2013 7:47 am

Yeah the vocals become line level, hence the DI.
To be honest I do it even slightly differently because I also have a Roland AX-Synth and I run my Ventilator (fed from the organs coming out of individual out 1) separately. But it has to do with some specific features of my mixer. If you have just the Kronos and your vocals the above is the easiest setup.

I don't use a limiter on my in-ears currently, I thought about it however. But so far it seems to be ok, since I have separate control over the monitor line coming back. I don't run that one too loudly anyway and though repetitive feedback is annoying it's nothing deafening and it isn't common with my bands. Technically, I could ask the FOH guys to limit just that line, it's not necessary for my own signal and they invariably use digital desks anyway.

Cobra Jet · Post by **Cobra Jet** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:57 pm

I have been unable to find either the Micron 160 Elite Monitors or JBL EON 10s so that I can compare them to a Roland KC 500.
Is anyone else running a stereo setup with current gear that I may be able to compare? I did a comparison test with a pair of Mackie SRM350’s and I felt the KC500 sounded better.

Bertotti · Post by **Bertotti** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:26 pm

I don't gig but for my own use I do run into two QSC K10 active pas. I use the switches on the back to boost bass and set them on my wood floor for some additional bass coupling but even on stands I am happy with the sound in stereo. K12 would have better bass as would adding a sub. There was another thread here about this awhile back, and some others had QSC as well.

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 3:32 am

I use Peavey Impulse 12Ds. They sound awesome and natural...and can get really loud!

Cobra Jet · Post by **Cobra Jet** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 3:49 pm

Bertotti wrote:I don't gig but for my own use I do run into two QSC K10 active pas. I use the switches on the back to boost bass and set them on my wood floor for some additional bass coupling but even on stands I am happy with the sound in stereo. K12 would have better bass as would adding a sub. There was another thread here about this awhile back, and some others had QSC as well.

I checked the k10's out this weekend and I really liked them. I was surprised how much bass they had for 10 inch speakers.

Bertotti · Post by **Bertotti** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 3:59 pm

Where they on the stands? I actually get better bass with them set on my wood floors wedge style. I picked the K10s because I do plan to ad a sub some had and at the time and in the store the seemed to couple better with the ksub. All relative I know.

They are nice speakers.

I can say they are very durable. My front led on one doesn't light anymore but I'm sure it is easily fixed. I use these things everywhere. Outside working, I even use them when I do construction, couldn't ask for a better boom box!

FWIW I run my acoustic into them as well. I have to be careful of feed back, obviously, but it sounds very realistic to the in amped tone of my Martin.

Cobra Jet · Post by **Cobra Jet** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:20 pm

[quote="Bertotti"]Where they on the stands? I actually get better bass with them set on my wood floors wedge style. quote]

No not on a stand. I was down at Guitar Center and pulled one for Pro Audio and took it into the keyboard room. I set it on what was likely a cement floor with industrial carpet on top. I compared it against a KC550 they had and was very impressed.