Getting a big punch from a small package

[V8mate]

PA systems!

I want to play music: outdoors, very loud, a lot of bass.

But I need the most transportable solution.


Learn me up!

[talkssense]

V8mate said:

PA systems!

I want to play music: outdoors, very loud, a lot of bass.

But I need the most transportable solution.


Learn me up!

Budget?

How loud is loud?

How big is this outdoor space?

How portable do you need it?

Budget?

[dozen]

Cheap and cheerful?
http://www.thomann.de/gb/mobile_prod.html?AR=19503...

Anything more grown up needs to be rented. You would be amazed what you can rent for a relatively small amount of money.

[V8mate]

Budget? £1000-1500?

How loud is loud? Too loud to stand next to.

How big is this outdoor space? A clearing in a forest

How portable do you need it? Would be good if it could fit in a quarter of the loadspace of a Transit.

Budget? Can you get free ones?

[V8mate]

dozen said:

Cheap and cheerful?
http://www.thomann.de/gb/mobile_prod.html?AR=19503...

Anything more grown up needs to be rented. You would be amazed what you can rent for a relatively small amount of money.

Thanks Good price point.

But 300W. Isn't that just... like... home stereo volume?


Hadn't thought about rental though

[Bullett]

What are putting through it as well? Live band vs disco = different requirements.

If it's a one off though - rent it. Someone will come along set it up, run it then take it down again.

300w of PA is likely to be louder but less refined than a hi-fi but a cheaper PA will convert less power into volume.

Indoors I used a rough guide of 1w per person (300 capacity venue = 300w) then add up the power of the individual amps for the band +400w for the drum kit. So 1kw was a start for a good sized venue. And that to drive vocals/acoustic instruments, start putting the drums and amps through and you need more power.

[V8mate]

Output is music. From a laptop, probably.

I'm looking for quite a penetrating sound level; I guess outdoors you don't have the benefit of walls to contain/reflect the sound.

[The Nur]

Are you having a rave, Mr.Mate?

[V8mate]

(Just a small, legal one, Occifer)

[The Nur]

good stuff

[Bullett]

1. As you say there are no walls so no reflections. Anyone off axis of the speakers will get much less volume/impact.
2. The throw will go a long way. A recent gig one village over I could hear 2 miles away. Be on good terms with your neighbors!

Seriously though hire some experts some some specific advise, this looks typical - http://www.livesoundhire.co.uk/sound-hire/sound-pa... (I have no affiliation first link on google).

[V8mate]

Bullett said:

Seriously though hire some experts some some specific advise, this looks typical - http://www.livesoundhire.co.uk/sound-hire/sound-pa... (I have no affiliation first link on google).

£500 for a 40KW installation?

Is that all?

I'd have to have a supplier who'd be happy for me to disappear with their kit for a week (i.e. no staff) as it's a German forest which will be 'entertained'.

That's feckin' awesome value (if I've read it right)

[V8mate]

... although physical size remains a key issue.

[Bullett]

I assume that's a day rate (sound like a bargain to me as well). They have a day/week rate on their equipment list page.

[samuelellis]

see if you can get someone with a OTT car stereo?

I know when my mong-deo is finished it will be usable as a mobile PA

[V8mate]

That's actually an interesting comment.

How do the ICE-boys get so much volume out of what are, to all intents and purposes, quite physically small speakers?

Or is it just very localised sound?

[rhinochopig]

samuelellis said:

see if you can get someone with a OTT car stereo?

I know when my mong-deo is finished it will be usable as a mobile PA

Although less mobile given the weight of the kit you've shoehorned into it

[Mattt]

N24?

[V8mate]

Mattt said:

N24?

We took what must have been the smallest stereo in the Eifel mountains this year.

Next year, we're going to take the party back to them

[samuelellis]

rhinochopig said:

samuelellis said:

see if you can get someone with a OTT car stereo?

I know when my mong-deo is finished it will be usable as a mobile PA

Although less mobile given the weight of the kit you've shoehorned into it

its not that heav.......oh ok it weighs more than the moon

V8mate said:

That's actually an interesting comment.

How do the ICE-boys get so much volume out of what are, to all intents and purposes, quite physically small speakers?

Or is it just very localised sound?

It depends tbh, a few way of doing it

Massive power
lots of cone area
efficient speaker boxes
well deadened panels
well built speaker drivers

me ive gone for a combination of all of them