PA Systems - Do you have one and is it integral to your practice and playing?

**AlsoRan** · 09-04-2017, 08:49 PM

I just ordered a 50 watt PA System. I find that so much that I do depends on having one. I already have a 100 watt one that is cumbersome to move around and I wanted a small one that could work as a "bedroom" PA. I use it for:
1) Playing back my recorded backing tracks
2) Playing my EZ Drummer tracks for practice
3) Voice amplification if I want to sing along
4) Playing my CDs and MP3s from Hal Leonard and Jamey Aeborsold, etc... play alongs.
5) Amplifying backing music for my and an amigo who plays the guitar with me on rare occasions
6) Amplifying backing music for some young people to whom I give piano lessons
7) Amplifying my cheap, little keyboard to make it louder

I find these things to be indispensable and hope to get one that is 300 watts or bigger if I can keep on the same path.

So do you have one or is it just not necessary in your world?

**icr** · 09-04-2017, 09:12 PM

Yes, I mic my amps, add time-based effects to the guitar through the mixing board, and mix in what ever background I'm going to practice over. Then send it out though PA speakers.

I thought I was the only one crazy enough to do that. It sounds great but I really have to watch amp volume and mic placement to avoid feedback.

**Greentone** · 09-04-2017, 09:24 PM

I have three. A small Kustom and two old Polytone PAs.

Never use them to practice, but I use one or two for gigs.

**docbop** · 09-04-2017, 09:25 PM

MI had small PA's in all the classrooms for all the reasons you outlined and I thought it was a good idea, so I bought a small mixer to do the same, but haven't got around to getting powered speakers yet.

**Alter** · 09-05-2017, 11:50 AM

I use a focusrite 6i6 with a mixer and studio monitors (with a sub woofer) at home for piano, music listening and (rarely) playing guitar. I 've really grown fond of listening to music through studio monitors over time, i like the clarity and definition, and the ease of hearing what each instrument is doing.

For live playing i try to keep away from getting into them, cause you end up being a soundman as well as a musician, and i 've found it to be difficult and tiring, usually better to just pay a sound guy or just play with amps

**jorgemg1984** · 09-05-2017, 12:47 PM

I don't even have an amp these days, two Mambo PA cabs, a mixer and a digital rig. Perfect.

**AlsoRan** · 09-05-2017, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

I don't even have an amp these days, two Mambo PA cabs, a mixer and a digital rig. Perfect.

jorge, does Mambo makes cabs specifically for PAs?

**jorgemg1984** · 09-05-2017, 02:46 PM

Well, he did... They are not on the website. I hope he still does, mines are the best ones I've tried.

**bluefonia** · 09-05-2017, 04:12 PM

Like @Alter I also use active studiomonitors - (Adam A7X - as I have a small studio set up at home) - in combination with a small guitar amp. If you look at the photo you can see a little Blackstar (1 watt tubeamp) on the shelf to the right and a small speaker cab (with a 12" Cannabis Rex) in the lower part of the shelf right behind the box with the pedals. This way I can very easily record, practice with backing track, make backing track and so.

Normally the pedals are packed away, but I just got a Empress Para Eq

and had to rearrange my pedalboard.

PA Systems - Do you have one and is it integral to your practice and playing?-room-1-1-jpg

**gggomez** · 09-05-2017, 05:38 PM

Bluefonia that is my dream to have a room like that, your killing me

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**bluefonia** · 09-05-2017, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by gggomez

Bluefonia that is my dream to have a room like that, your killing me

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually it is a part of my living room

...

**fep** · 09-05-2017, 05:58 PM

I have a small PA gathering dust. I used that when I was in a band or when folks would come over to play. I have desktop reference monitor speakers (Alesis Monitor One MKII) that I use for all my home practice and recording needs. My active PA speakers are nowhere near the quality of the reference speakers.

**nopedals** · 09-05-2017, 06:31 PM

Henricksen Bud has one built into it.

**archtopeddy** · 09-05-2017, 07:49 PM

For Gypsy Jazz, I use a Bose L1 system
For Rocksteady Reggae, I use QSC K10 speakers and a Soundcraft EFX 12 board
For solo guitar/vocal, I use an AER compact 60 mobile amp
For "jazz" I have a Henriksen Bud

For practicing at home and just goofing around, I use a Roland Micro Cube RX

**AlsoRan** · 09-05-2017, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by fep

I have a small PA gathering dust. I used that when I was in a band or when folks would come over to play. I have desktop reference monitor speakers (Alesis Monitor One MKII) that I use for all my home practice and recording needs. My active PA speakers are nowhere near the quality of the reference speakers.

Funny you should mention the quality. It seems that, as you and blufonia illustrates you really don't need a PA system at home if you have a computer, an interface, and some quality speakers/monitors.

I am guessing the main challenge whether or not the number of inputs and input types on the interface unit meet your needs.

For the record, I caught this labor day Musician'sfriend deal and am looking forward to using it, carrying it around easily, and setting it up.

Kustom PA PA50 Personal PA System | Musician's Friend

**pingu** · 09-05-2017, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by archtopeddy

For Gypsy Jazz, I use a Bose L1 system
For Rocksteady Reggae, I use QSC K10 speakers and a Soundcraft EFX 12 board
For solo guitar/vocal, I use an AER compact 60 mobile amp
For "jazz" I have a Henriksen Bud

For practicing at home and just goofing around, I use a Roland Micro Cube RX

Wow that's some top amplification right there ...
You know what your doing !

