Advice for an outdoor event...

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steve149 said:
The K8 and K10 are very robust speakers. The issue with them is they have wide dispersion horns, which won't carry very far outdoors (same issue with your 802s). A 12" or 15" box with a dispersion around 75 degrees will be a good compromise to cover both a dance are and to reach back enough for general use. If the area to cover isn't that large (150 people says it's fairly big), then the smaller tops might work.
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Something you fail to realize Steve.
My 802s are not fed Full Range signals. Mids and lHighs are all they get (In a two way setup) or Mids OR Highs (In a 3 way setup)
They are powered by their own individual amp not shared power. Makes a big difference.
My 802 are usually about 4 feet higher than the height most DJs place their speakers. This gives for more dispersion.
They do not have that shrill sound I hear from a lot of those speakers.
I do not use my 802s outside. I know better.
 
Not knocking the 802s, it has to do with the amount of sound energy directed in any specific direction. It's really just physics and the 802s aren't immune from it. Getting them higher helps. Outdoors, you want LESS dispersion generally so you cover a deeper area. Indoors, a close dance floor benefits from wide dispersion. Again, rule of thumb but individual circumstances might require a different tact.
 
steve149 said:
Not knocking the 802s, it has to do with the amount of sound energy directed in any specific direction. It's really just physics and the 802s aren't immune from it. Getting them higher helps. Outdoors, you want LESS dispersion generally so you cover a deeper area. Indoors, a close dance floor benefits from wide dispersion. Again, rule of thumb but individual circumstances might require a different tact.
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You are correct. Outdoors does not necessarily have to mean far back from the stage, so that in itself sets a different parameter. In my attempt to answer some of these chaps, I am trying to share with them that there is no one system, speaker, that is a fit for all applications. In the case of the OP question, I would not use anything less than 15" tops with dual or two subs, double those if the crowd is larger etc. There are a few guys on here that have multiple systems that they can mix and match to give them the required configuration they need. Some just have the one basic Wedding System and try to force it into other applications for which it not designed.
 
TheOlogee said:
What would you recommend as a fellow Texan?
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Are you going to be on a stage, how high?
How many people?
Against a wall or in the open?
How deep will the audience be?
Is it music just for a dance floor area in front of the setup or coverage all over or both?
Tent or no cover?

Answer these and I will tell you what I would use if I was going to do that gig.
 
I will back up Canute on this, more information is needed to give you a reasoned answer. Outdoor setups generally require more firepower than an indoor setup would given the many more things working against you. If you can lay out what you are trying to cover (size and physical issues) and how loud you need it at what distance, it will help.
 
ahoustondj said:
Are you going to be on a stage, how high?
How many people?
Against a wall or in the open?
How deep will the audience be?
Is it music just for a dance floor area in front of the setup or coverage all over or both?
Tent or no cover?

Answer these and I will tell you what I would use if I was going to do that gig.
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The event is a community crawfish boil & yard sale.
150 people expected
Open area, no walls
Audience depth is expected to be about 200 ft deep with a spread of about 100 ft.
Music will for both dance area which is a 20x20 area but will need to be audible for others outside of the space where there will be dining and games.
I will be MC'ing and there will be a series of drawings and announcements so vocals will need to reach well across the audience.
I plan to use a 10x10 tent on pavement for my setup. I will place the speakers where needed No stage.
 
ahoustondj said:
You are correct. Outdoors does not necessarily have to mean far back from the stage, so that in itself sets a different parameter. In my attempt to answer some of these chaps, I am trying to share with them that there is no one system, speaker, that is a fit for all applications. In the case of the OP question, I would not use anything less than 15" tops with dual or two subs, double those if the crowd is larger etc. There are a few guys on here that have multiple systems that they can mix and match to give them the required configuration they need. Some just have the one basic Wedding System and try to force it into other applications for which it not designed.
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This is what Im trying to avoid. I have one basic wedding/b-day party system right now. It looks like Ill need to spend some cash which Im not opposed to so long as its a sound investment...pun intended.
 
I will suggest components that are presently in the marketplace and widely used not in my arsenal. For the very least, I would use/build/erect something to elevate (5 - 6' Feet) two Duals (Two 15" with a Hi Frequency Horn) one per side. This will be for Mids and Highs.

for Lows I will use two dual 18" or 4 single 18".

This system will be passive, two way, either a Driverack or Similar DRPA will supply the signals, or a Two way Electronic Crossover plus an EQ. Appropriate amps to drive the speakers and you are set with natural sound not a shrill blaring system.
 
What components do you now own? What are your future plans/applications? There is a way to add components so systems can be integrated in a proper manner.

To me when I hear more people or bigger space, I automatically think more powerful components not more quantity of components.
 
