Sorry if I sound really lost but

 

Ive been playing guitar for the past 4 yours and have taught myself piano for the past 2. I have been wanting to play live somewhere for awhile. I guess I have trouble understanding how to get everyone to hear you. What should I do to have people hear vocals. Ive noticed that some keyboard amps have PA systems on them, do I use that? If not, then what, especially if the place dosent have a pa system of its own?

If you're just playing solo, all you need is a small mixer and a decent pair of speakers. Depending on the size of the place you play, you may also want a monitor or two so you can hear yourself properly.

 

Your mic, guitar and keyboard go into the mixer, the speakers come out.

 

You can plug a mic into alot of guitar/keyboard amps, but unless your amp has two channels, you won't be able to control your mic and instrument volumes seperately. I've used an amp for both, but the quality isn't great. Hope that helps.

 

Also, you can usually rent a small pa for less than $100 at most music stores.

So you recomend not using a keyboard amp as a PA system, and by speakers do you mean floor monitors?

So you recomend not using a keyboard amp as a PA system, and by speakers do you mean floor monitors?

Like I said, I've used a keyboard amp for vocals as well, it works ok. But having everything on seperate channels gives you control over the mix.

 

Floor monitors are a good idea, depending on the size of the venue. But I mean 'mains', speakers facing out at the audience.

Then whats the point of having a keyboard amp if you can use speakers?

It's common for electronic Keyboards to simply be output via the P.A speakers without the use of a dedicated keyboard amp. So, if the keyboard has twin (L and R) outputs then two jack leads would go from the keyboard into two channels on the mixer (say 5 & 6) - then obviously the mixer would be powering the P.A speakers and you would have sound.

 

But some people might want to just use a keyboard amp - it's just down to what you are going for as a "sound" and also it depends on the size of the venue I guess. Also, if the P.A system is relatively small then it can be the case that you don't really want to overload it with too many sounds.

 

AND.. (probably not even needed but..)

Real organs (Like a Hammond B5 for example) are often used with their own controllable rotary speaker (commonly a Leslie). Which then MAY or MAY NOT be mic'd up....depending on the venue size...