Roots Archives Forum

Hi all,

for many years I've been thinking of starting a sound system... now that I finally got some money, i'm determined to start... but i'm 22 years old... is it too late to start??

just want to know the opinion of other people who started a sound system...

Peace

How wany speakers have you got?

where you located glu ?

Ites Natty Baboon!

The success of a sound does not depend on the selector`s age. It depends on the music quality.

If you feel ready to start, then do so.

By the way...22yrs...isn`t that old, zeen:-))) ?

Gwaan go dweet!

I-Lion

i'm 29 and been dreaming of doing one scince i was a kid, so been buying bits over the last few years and hopefully i'm ready to go this summer! not set it up yet but i have 4000watts, but not sure if it's gonna be enough, i'd need a lot more to make it anywhere near worthy of competing and i think if u want a sound system to play professionally then u talking tens of thousands at least. I'm just doing it for fun so i can set up, up the mountains in the summer, i got 8x 15", 2x 12.5" and 2x tweeter boxes, and im also new to doing all this kinda stuff, theres alot more to it than first meets the eye and takes alot of reading and learning about electronics,ohms etc.
theres a few good websites out there for info, i got lots of help on B+F forum......

Be careful buying anything used! Speakers, cables, snakes, and amps should be bought new. Mikes, boards, cases, and rack gear can be used, but check and make sure they work before you buy!
Equalization is a must, even for DJ use. Sub Woofers suck power and are hard to rig in crossovers--buy powered subs (JBL). Have fun with FX--they are cheap. Be careful buying anything new made in China! (Some Behringer stuff is actually OK). Get an MCM catalog for tools and such at www.mcminone.com. Have at the very least an ohm meter, soldering iron/solder, needlenose pliers, gaffer's tape, and a cable tester in your kit. With ten thousand watts you're gonna need earplugs or you will damage your precious hearing. For small rooms you need far less wattage inna cottage--mikes will feed back and plaster will peel; outdoors the more wattage the better, but at outdoor gigs power supply can be an issue with generators! (One portable generator will run a small PA and the backline of a band). No lights. Buy fans for your power amps. They will last longer. Buy good cases for all the gear. Buy the best cables, cheap ones suck and one bad cable ruins the whole sound and can take forever to trace...
People expect lights too. They are a huge pain. Good luck.

thanks for your reply, always nice to get more advice, most of my speakers i bought used, only because this was the cheapest way to do it, even if i have to replace a few of them it will still work out alot cheaper, at least i have the cabs, and i can always sell them on and get my money back for anything i buy, i'm just having a bit of fun rather than doing it professionally and doing it on the cheap, i'm convinced i can get a half decent sound doing tit this way! i will soon find out this summer!

Please invite us all to your first playing out.

If you would to come to Lincoln, UK with your sound system, I might be prepared to organise and promote the gig.

lol! like i say i'm not doing it professionally just for the love of reggae music outdoors, i just love something about reggae outdoors, always have done, so i'd feel embarressed to charge people or do it pro. My plan is to just do free parties out in the countryside not far from where i live, i have a few nice venues in mid-north wales in a forrestnear a big lake, theres a few places like this in wales where they do raves on the weekends so i hope to set up in one of these places but i don't have alot of people to invite! so the more the merrier, i will definatley post up when i plan to have this, i first need to setup the equiptment at home to test everything properly as i haven't even tried this yet, i bought everything but it all needs wiring up and testing, i need to make sure i have enough power for what i got, but i'm sure i have enough power to have a decent party, i did do a very small party 2 yrs ago with just 2 disco speakers and 2x dj monitor type speakers and hired a generator, was ok but the amp kept cutting out when i turned volume overhalf way! so was a shame, i have been given some advice on earthing the genny to stop this kind of stuff so hopefully i be ok next time. I'll keep u posted, if theres any festivals with reggae this summer i can always bring it down in a van maybe a bit closer to u all. But i think wales is pretty central UK! would make a nice weekend for some of u, i just wanna make sure everything is spot on before i go inviting people so will have a tester first.

i also have use of a video projector+some small lasers which adds to the fun but need to make sure i have a safe power supply for these, if theres anyone else reading this who has a system and is looking for a nice outdoor venue then i know the perfect place, we used to go up in a old picnic area up the nantyr mountain but the police blocked the entrance off so cars can't drive in, we carried the equiptment over the blockade last time, but bad for parking now so the new place is like one long road in a forrest, with a circle at the end of the rd where the sounds can be plus there is parking about 0.5mile back. I'd love to do something this summer.......