Outboard FX recommendations for PA system?

[owen310707]

Just bought a small PA system but the desk has no on board effects, looking at lexicon mx200, mx400 or perhaps mpx1, or Yamaha SPX990...

System is for function band work so space and set up time is at a premium...

Anyone recommend outboard effects units please? Would like two eventually, but it is best to buy 2 of a kind (therefore allowing 2 x stereo or 4 x mono) or have more choice buy having 2 different manufacturers?

Any info regarding wiring would also be helpful, think I'll run the fx on aux channels and then feed back into the desk on a normal channel so I have have reverb in the monitors but my knowledge is sketchy on this!

Cheers. O.

[ESBlonde]

Lexicon wrote the algorithm everyone else aspires too as far as reverb goes, so since that is the basic effect for a set and go function band I would start with a lexicon unit. Others may have as good and have other effects available instead but a good basic reverb is your essential building block. When time and finance allows look into the SPX yammies if you have a sound engineer, but for set and go - Lexicon.

[jim_branning]

not sure i'd put reverb on monitor mix, a little delay maybe, reverb = feedback usually, or certainly it encourages feedback

but yes if the mixer does not have dedicated aux returns which can be routed to te monitor bus, then you;d return the aux's to full channels and send out to the monitor bus from there (as well as foh)

spx90's - the originals - are good cos not massive bandwidth (you dont need up to 20k for live pa work), and they have good variety of fx, and can be switched live with a footpedal to new presets. so you could change delays for example per-song in the set on the fly.

other units have midi switching too tho.

[Danny1969]

For vocals a little verb is nice but tap tempo delay works better. The Lex MPX range is ok for the money and you can tap in the tempo.
I always prefer returning delays and verbs into a channel strip because it gives you the chance to roll off all the low end which you generally don't want. Just be aware though that your monitor send aux is normally pre fader but your effects sends are post fader, so the amount of effect (wet dry mix) in the monitor will vary with fader level

[*Noodles*]

SPX990.

And I really wouldn't encourage reverb on vox in monitors. Creates a diffusion beyond naturality, and can really screw up how people sing. If you want to add it - cool! But I'd never openly recommend it.

[jalapeno]

Get a feedback killer or a 32band stereo Graphic as you'll be playing is some very odd shaped rooms.

Also, make sure everybody on stage understands about monitor placement and Cardioid/HyperCardioid mic patterns, otherwise your monitor mix will give you more feedback trouble than the FOH mix. (In-ears FTW !).

[jim_branning]

behringer do those little "shark" anti-feeback units. very cheap little box type unit

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/DSP110.aspx