I'm getting close to Dave, DonM and Dnj on equipment I've tried (but not quite in the I've bought catagory yet).

So yesterday the local store lets me try a Yamaha 860ST stereo powered mixer. Plenty of power but leaves much to be desired in the effects dept to me when compared to what I've been working with.

Today right now sitting beside me is a Mackie 406M. Again it has plenty of power but I'm not impressed with the effects department on this mixer either.

I've rented a Peavey 684 3 or 4 times for the outdoor Park gigs I've done and it too has power, but the effects were about the same as the two mentioned above.

Dig this: I have a $100 (ebay)35 watt per side stereo, 70 watt mono mixer. It has no effects, so I use a $55 (ebay) Nano Verb. This is what I practice with and use on Coffee Shop gigs. Last week I even used it for the 200 people 50th wedding anniversary gig.

Some people asked me to turn down the volumn. It was too loud. Friends I'm not going to get any Rap, Hip Hop or Disco gigs. My crowds will be at least 50 years of age or older. I don't think I'll get anything where I have to knock the walls down.

However, I wouldn't mind having a more powerful unit for my Park Concerts and also the up-coming Adams Mark outdoor gig with 800 people expected.

Someone solve this for me please:

RMS mixer $100 Nano Verb $55 total $155.
Mackie 406M $575.
Peavey 684 stereo $675 or so.
Yamaha EMX 860ST probably $675 or so.

Shouldn't even I, me, myself notice better sounding effects for that much money? Or is it just power that cost more? Am I wasting my time trying to find better effects for more money along with more power in a powered mixer?

The Nano Verb to me is extra work to set up with the extra cables etc. But its has 4 or 5 knobs for control and I can really get it perfectly set to my ear for what I want to hear. Shouldn't another powered mixer for 3 or 4 times the money do the same job?

Does anyone know if the newer Model Yamaha EMX 88S uses the same effects system as the EMX 860ST older model. Or is it a new improved system over the EMX 860ST.

How have you guys survived all of this stuff. One man bands should get at least $200 an hour and get paid 2 extra hours for set-up and tear-down.
MAN!!!!!
I know you guys can't take much more of my complaining so I'm gonna quit after today.

Hey Boo,

I agree about the price we should get paid, but for some strange reason, the pay scale is about the same now as it was 10 years ago--maybe less.

As for the equipment decissions, I think we have all been through the ups and downs of what to buy, how much stuff we pack along to a job, and is it worth the expense. The first question I ask myself now is "if it cost three times as much, why can't I hear any difference in what's coming out of the speakers?" If there's no noticible improvement, forget it!

When I'm doing a large job, one that may involve a couple other performers, I fire up a peavy Unity-500 mixer. It's full stereo, lightweight, compact, easy to use and has more features than I'll ever use. You may want to check this one out.

When I'm by myself, the mixer stays home and I use a Peavey XR-600F powered mixer. It has 7 inputs, stereo on mono output, dual 9-band graphics equalizers, and sufficient power to play push a pair of Peavey SP-5G speakers. I've played using this rig at several, large political fundraisers and had more than enough beef to reach the audience in the back of a massive banquet hall that was filled to capacity with raving lunitics.

Now all you have to do is decide what sounds best to you. Told ya' I would git evin one day!

Cheers,

Gary

Boo, my personal set up[without the band] as follows. Mackie CFX12 non powered mixer with effects[very usable effects with some variation knobs for control]. I use the mixer with my "OLD" Roland Keyboard Cube 100's[pair in stereo]..I would not trade this set up for anything on the market,past or present..The system gives me a 3 way system with plenty of volume and bottom[38hz].I have routing for any project with the Mackie, including sub outs and sub woofer out. The 9 band EQ brings rooms to life. The 8 mic preamps are quiet with 4 band EQ on each[two stereo channels are also avaible with the same goodies] ,,I can feed house systems besides seperate monitors on stage[as I do with the band]..When I record from the Mackie, It is super clean,. When I first bought the Mackie CFX12[bought a DFX6 at the same time], I was disapointed that they were made in China, but the quality is still there..I even have an extended 3 year warranty..

Boo,
Unless you are playing large venues very often, I suggest that you get a nice, moderate, simple setup for your "regular" work, and RENT a larger system to do the parks. Sounds like such a chore ..... just use what works MOST of the time. It's not practical to lug a concert system to a coffee house. Just rent an aux system as you need it.