#1762092 - 06/04/07 01:41 PM
using a stage monitor - way too quiet
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PianoSteve
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Registered: 01/02/07
Posts: 3
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hi all,
i need some advice regarding a stage monitor which at the minute is producing VERY little volume.
i just bought a SoundLab P115 stage monitor, cheap and nasty i know ;-) ... but all i need it for is to blast back the sound of my digital piano to me so that i can hear it clearly.
my setup is as follows, there is me on piano and a singer... we have a powered amp which the piano and mic are connected to directly... the amp powers 4 passive PA speakers.
the stage monitor is also passive, it has no buttons or dials on it... just two jack ports. if i connect it to the "MONITOR OUT" port on the amp, i get sound from it, but it's about as loud as one PC speaker. even if i connect it directly into the amp (into one of the ports that powers the 4 passive PA speakers) it's slightly louder but still unbelievably quiet!
does anyone have any idea what im doing wrong? is there a special kind of jack to jack cable i need that would carry more power? does it sound like the stage monitor is broken?
any advice will be GRATEFULLY received!!
thanks,
Steven
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#1764280 - 06/08/07 02:03 PM
Re: using a stage monitor - way too quiet
[Re: PianoSteve]
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paully
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Registered: 05/25/04
Posts: 1068
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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there is me on piano and a singer... we have a powered amp which the piano and mic are connected to directly... the amp powers 4 passive PA speakers...
if i connect it to the "MONITOR OUT" port on the amp, i get sound from it, but it's about as loud as one PC speaker...
even if i connect it directly into the amp (into one of the ports that powers the 4 passive PA speakers) it's slightly louder but still unbelievably quiet!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Steven,
It's hard to tell exactly what equipment you're using. You refer to a powered amp. An amp(not a preamp) is always powered. Do you mean a powered mixer? That would present as a mixer with a built-in power amp.
If that's what you have, the 'monitor out' jack is probably a lo-power signal designed to drive a seperate power amp.. which in turn drives the monitor speaker. Do NOT connect a speaker to the 'monitor out' jack. It has nowhere near the level to drive a speaker directly. Why the P115 doesn't crank when cabled to the speaker jack is another mystery. I can only assume that you're wiring something wrong.
However, if as you say you're plugging the mic into one side of a straight power amp, and the keys into the other side, you'll need to buy a second amp to power your stage monitor. That gets driven from the 'monitor out' jack. You really should have a dedicated mixer for your instruments to plug into, then use that to drive the monitor power amp and the house amp/speakers.
It just sounds like you have some of the equipment but not enough to do waht you want. Post back with the models of all things mentioned, including what type of wire that you're using for the speaker runs. Can't help much without all that info.
Best, Paul
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#1965473 - 07/02/08 12:36 PM
Re: using a stage monitor - way too quiet
[Re: paully]
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bennardo
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Registered: 11/21/06
Posts: 53
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Make sure you run the piano and vocals separately. You can't run vocals and an instrument through the same incoming channels and expect them to work properly.
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#1975828 - 07/31/08 07:28 AM
Re: using a stage monitor - way too quiet
[Re: bennardo]
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80s-LZ
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Registered: 07/25/08
Posts: 87
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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The monitor out is likely just a low level monitor send as mentioned. I used to have a Peavey powered mixer and that's exactly what it was.
You mention hooking 4 speakers up. When you're hooking up your monitor, is that in addition to the other 4? you have to watch your impedance or you'll shut-down/fry the amp. Most will handle 4 ohms, some 2 ohms, none below that. If you have 8 ohm speakers, 2 of them are 4 ohms, 4 are 2 ohms, any more than that will be less than 2 (if it's hooked to the same output). If it's a stereo amp and you have 2 pairs you're probably OK. Also, the sensitivity of the monitor may be much lower than the PA speakers. For every 3dB difference in sensitivity you have to double the amplifier power to get the same output. So if your PA speakers are 100dB at 1W/1M and your monitor is 96dB at 1W/1M, it would take 400W to get the same volume in the monitor as 100W in the PA (and that's per speaker).
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Dan Duran That 80's BandMy Stuff: Alesis Fusion 6HD, Korg Triton Pro, Roland Jupiter 6, XP-50 & SC55, Moog Opus 3, Casio CZ-101 & VZ-8M, Akai S3000XL
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#1975834 - 07/31/08 07:34 AM
Re: using a stage monitor - way too quiet
[Re: 80s-LZ]
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80s-LZ
Senior Member
Registered: 07/25/08
Posts: 87
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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Actually, I just looked up the specs - I don't know if its the same one you have, but it's showing a sensitivity of 90dB. That's extremely low for Pro Audio gear. Most wedge monitors are in the 96-100dB range, typically around 98dB. And it's only rated 100W program, 200W peak. You're not going to get much out of that.
_________________________
Dan Duran That 80's BandMy Stuff: Alesis Fusion 6HD, Korg Triton Pro, Roland Jupiter 6, XP-50 & SC55, Moog Opus 3, Casio CZ-101 & VZ-8M, Akai S3000XL
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#1975835 - 07/31/08 07:38 AM
Re: using a stage monitor - way too quiet
[Re: 80s-LZ]
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Griffinator
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Registered: 03/28/02
Posts: 10009
Loc: Lynchburg, VA, USA
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This dude hasn't been back to look at the thread in two months, LZ, I doubt he's coming back at all....
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#1975881 - 07/31/08 09:13 AM
Re: using a stage monitor - way too quiet
[Re: Griffinator]
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80s-LZ
Senior Member
Registered: 07/25/08
Posts: 87
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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Oops, didn't look at the dates on the original post. Just saw July on the last one. Here lately, I don't know what month it is anyway! 
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Dan Duran That 80's BandMy Stuff: Alesis Fusion 6HD, Korg Triton Pro, Roland Jupiter 6, XP-50 & SC55, Moog Opus 3, Casio CZ-101 & VZ-8M, Akai S3000XL
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#1975884 - 07/31/08 09:18 AM
Re: using a stage monitor - way too quiet
[Re: 80s-LZ]
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Griffinator
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Registered: 03/28/02
Posts: 10009
Loc: Lynchburg, VA, USA
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Not a problem.
I've found that when folks drop by and post a question like this, with so little background information, they're hoping for an answer in < 1 hour, and if they don't get it, they don't come back.
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