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microphone amplifier (Read 535 times)

Jul 22^nd, 2007 at 5:16pm

lilley Ex Member

Hey guys!

Me and the band are startin to get semi-serous as were composin loads of our own stuff and are going to start gigging around and we all have are own basic equiptment except for myself with no microphone amp... I was wondering if anyone would know how much you would expect to pay for a relatively basic one?

Cheers
James

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Reply #1 - Jul 22^nd, 2007 at 9:40pm

Alonso Offline
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Hmmm what I do with my "band" is just connecting the microphone to a guitar amplifier which has a "mic in" jack.. Cool

Or connecting the microphone to the "mic in" of a keyboard, if it has it...

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Reply #2 - Jul 23^rd, 2007 at 4:31pm

dcunning30 Offline
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If you need a microphone amp just for rehearsals, then a keyboard amp or even a guitar amp can work. When you gig out, most venues already have PA's, so you shouldn't worry about that. But if you want to gig at outdoor places or others that don't have PA's, then you might want to hold off on a microphone amp and you and your band-mates may want to spring for an inexpensive PA. Definately go used to save money. Or, you can get a mic amp and just rent a PA if the ocassion calls for it.

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Reply #3 - Jul 24^th, 2007 at 3:14pm

lilley Ex Member

right well right now its just for general composing and practicing. and i tried with one of the guitar amps and that was fine. I would just like a good quality, small (10-20) amp to use myself so we can practice properly.

What would i be looking to pay for? and i would almost definately go used yes.

Cheers

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Reply #4 - Jul 24^th, 2007 at 3:39pm

dcunning30 Offline
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Quote:

I would just like a good quality, small (10-20) amp to use myself so we can practice properly.

Assuming you mean a small 10-20 watt amp, that won't do at all. Once the drummer starts up, you'll be perpetually drowned out, ......unless you're playing swing and the drummer is using brushes. Wink

Anyway, you want at least 50-60 watts minimum for vocals.

Quote:

What would i be looking to pay for? and i would almost definately go used yes.

I don't know about UK prices but a bare basic used PA just for rehearsals would run about $250-$300 USD

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Reply #5 - Jul 24^th, 2007 at 3:54pm

dcunning30 Offline
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And while we're on the subject of amplification, here's a concept:

A 100 watt amp is only twice as loud as a 10 watt amp. It's true. So what gives then? Well it has to do with the quality of the amplified signal. So a 10 watt amp can get loud, but it'll sound like absolute crap when turned up. So, what do you get with a 60 watt amp? headroom and definition! Headroom is a musician's term that refers to how *cleanly* the loud signal is reproduced, especially the highs. That 10 watt amp can get the signal loud, but it has no headroom, the signal will be all crappy. Plus, with a higher wattage amp, you're putting out more electrical current (amps) so it can drive larger speakers with heavier magnets. That means you'll get a more accurate reproduction of the signal. And if you want more *apparent* loudness? Use more speakers! And if you use more speakers, you need more electrical current (amps) to drive those heavier magnets. And when you do that, more speakers move more air, therefore the apperant loudness is increased.

Cheesy

Update

So, if a 10 watt amp can get somewhat loud, can it still be heard over the drums, or the guitar or bass? Maybe, probably not. Reason why is each instrument has a frequency range that it operates in. The vocals operate in the midrange to highs. If it's distorted and not reproducted well, it'll get what's called "lost in the mix". A more powerful signal operating at that frequency range will cancel out the weaker signal at that range.

I can continue this discussion if anyone's interested, i don't want to ramble on for nothing.

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Reply #6 - Jul 24^th, 2007 at 5:36pm

lilley Ex Member

well

at the moment, the bassist has his 20 watt amp, and the guitaris is in a 20 watt marshall. ive borrowed a 10 watt for my vocals over the last few days and the drums and the rest arent quite drowning me out... just. So would it really be necesarry to spend out that much, thats what? £150? to go as big as a 100watt??? and not just go for 20, maybe 30?

i just dont want to spend loads and loads on a PA which might not even be needed....

thanks for the help btw guys!

James

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