TheOlogee said:
The event is a community crawfish boil & yard sale.
150 people expected
Open area, no walls
Audience depth is expected to be about 200 ft deep with a spread of about 100 ft.
Music will for both dance area which is a 20x20 area but will need to be audible for others outside of the space where there will be dining and games.
I will be MC'ing and there will be a series of drawings and announcements so vocals will need to reach well across the audience.
I plan to use a 10x10 tent on pavement for my setup. I will place the speakers where needed No stage.
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An area that large will need at least a 2/3-way 15" over a good sub, to be heard out that far. I did a town green of about that size with a 15" 3-way over sub and it was marginal, but worked. You can get by with 1 12" 2-way on a stick out to maybe 25' and a 15 out to maybe 35-40. beyond that, you need big stuff, as you won't get reinforcement from a "room". If you won't use it again, rent it.
 
ahoustondj said:
What components do you now own? What are your future plans/applications? There is a way to add components so systems can be integrated in a proper manner.

To me when I hear more people or bigger space, I automatically think more powerful components not more quantity of components.
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Current setup is
2 K10s
1 Peavey PV118 sub
1 QSC GX5
1 DriveRack PA+
1 Numark NS6
1 Berhinger XENYX X1204 mixer (for access to Ableton as well as Toshiba Thrive tablet used as backup)

My initial plan was to do weddings and small parties only however that changed after these two outdoor events surfaced. I had plans to build a powerful, yet light weight, passive system over time that will accommodate up to 200 guests indoors. This is why I spent the money on DRPA+ as opposed to a typical crossover so I could tune rooms and such for optimal sound. The crawfish event will get a lot of exposure and I anticipate it being a "break-out" moment leading to more gigs so again I want to get this right or wait until I can afford the equipment to do so.
 
TheOlogee said:
Current setup is
2 K10s
1 Peavey PV118 sub
1 QSC GX5
1 DriveRack PA+
1 Numark NS6
1 Berhinger XENYX X1204 mixer (for access to Ableton as well as Toshiba Thrive tablet used as backup)

My initial plan was to do weddings and small parties only however that changed after these two outdoor events surfaced. I had plans to build a powerful, yet light weight, passive system over time that will accommodate up to 200 guests indoors. This is why I spent the money on DRPA+ as opposed to a typical crossover so I could tune rooms and such for optimal sound. The crawfish event will get a lot of exposure and I anticipate it being a "break-out" moment leading to more gigs so again I want to get this right or wait until I can afford the equipment to do so.
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My suggestion would be to add another PV118 so you can have a pair if needed or a pair of something else more powerful. You will need an appropriate amp if not powered. For tops, if you like the K 10s, then get a pair of K 12s, you can always use the K10s as fills!
 
steve149 said:
An area that large will need at least a 2/3-way 15" over a good sub, to be heard out that far. I did a town green of about that size with a 15" 3-way over sub and it was marginal, but worked. You can get by with 1 12" 2-way on a stick out to maybe 25' and a 15 out to maybe 35-40. beyond that, you need big stuff, as you won't get reinforcement from a "room". If you won't use it again, rent it.
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I considered renting but see myself using it again. This group does events twice a year and if all goes well they will be calling on me later this Fall.
 
When you get big systems, you put yourself on another level. Therefore, you have to go out and create the Gigs. You can now target Clubs, do SR for small bands etc. You have now effectively eliminated some of the competition out there because you can sound different. I don't mean different as in loud.
 
ahoustondj said:
My suggestion would be to add another PV118 so you can have a pair if needed or a pair of something else more powerful. You will need an appropriate amp if not powered. For tops, if you like the K 10s, then get a pair of K 12s, you can always use the K10s as fills!
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Pardon the dumb question but Ill ask it.

How would I use the K10s as fills if using K12s? Do you mean having the K12 front stage and the K10s behind the audience?
 
TheOlogee said:
Current setup is
2 K10s
1 Peavey PV118 sub
1 QSC GX5
1 DriveRack PA+
1 Numark NS6
1 Berhinger XENYX X1204 mixer (for access to Ableton as well as Toshiba Thrive tablet used as backup)

My initial plan was to do weddings and small parties only however that changed after these two outdoor events surfaced. I had plans to build a powerful, yet light weight, passive system over time that will accommodate up to 200 guests indoors. This is why I spent the money on DRPA+ as opposed to a typical crossover so I could tune rooms and such for optimal sound. The crawfish event will get a lot of exposure and I anticipate it being a "break-out" moment leading to more gigs so again I want to get this right or wait until I can afford the equipment to do so.
Click to expand...
Outdoor events are great, they just need a commitment equipment wise to do. Light and outdoors won't generally go hand in hand unfortunately. If you want to do it right, double 18" subs minimum and at least a pair of long reach tops (like the QSC KW152) would be the minimum. If you're only doing outdoor patio type stuff, then you might get by with what you have plus another sub.

When you need to reach 200', there's no getting past the physics.
 
TheOlogee said:
Pardon the dumb question but Ill ask it.

How would I use the K10s as fills if using K12s? Do you mean having the K12 front stage and the K10s behind the audience?
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usually to the side, as outdoor events tend to spread wide as well.
 
TheOlogee said:
Pardon the dumb question but Ill ask it.

How would I use the K10s as fills if using K12s? Do you mean having the K12 front stage and the K10s behind the audience?
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I did not necessarily mean in this application but yes, they can. They can be also be used in other venues. However, they can be used as fill on an outdoor/indoor stage.
 
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