New PA $3,000 ?

[tdangelo]

PDC.

I am not sure that it really affects the outcome but, no gym, just a sanctuary. The band is not 32 inputs (averages between 15-20). The rest are room for growth. Thanks.

[dmot]

Tom, sounds like you are going to have to get a description of what your friend currently has and what they don't like about it. Then MAYBE these guys can tell you what system they should have and what is the best $3,000 first step to making the transition.

System they have = A + B + C + D
System they need = E + F + G + H

Best first step with $3,000 = get G because it can replace C and will make the system they have sound better and it is compatible with the direction they need to go in the future.

[tdangelo]

dmot,

Thanks. I am not sure that it is that easy. My guess is that the donor is someone in the band or related to a band member. All the musicians know that the current PA is old, worn & tired. So, what they really want to do is in one swoop make a noticable change for the audience. In their mind that means (main) speakers and mixer and what connects them (snake). They are willing to live with the wedges and mics they have.

As many have said here already this is likely too ambitious a project for the dollar resources available.

I have forwarded my friend everyone's comments. I hope that the message is understood.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by tdangelo

dmot,

Thanks. I am not sure that it is that easy. My guess is that the donor is someone in the band or related to a band member. All the musicians know that the current PA is old, worn & tired. So, what they really want to do is in one swoop make a noticable change for the audience. In their mind that means (main) speakers and mixer and what connects them (snake). They are willing to live with the wedges and mics they have.

As many have said here already this is likely too ambitious a project for the dollar resources available.

I have forwarded my friend everyone's comments. I hope that the message is understood.

It does sound like one of those situations where somebody has some personal reference that leads them to believe that the $3,000 will allow for a significant and readily noticeable improvement. Their being in the band or similar may be a good thing in that changes that seem to be priorities, such as a larger mixer, may be changes that the average member doesn't even notice but that make a significant difference to the performers and techs.

Any recommendation for particular products might result in a significant improvement over what they have or might be replacing very nice old equipment with much lower quality new equipment. We've probably all encountered people who were told they should replace that "name they never heard of" high end console or speakers with some really great entry level MI gear. Without knowing what they have, their problems and concerns, their goals and so on, there's no way to assess what might be appropriate or what might be a waste of money.

[pdc]

Strange, my last reply was not to go in this thread. Weird.

[[Admin] osborn4]

Almost sounds like step 2 of "Why Churches buy three sound systems..."

[wogster]

Originally Posted by tdangelo

A friend’s local church has had a donor supply $3,000 USD for a new PA system. Can anyone offer advise on what make/models of mixing console, speakers(amps) you would buy with that budget limit?

Attendance size is approximately 200 people in a 40’ wide x 80’ deep room. The skill level of the sound operators is low to mid-level. Music style is CCM with twenty or so inputs (2 percussion = 3, lead guitar = 1, bass =1, drums = 2, acoustic guitar = 1, Vocals = 8, High level audio playback = 2, Keyboard = 2). So leaving room for growth (choirs, etc.) they are looking for a 32 inputs. Currently they are using four Auxes to feed floor wedges from FOH for monitor mixes. No in-ears are used although they are looking at that for some point down the line in the future.

So, any recommendations for a mixing console, snake & speakers with a $3,000 USD budget? Thanks.

I think your best starting point, with a limited budget is to remember the 3-R's reuse, repair, replace. They go in that order. So your first job is to look over the existing equipment and assess each piece, divide them into 3 categories, as is, needs repair, needs replacing. Now the items that need repair, need to be assessed for repair costs, if the repair cost is more then 2/3rds of the replacement cost, then move the item to the replacement column.

Now the items that still need repair you have a cost, you get quotes to replace the items that need replacing. Prioritize those, the ones with the highest priority come first, and you go progressively down the list, until you run out of budget. If everything is now 100%, then you can look at expanding. You also have a plan in place, so you can report to the church board what is happening as the process continues, and that makes a stronger case when you ask for additional funds.

[Tim Padrick]

$3000 will get you a StudioLive 24 and a few widgets, or a used GL2200-24 or GL2400-24 (if you can find one - easier to find a 32), some outboard, and a snake.

[tdangelo]

My friend reports he bought a (new) Yamaha 32ch desk, two EV speakers and snake etc for $2800. No news on model numbers.

Thanks to all for your input.