What's the best way to amplify two acoustics and two mics?

fretfinder · July 2016

I'm looking for a reasonably cheap and cheerful way of amplifying two acoustic guitars and two vocal mics. Are there any acoustic amps that do this, or do you have to use a mini mixer into an acoustic amp, if that works? Or is a mini PA system a better solution? I'd welcome any recommendations for which acoustic amps and/or mini PA systems that you've used live that have worked well. Thanks

Winny_Pooh · July 2016

I've done this on the cheap. 4 channel soundcraft mixer into a Roland powered speaker/monitor. Very portable. For more power you could have a second larger powered speaker and use the small one for monitoring.

Danny1969 · July 2016

Mini pa is a good cheap solution. I use the Bose Model 2 for acoustic gigs but it's well expensive for what it is, there's a cheaper fisherman similar thing that also works well but a couple of Alto powered tops and a 4 channel mixer is what I would choose on a budget

crunchman · July 2016

A basic mixer can be had for not a lot. This one is £69:
http://www.andertons.co.uk/live-mixers/pid39432/cid622/mackie-mix8-compact-mixer.asp

That's a Mackie. You might find something from the likes of Behringer for even less.

I might be more tempted by something like this with some effects (reverb might be useful) at £115:
http://www.andertons.co.uk/studio-mixers/pid32329/cid605/yamaha-mg06x-6channel-mixing-desk-with-fx.asp

Or something like this that will double as an audio interface:
http://www.andertons.co.uk/live-mixers/pid41988/cid622/allen-38-heath-zedi8-mixer.asp

Just put the mixer into an active PA Cab (or cabs if you want more volume/spread) and you should be good to go.

On the PA cab front you can go from about £99 and go upwards from there. At the bottom end of the market Alto do an 8" active cab for £99:
http://www.andertons.co.uk/active-pa-speakers/pid35328/cid627/alto-tx8-active-8-pa-speaker-140w-rma-280w-peak-each.asp

You can go up to silly money but for the me the EV ZLX12P is about the sweet spot of quality and value:
http://www.andertons.co.uk/active-pa-speakers/pid28017/cid627/electro-voice-ev-zlx12p-12inch-active-pa-speaker.asp

You can spend a lot more than that but I think it's definitely diminishing returns.

fretfinder · July 2016

Thanks fellas. Any further thoughts from anyone?

Evilmags · July 2016

Mixer and a set of active monitors. And an EQ,

mellowsun · July 2016

The Laney LA35c is only £150 and punches well above its weight. Two of those and you have a 4 channel stereo setup that will sound great, if 35 watts per channel is enough - is it a small venue?

fretfinder · August 2016

Thanks guys. It's not for a specific venue, I would just like to be better prepared for those occasional times when my mate and I get asked to play acoustic at a party and unamplified isn't loud enough. I've got a vocal PA, but it has huge weighty speakers and a heavy mixer amp...

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What's the best way to amplify two acoustics and two mics?

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