mics hook up - mixer/XLR etc. ?

[Bataboom]

thinking about mic-ing 3 congas and a djembe.

We have one line now with mic at my drums, Im thinking about going with individual mics on each drum. But my question is this.

To ease the trouble of running wires and having the sound man mixing each of my drums sperate channel on the sound booth mixer, cant I just get a 4 peice mic kit and a cheap 4-6 channel mixer to keep right at my feet to serve as a hub for the mics and then go from the one mic line I have ran to my drums now? Its a male XLR to a sm58 mic do they make a mixer with a XLR line out? This way we dont have to run new wires and have the sound man working and mixing all 4 of my drums, he has enough to do as it is.

Am I making sense here?

[onile]

Alafia Abure Bataboom!
If I may offer a humble suggestion....

What I use is the Behringer 1202 (see below) ($80), it has four XLR inputs (to cover your 3 congas and Djembe), you will need to purchase 1/4" to XLR cable to send your signal to the PA. This way, you'll still use only one channel on the board. You can even buy some in-ear monitors ($100) to use with this, or you could use a set of headphones to hear yourself clearly. If you are lucky you can get a signal from the PA into your mixer and using the headphones you should be able to hear both your mix, and the one of the band all together. The fun thing about this is that YOU will be in charge of your mix, the PA will obviously be in charge of how loud you are in the whole mix coming out of the main speakers.

here is a website you can check out the mixer at;
http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHUB1202

I also carry something else in my gig bag that not too many congueros/percussionist do, and that's two "Y" XLR connectors. This helps in situations when I don't have my mixer with me on a gig, and the board only has one channel available. This "Y" connector allows me to mic two drums using only one channel on the PA, helps out alot when dealing with groups that have a lot of equipment to connect. You can check into them at your local music equipment place (Guitar Center).

Hope this give you an idea of where to start....

Many blessings!
Onile!

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... baa6e1.jpg

[onile]

I use these "in-ear" monitors (Sure brand $90), they're not as noticable as headphones would be.....

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... nitors.jpg

[Bataboom]

thanks onile I have a live monitor already and one mic to all my drums, so Im trying to talk the admins into letting me mic them all sepreatly and have the mixer at my use to fine to the drums and serve as a hub for the mics of coarse, I just wanted to be sure I will have what I need when the time comes to start ordering. The 1/4 to XLR cable your refering thats oposite to the mic wire I have now? Its XLR at the mic are you saying I need a 1/4 jack coiming out of the mixer going to the sound board could I plug a lo=hiZ converter on that?



Edited By Bataboom on 1146005282

[onile]

Exactly, you can ask for a cable of 3', 5', 10' depending on the length of your current XLR cable, it would give you that much more length to play with.

Yes, you're right, you would connect your current XLR into the XLR part of the new cable and connect the 1/4" into your mixer (I believe it's called the "Main Out" and you get a left and right option). The understanding that I have about this however is that if you're going "Mono" (using only one cable out), then you use the "Left" plug-in. I hope that this makes sense, if on the other hand you were going to send a "Stereo" signal out, then you would use both the Left and the Right connections and ultimatley would be using two XLRs to the main PA.

As for the lo-hiZ adapter, you know, I never considered it as a possibility, I guess it would be worth a try and you could save yourself a little $.

[pidoca]

Hi Bataboom.

Can I also offer some advice.

Beringher is cheap. Very cheap. I have used it and their equipment has added moise to my sound. A small mackie or Yamaha desk although a little more $$$ will serve you well in the long term.

mixing desks come in two main configurations when it comes to mains out. 2 x Jack or 2 x XLR. Jack is unbalanced but more then adquate; then there is XLR out. this adds on price and these desks are usually more feature heavy; EQ with sweepable mids, more returns and sends etc... some even have built in effects. the choice is yours. I have always bought the best I could afford, and bought one item at a time. that way I am not robbing Paul to pay Simon. from the little that I know you , I know that you only wish the best for the purpose in which you wish to use the equipment in.

what about micking up aux percussion? a consensor will do well, but you can use a dynamic mic as well.

Here are the items that you will need. You may already have some of them.

4 or 5 mics
either mic stands or a rim mic clips
as many male/female XLR leads as you have mics
a mixing desk with a few more XLR channels then what you need. you will always find a use for that extra channel.
and either a jack/XLR or XLR/XLR (depending on the mixing desk) for mains out. If you are going to run stereo then you will need 2 of each.

you should not need any converters.

extras.
a seperate Eq.
A compressor
an effects rack
mic pre-amps
etc...

here are some photos of my set up. It took me about year to be able to afford all of it. it taught me patience amongst other things.

remember the less things you use the better, the better the representation of your sound will be. You can also use one mic between two drums, save on money till you are able to afford more.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 1-mics.jpg

[pidoca]

another pic

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... set_up.jpg

[Bataboom]

thanks guys i'll consider all of these options, this is for my church playing, I already have a single mic coming to my drums from across the building to the sound guy thats why I will go mono, no need to go stereo anyway really I just wanted to know the best way to get 4 mics across to the sound guy using one XLR, and again this is just in the talks stage It has to be given the go ahead by the pastor and the sound guys of our band.
thanks again for all your tips.

[Tonio]

I would have to agree with Pidoca. Beh, beh , be #### I can't say that word Behinger is a co that steals audio equipment designs. read: BOYCOT!!! But, they can be of a low budget use. Sorry Onile, no personal harm meant.
Anyway, if you can afford ,it , get a Soundcraft Spirit M series mixer, or Mackie Onyx. good pre amps and eq is oustanding !!.
use whatever mics you have. route them to one channel and bam,1 balanced XLR out to the PA.

T



Edited By Tonio on 1146111879

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
May you all be in an abundance of blessings!

Abure Tonio!
I had heard about the negative publicity regarding Behringer, but I never got into it. As long as I had equipment that met my needs. I personally haven't had any problems with it, but it's helpful to hear other's experiences (unwelcomed sound affects and such with mixing), this way I can keep aware of it when and if it happens to me. No offense was taken mi pana!

As long as the next person considering such a purchase, in this case Abure Bataboom, can benefit from the experiences of those who post a comment or more, then we've done a good service sharing with him that experience!

Many blessings!
Onile!



Edited By onile on 1146144989

[Bataboom]

really as long as this mixer acts as a hub for my mics and doesnt melt into a pile of pudding before my eyes Im happy because thats all I need it for as a matter of fact if the mixer would only have a vol slider for each channel that woud suit me, the simpler the better. thanks for all of your reviews and comments though!

[Tonio]

BB, oh yeah. I have no problem with it. They are nice price and for the most part they work. Heck they stole the design :;):
Did'nt want to sound like a politician, but just wanted to share what i know about the manufacturer. As a consumer, some things just need to be shared.


T



Edited By Tonio on 1146195039