How much better do you rate the Bud for clean jazz playing ?

I use a comp 60 basically cos I've got one
but I'd like a Bud I think
They're damn expensive tho
Are they worth it ?

**archtopeddy** · 09-05-2017, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by pingu

Wow that's some top amplification right there ...
You know what your doing !

How much better do you rate the Bud for clean jazz playing ?

I use a comp 60 basically cos I've got one
but I'd like a Bud I think
They're damn expensive tho
Are they worth it ?

Between the Bud and AER, I actually prefer the AER for general use. They both sound great for guitars (acoustic and electric), but the AER sounds better for my vocals. (I use a Neumann KMS-105 mic). As for a clean jazz sound, the Bud sounds amazing for its size, but if I didn't have it, I'd be more than happy with just the AER. I was offered a good buy on the Bud and just couldn't resist getting it. No slam on the Bud, but if I could only keep one, I'd keep the AER.

**bluefonia** · 09-06-2017, 05:13 AM

Funny you should mention the quality. It seems that, as you and blufonia illustrates you really don't need a PA system at home if you have a computer, an interface, and some quality speakers/monitors.

I am guessing the main challenge whether or not the number of inputs and input types on the interface unit meet your needs.

I made my living as a producer and owner of a recording studio for a decade in the eighties followed by almost two decades as a filmmaker, so I guess studiomonitors (and computers) have just become a habit to me as tools. If I had been mostly a gigging musician I would probably use a small PA for home practice instead.
As a sidenote I still produce and compose music and make films - these days just not for a living.

**fep** · 09-06-2017, 11:07 AM

My setup is a 12 channel mixer, a PC, an Alesis power amplifier, and the Alesis speakers. It all runs without turning on the PC if I'm not recording or using other PC type stuff (MuseScore, Transcribe, Youtube, etc.)

I have a couple of mics, a guitar amp modeler, a music keyboard, and my PC all plugged into the mixer. I like that all of that stuff is ready to go with no additional setup required.

**AlsoRan** · 09-06-2017, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by fep

My setup is a 12 channel mixer, a PC, an Alesis power amplifier, and the Alesis speakers. It all runs without turning on the PC if I'm not recording or using other PC type stuff (MuseScore, Transcribe, Youtube, etc.)

I have a couple of mics, a guitar amp modeler, a music keyboard, and my PC all plugged into the mixer. I like that all of that stuff is ready to go with no additional setup required.

I normally don't run my guitar through the PA. Instead, I play the PA with whatever input (such as BIAB or some recordings I have made on my Boss BR600 or MicroBR) and I have my amp sitting right next to the PA speakers.

I am thinking I might have to try a modeler so I can run it through.

**docbop** · 09-06-2017, 04:32 PM

Also a bonus on running direct into a mixer or computer interface is they expose every little pick noise, inconsistent picking, noise from guitar and arm movement, etc. Want to really scare yourself do it with headphones. Back in the day I used to spend part of my practice day plugged direct into my tape deck when doing scale exercises and similar exercises to really hear myself. Great way to work on picking, pick angle, position on the string plug in direct.

**MilesPG** · 09-06-2017, 04:37 PM

I have a 6 channel mixer, studio monitors and I connect the Amplifire, my laptop or ipad for backing tracks or to play music while working, also the headphones for silent practice and the output goes to ab Apogee Jam 96 connected to my iphone for recording. I dont have an amp either

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**fep** · 09-06-2017, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by AlsoRan

I normally don't run my guitar through the PA. Instead, I play the PA with whatever input (such as BIAB or some recordings I have made on my Boss BR600 or MicroBR) and I have my amp sitting right next to the PA speakers.

I am thinking I might have to try a modeler so I can run it through.

Most of the time I play my electric guitar through an amp... usually a tele through a boss micro cube these days. When I record electric it is through the modeler, I just get better results that way.

**AlsoRan** · 09-06-2017, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by fep

My setup is a 12 channel mixer, a PC, an Alesis power amplifier, and the Alesis speakers. It all runs without turning on the PC if I'm not recording or using other PC type stuff (MuseScore, Transcribe, Youtube, etc.)

I have a couple of mics, a guitar amp modeler, a music keyboard, and my PC all plugged into the mixer. I like that all of that stuff is ready to go with no additional setup required.

It would be nice to put away the amp.

Is your modeler pretty versatile? Will it give you a wide range of sounds that cover most music genres?

**AlsoRan** · 09-06-2017, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by docbop

Also a bonus on running direct into a mixer or computer interface is they expose every little pick noise, inconsistent picking, noise from guitar and arm movement, etc. Want to really scare yourself do it with headphones. Back in the day I used to spend part of my practice day plugged direct into my tape deck when doing scale exercises and similar exercises to really hear myself. Great way to work on picking, pick angle, position on the string plug in direct.

I discovered how unforgiving computer interfaces are - the hard way. I was trying to record something and kept hearing extra pick noises. I thought it was a fault in the equipment. It was me and I had to adjust my technique and even go to a quieter pick.