Using only a PA for jamming with friends?

[punkouter]

I am getting a house and thinking about my mancave ideas. One thing is having a corner with the VDRUMS and guitars and whatever is needed to jam with friends.. In 2013 is it ok if the bass and guitars go through amp simulators and come out the PA directly? I was thinking it would be nice to just have one good PA system and not the extra guitar/bass amps. I envisioned a simple setup of just having two powerful speakers and everything could go through them? ideas?

[hairmetal-81]

Yes!

Quality of amp-simulations have made a huge leap in the last years! The non-plus-ultra at the moment seems to be Fractal Audio's 'Axe FX II'.

http://www.fractalaudio.com/p-axe-fx-ii-preamp-fx-processor.php

Avid (previously Digidesign) has put their software-amp 'Eleven' in a 19" hardware, calling it 'Eleven Rack'.

http://www.avid.com/En/products/eleven-rack_2

Zoom has some nice multi-effects, that also features amp-sims.

http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/g3

There are other (digital) amp-multieffects from major players like Roland and Line 6.



2) Then there are the pure Software-solutions:
Native Instruments 'Guitar Rig':

http://www.native-instruments.com/de/products/komplete/guitar/guitar-rig-5-pro/

...and IK Multimedia 'Amplitube':

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/cat-view.php?C=family-amplitube

3) The one that has caught my eye is an analogue amp-sim series by Tech 21, called 'Sansamp Character Series'.

http://tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/characterseries.html

The 'VT Bass Deluxe' is an awesome tool for the bass-player!
The other axeman has alot of choice on his own, whatever flavour he likes (Fender, Marshall, Vox etc.)


HTH

[punkouter]

What about speakers for a bass amp VS a PA? I mean... Should I have 15 inch speakers on a PA system to handle the bass? I worry about getting a PA and wearing it out or something over time? I want a minamalist mancave so only having the PA up against the walls would look nicer I think

[hairmetal-81]

*double post due to server-issue*

[hairmetal-81]

The amp-sims have a built-in 'speaker sim' and are designed to run them directly into a mixing-board, sometimes they even offer XLR-outputs!

Speaker systems:
15 inch speakers are thinking in the right direction! Better still, get a satelite-system with two high-mid speakers and a dedicated Subwoofer.

I have made good experience with a pair of Mackie speakers (without sub), it handled kickdrum and bass-guitar just fine.
They were 'Thump 15s' I believe. The room was a smaller one, though. Only about 20 m2.

I might would have chosen to go with the more professional 'SRM 450' personally, the Thumps have an overly pronouced low-end, a little too 'disco- or DJ-speaker' for my taste. ;-)

Most of all, make sure the speaker system sounds good with your drums ...first and foremost! Let guitar players deal with what speakers are already setup for them!


HTH

[campster]

I have a mackie dlm pa setup - two 12" satellites plus one 12" sub. I've been jamming with guys who have BIG Marshall stacks just using the 2 satellites and I get plenty of volume and bass and i'm not even pushing the speakers. They're set on -7dB (but can go up to +10dB).

The only reason the sub stays at home is because I don't have a roadie to help me move a TD30 + mixer + PA ;-)

[punkouter]

Ok. ill shop around. I am hoping there is a PA with built in amp simulators.. That could save me buying the extra hardware.. How much does speaker size relate to ability to handle bass? 15 inch vs 12 inch? or how many types of speakers shoudl be on the PA to cover the low and high range ?

[hairmetal-81]

Ok. ill shop around. I am hoping there is a PA with built in amp simulators..

Highly unlikely!
Mostly speakers with built-in amp-sims are just 'modeling guitar combos', aimed at guitar-players, not the whole band.

Countercheck: Did you ever see a drum module with built-in speakers? I haven't...

That could save me buying the extra hardware..

Is it space that is concerning you, or money?

Just tell your jamming-friends to bring their own multieffect-pedals/simulators. And ask them to leave the big guitar-amps at home.

How much does speaker size relate to ability to handle bass? 15 inch vs 12 inch? or how many types of speakers shoudl be on the PA to cover the low and high range ?

It depends a bit on how big the space is you want to amplify. We are not talking 'concert-stadium' here, are we?

For a good low frequency response, a 15 incher is a minimum, for sure so without dedicated subwoofer ! Bold and simple worded: 'The bigger the pot, the punchier the bassdrum'!

I think anything past a 'subwoofer plus two 2-way, 15" with horn' speaker-system would be overkill. If you go without a sub for whatever reason, you might think about two 3-way speakers, but these tend to come at a rather hefty weight...

[Kenster]

+1 on all the advice so far. No mention as to how loud you actually want everything. Keep in mind space requirements. My mancave is a standard 9 x10 or so bedroom. Having my kit and a giant sub with two PA speakers and a Fender Bassman 200 takes up quite a bit. Putting things up on the wall frees up all sorts of floor space! If the speakers are bigger than 15 inchers then the mounting might be quite the task!

K ;-)

[fulrmr(Daniel)]

I'm actually all for lining everything into the mixer...and the using I.E.M.s(In Ear Monitors) or headphones for indoor sessions with friensd...especially in smaller spaces. Then the mix and volume levels are perfect every time without bothering anyone else in the house. Although...if loud noise is what you want....+1 more for 2 main cabinets and at least one sub once you line everything in .

[hairmetal-81]

I thought a 'mancave' is the last allowed refuge of men? Noise here please!

(If this is sounding like we've have been banished from the rest of the house by our lovely wifey's, we should start to reclaim our territory! Or what would you call the shoe-cabinet of her....?








Are you allowed to 'make some noise', punkouter?

[fulrmr(Daniel)]

I thiught a 'mancave' is the last allowed refuge of men? Noise here please!

(If this is sounding like we've have been banished from the rest of the house by our lovely wifey's, we should start to reclaim our territory! Or what would you call the shoe-cabinet of her....?








Are you allowed to 'make some noise', punkouter?

hehehe....noise is fine(with the right gear) ...but I prefer the more versatile and refined mix that IEMs give me.

[punkouter]

I am looking at the behinger B115W.. It is a pretty big mancave and I want noise. And I want it loudenough.. I just have flash backs of growing up in garage bands and destroying speakers that could not handle the volume and then the speakers were ruined.. so I want to make sure I get 2 big enough speakers that I wont max out and ruin somehow.. the b115w make be what I need.. and it has Bluetooth to use to play tunes when not being used with a band.. what do you think ? Can I plug all my instruments in it ?

[hairmetal-81]

. Can I plug all my instruments in it ?

What kind of mixing-desk do you have?

I am looking at the behinger B115W.

Behringer speakers. eh?
I will bite my tongue on this one!

the b115w make be what I need.. and it has Bluetooth to use to play tunes when not being used with a band.. what do you think ?

IMHO (...just imho) the bluetooth-feature is a gimmick. Once you have a decent mixer, you can plug in anything you want, not just cellphones. Guitars and drumsets with bluetooth are not yet invented....


HTH

[punkouter]

I figure out get some mixer later... I can buy the speakers first and just put the VDRUMS in those for starters... Probably want to get a mixer with built in recorder and stuff

ive never been much into name brands.. whatever sounds best in a blind test (or tastes best when it comes to tequila) ill use