Vocal PA

A vocal PA system consists of several components. A microphone, a mixer, an amplifier and speakers plus cables. Naturally, there are also many possibilities to vary among the individual components. Instead of a mixer and amplifier, a power mixer could be used or instead of an amplifier and speakers, active speakers can be installed.

A PA (Public Address) system differs fundamentally from a vocal PA system, as very few low frequent signals are reproduced. In other words: no bass! That is also the reason why these systems are not or only partially suitable for electric piano or bass amplification. These systems are more suitable for vocal, acoustic guitar, saxophones, flutes and similar instruments.

Almost every musician that plays an instrument or is willing to learn has a favorite instrument. For example, many guitar players dream of having a Gibson les Paul, many saxophone players would love to own a original Selmer and drummers often dream of having a Pearl set waiting on stage.

But what about the singer? It’s hard to be passionate about a black box full of speakers or a mixer overloaded with knobs, or maybe the mic? Hard to believe, don’t you think? This is where the problem of the vocal PA system starts. Other than the instrument players, a singer only has his/her body to create the sounds, and only his body can release the right musical expression and power.

A singer will only be able to perform to the extent of which he is satisfied, with the used technology. He has to love it, like the guitarist loves his Les Paul. Without this “feel good” feeling the singers throat will soon become sore, as he has to concentrate and react more to compensate weaknesses in his PA, thqan to keep his mind solely on his performance, after all he is dependent on technology to amplify him over drums and bass.

Unfortunately the vocal PA is often neglected and not much of a band´s budget is invested here in good equipment. The weakest link in the chain, should be getting the most help, not the least. Is it not the singer that everybody knows, everybody is watching? Is it not the singer that needs powerful and good amplification to be heard, to sound as good as any of the other instruments?

It all starts with the right choice of the microphone. We often hear statements such as "we need something for a beginner", well a beginner needs all the support he can get, and thus a good mic. Together with the speakers, the microphone is the essential part of the vocal PA, it´s where sound is created, acoustics are turned into electric impulses and are then transformed via the speakers back into sound, the quality of this conversion is essential for a good sound.

Try changing the microphone or the speakers, you will immediately hear the difference, therefore if you change the mixer only a trained ear will detect this. So, a good microphone is the source for a good sound.

The mixer should be chosen to suit the needs of the band. Most important is, how many inputs are needed. The amount of instruments and microphones that will be in use simultaneously determinates the size of the mixer needed. To get a good sound result the efficiency of the tone controls with your mixer is essential. A mixer with a 2 band EQ has less possibilities as one with a 3 band EQ and parametric mid´s. But what are parametric mid´s? Well, the difference to fixed mid´s is that the frequency of the mid´s cannot only be varied but also the frequency itself can be changed.

The choice of the amplifier and the speakers is dependent on the desired power, which results from the size of audience. If the PA is in use for jam sessions or maybe for small clubs and pub gigs. Furthermore, the output power is dependent on the music you are making. A piano and vocal performance will need much less power than a punk band. On the following pages, you will find several product recommendations to vocal PA´s in accordance to the power required.