Question about using Active PA

[germs]

What are the ins and outs?

I want to start utilizing my POD more, and am thinking about selling off some stuff to purchase an active 12" or 15" for on-stage monitoring. Right now I'm running the POD w/o cab/mic sims --> FX Return of a Peavey Supreme XL (SS) --> Avatar Contemporary 2x12 w/ V30's. It sounds good, but I'm basically just making the amps all play on the same cab, which isn't as conducive to the tones as I want it to be.

Assuming I get a model w/ XLR and 1/4", what's the best way to hook up to FOH?

I'd like to keep the speaker onstage w/ me during a show - as a monitor, either front of behind - and GREATLY reduce my onstage footprint as well as load in/out time...you know the drill.

I've heard nothing but great results about doing this, but I want to do it as correctly as possible the first time.

Thanks for the help.

[Nik]

It's all good.
These things generally have a direct ouytput that you can use to feed the FOH. Or if you use a DI box between Pod and your monitor, you can adjust the monitor volume yourself without upsetting the FOH mix.

The only downside is that it doesn't look like a 4 x 12.

[cincy_cosmo]

Look into the Roland KC-350 keyboard amp, or the Behringer amps if you are on a budget. I have two KC-350s and the KCwhatever-it-is subwoofer that I use with my Boss GT-10. Awesome sound. Plus it has more channel and EQ options than a active PA monitor will.

[conquerorworm]

The only downside is that it doesn't look like a 4 x 12.

This tiny bit of pettiness has singlehandedly kept me from going this route.

I've thought about a full range bass cab, like a 4 or 8x10 with horn, to kinda keep that "look," but... haven't actually tried it so not sure how it would work out.

[girevik]

What are the ins and outs?

I want to start utilizing my POD more, and am thinking about selling off some stuff to purchase an active 12" or 15" for on-stage monitoring. Right now I'm running the POD w/o cab/mic sims --> FX Return of a Peavey Supreme XL (SS) --> Avatar Contemporary 2x12 w/ V30's. It sounds good, but I'm basically just making the amps all play on the same cab, which isn't as conducive to the tones as I want it to be.

Assuming I get a model w/ XLR and 1/4", what's the best way to hook up to FOH?

I'd like to keep the speaker onstage w/ me during a show - as a monitor, either front of behind - and GREATLY reduce my onstage footprint as well as load in/out time...you know the drill.

I've heard nothing but great results about doing this, but I want to do it as correctly as possible the first time.

Thanks for the help.

Maybe all you need is a mixer with monitor outputs so you can use your own speaker(s) as monitors, and the main outputs go to the FOH system?

[germs]

The laughable thing is, the band purchased Carvin active towers a few years ago before switching back to Peavey passive stuff.

So I've got literally 2000+ watts of PA to play around on...I'm thinking of going that route - using a single PA tower I mean - to keep the "image" of a large speaker box on stage. I'm pretty sure it would work.

Sort of makes my monitor idea obsolete, but I wanted a powered smaller one for me at home or something as a grab and go for jamming.

I guess a better question would be:

Would FOH be able to plug an XLR into the monitor/tower and get a signal from that to mix into the mains? Would it be the same signal I hear onstage or would it be a "dry" signal (no FX/POD in the mix?)

If it seems obvious, it's because I'm still new at this and trying to figure it out.

[Nik]

Would FOH be able to plug an XLR into the monitor/tower and get a signal from that to mix into the mains?

Yes.


Would it be the same signal I hear onstage ?
Yes.

[MusicalSchizo]

If I was in your position, running an XT Live (it's in your signature - if that's not the POD you use, let me know), I would use a small mixer (like a PV6 or UB802) with at least one monitor out or a control room output. Then you can run the unbalanced output of your XT Live (it has no balanced outputs) to the little mixer, split the signal there (one output (the main output of the mixer) to FOH and one output (Control Rm/Aux/Monitor bus) to the active speaker) so you can control the volume of your on-stage monitor without affecting your signal to the FOH board.

Adjusting the output level on your POD would change the level you're feeding the active monitor, and it would affect the signal going through to FOH if you don't use a mixer.

Of course, if you had a POD X3 Live or any POD Pro, you could use the level control on it because it has two separate sets of outputs - 1/4" and XLR, and they can be set up to be controlled independently of one another, where the XLR acts as a straight direct out of your POD tones and the 1/4" is controlled by the output volume knob of the POD.

This is exactly how I've used my X3 Live - the XLR goes to FOH, and the 1/4" output goes to a powered monitor that I control using the output volume knob.

It can be a great, great change (it's worked great for me for years now, especially since I mostly play bass), but some people still prefer the way guitar speakers move air. It is a little different, in terms of feel.

Keep that in mind, and I highly suggest bringing the POD and your guitar to the music store to try out a lot of different things (like the aforementioned Roland KB series, a bunch of different active monitor speakers, etc.)

Good luck!
Brian V.

[HKSblade1]

SS power amp in stereo, POD or other in stereo, 2 -2x12's Vertical or stereo 4x12. Either setup with Eminence Beta12LTA speakers. You can also try the Beta LTA's on top with a different type on botts.

Much better than Powered PA speakers and responds like traditional rig. PA speakers have too many highs and might need a subwoofer. HF max on the Beta LTA is 8.5Khz. HF response on Powered PA is higher and might sound more buzzy fizzy or hiss.

[germs]

I'm messing around with this idea right now, in that I'm running the POD into the FX loop of a PowerBlock (12 o'clock @ input level) and then into my 2x12 - in mono for right now. Because I only have one cab.

You guys have some killer ideas; the guys at the music store tried to explain it to me, but ya'll just used better terminology, and no "y'know" and "like" for every other word. So I'm picking up what you're putting down now.

Question, as it can apply to any 1/4" input with a "level" knob, especially monitors and such: Where should that input level knob be set? Tonight at practice, it was at 12 o'clock, but the POD didn't have the same response as when I run it into the SS power section of say...a SS head. Is that b/c there's no level control on a SS head, and therefore I'm getting the full 150w, as opposed to say 75w (knob @ 12 o'clock)?

I'm really afraid of overdriving the input into oblivion (as with a Mackie), is it a problem running one full open? OR does it just depend on the equipment?