setup to play @ live gig

marcusvpais · Unread post by **marcusvpais** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 5:08 pm

hi all : )

ok..so i was wondering.. what tools do i need to play on a live gig?

i have an acoustic guitar with a fishman acoustic matrix pickup,an acoustic amp, a macbook laptop, a CL8 studio condenser mic, a shure $79 mic and a mbox mini with 2 guitar inputs and 1 mic input .. connected to the laptop...

at home.. i play with :
my guitar plugged into the amp >
amp and vocals to mbox mini >
mbox mini to laptop >
laptop to stereo speakers

it sound fine... seems like no delay....i can even create separeta channels in garageband for vocal/guitar and adjust their volume... i can even apply garageband effects or pro tools effects.. at real time..without delay.... they are like pedals.... i can even record... so can i do this in a live gig as i do in my home? or do i need like a PA or a Preamp...

sfmartins · Unread post by **sfmartins** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 5:33 pm

I am not an expert, but I would say you'll be able to do it as well.

If your stereo speakers or amp are not enough for the space, you might need to connect the Amp output to a PA. Then connect one PA output to the mbox and then to the mac.

sunglassesatnight · Unread post by **sunglassesatnight** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 7:48 pm

It will be quite difficult to implement a computer into a live setup. It's possible, but that doesn't mean you should or that it will turn out very well.

And just because there is no delay at home does not mean there won't be when you factor in other components like a bigger room. Get a PA and a decent mixer, use pedals if you must. But stay far from trying to apply real-time effects in (not so great) Garageband, since I gather that to be the only real use you'd want it for.

RunsWithBuffalo · Unread post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:15 pm

Yeah, i have a set up similiar to yours and i would advise against using the garageband effects in a live setting. Way too much can go wrong when you complicate your signal chain like that.

If it is just you and a guitar i would say be as simple as you can. A cheap behringer mixer will do fine. I use a boss reverb and delay pedal on vocals (the delay is cool for when you want a lot of echo, otherwise i just leave it off). I would caution you to use effects sparingly because what sounds good in your bedroom sounds waaaaaaaaaay different in a big room. For one, you get natural echo and if you overdo the reverb, your voice will just drown in the mix.

You will need some kind of PA system but most places that support live music will have one set up anyways. The thing is you rarely have much time to soundcheck or make adjustments. This is why the mixer is helpful. I keep mine at my feet and will usually look for my friends to signal me if vocals or guitar need a boost.

Any other questions?

sfmartins · Unread post by **sfmartins** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:31 am

I thought you just wanted to record the show!

And yeah, it is ALWAYS difficult to get the real sound you want in a live show, so keep the chain as simple as possible..

sunglassesatnight · Unread post by **sunglassesatnight** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:11 am

Oh, and you want to talk about pissing off the FOH guy if you're playing at a semi-legitimate venue. I've run the board many times at places and would be just furious if someone came at me with whacky computer-driven effects, probably in overload since he can't hear it out in the room.

GuitarGuy305 · Unread post by **GuitarGuy305** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:04 pm

I wouldn't use computer effects at a gig. If you're using effects like delay, reverb, etc, I think either stompboxes or a decent multi-effects are the way to go. I can appreciate what a Mac can do at home for recording/practicing, but I like to go simple at gigs.

When I play gigs, my setup is as follows:

Guitar->Volume->Wah->Delay->Looper->mixer->PA speakers. Usually if I'm only playing a small coffee house, I'll bring one PA speaker.

My friend that gigs regularly than I do just invested in one of these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=480176

The sound is great and the thing isn't as big as the pictures make it look. I've heard him use it at coffee houses and bars and the sound fills the room. His setup consists of two guitars, a Boss GT-6 and a loop station.

marcusvpais · Unread post by **marcusvpais** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:20 am

guys, you saved my life
thank you very much!!!!

u guys rock!

RunsWithBuffalo · Unread post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:34 am

We aim to please,,

Hope all went well for ya!

marcusvpais · Unread post by **marcusvpais** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:05 am

so if i understand.. my setup for a regular show gig should be lke this:

My Guitar > fishman Aura acoustic sound processor + pedals> Mixer > Laptop for recording & PA > speakers
2nd Guitar > effect & loop pedals > Mixer > Laptop for recording & PA > speakers
Mic > Mixer > Laptop for recording & PA > speakers

Delay: BOSS DD6
Loop: RC20XL
Acoustic Sound Processor: Fishman Aura Sound Processor
Mixer: Behringer
XENYX 1622FX 16 Channel Mixer
(i "think" i might be abble apply some effects on the MIC trough this mixer right?)

----

the fishman aura... i researched a lot.. and ive read really good reviews from it... the mixer has an usb out for recording stuff to mac or windows!

what u guys think of this setup?
for pa and speakers what u guys recommend? (i know i dont need to buy them.. but i wanna know the price and stuff) can i plug my mixer to a good AMP and use this setup at home? or i need the PA in this case???

thx guys!

sunglassesatnight · Unread post by **sunglassesatnight** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:35 am

I think you're close, but I just want to clarify one thing, and if you had this already, then forget me.

It should be that everything goes to the mixer then the PA and also out to the laptop.

So it's more like:
Guitar>pedals/Aura>mixer>PA
etc.
and also
Mixer>laptop-for recording. You definitely don't want to be running out of the laptop into the computer. That's a recipe for disaster and bad sound.

The mixer will have outs you'll run to the PA and separate outs you'll run to your computer.

Hope that helps.

Ryan

Appfro · Unread post by **Appfro** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:05 pm

question on top of the question
i need a live set up for under 500. i have the mics, pedal boards and amp, i'm talking 4 - 8 mixer, 2 speakers, speaker stands (if possible), at least one monitor.

anyone got opinions?

if not under 500, what's the cheapest for a good set up?

edit: i have this: http://www.behringer.com/ub802/UB802_press.jpg

i just realized, it'll do what i want it to do. 2 vocals, one guitar, one keyboard for a two person set up. so i just need the speakers and monitor

HumbleMonkey · Unread post by **HumbleMonkey** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:28 pm

i am not an expert at all at this stuff but wouldn't you need a powered mixer?

Appfro · Unread post by **Appfro** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:30 pm

i have no idea, that's why i'm asking.

HumbleMonkey · Unread post by **HumbleMonkey** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:37 pm

true

yeah but i think you would need a powered mixer, that mixer wouldnt work.

i just got this recently http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=636502

havent had the chance to really test out to see what it can really do yet loudness wise but it sounds clean and good to me so far. there is also a little better one for $400. you can get something like that. the one i got comes with a pair of speakers which can be used as speakers or monitors. you can just order a third if you want.

thats the best advice i can give with me little experience in this stuff

EDIT: for smaller venue acoustic stuff which im guessing you would be doing something like this should work fine

DMBTabs.com

setup to play @ live gig

setup to play @ live gig

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