Field PA for marching band

[Chadtuba]

I have been tasked with finding a new PA system for the Gold Star Marching Band so I'm looking for some advice. We are currently using the Anchor Audio Megavox system but true to a megaphone sound it is piercing sound and just doesn't' quite cover the 100 yard field with 180 members. I've gotten a couple of quotes on the http://www.mipro.com.tw/link/2_2_ma808.htm MiPro MA808 system with 2 speakers that communicate wirelessly to each other that seems to fit the needs but I've never seen one in use. Does anybody have any experience with this system, or any others that you can suggest for our use.

Our needs are:
Battery operated (we have 3 rehearsal sites we bounce between with only one of those having access to power)
Preferably more than one speaker with no cabling or minimal cables
Prefer 2 wireless mic set-ups, but 1 would suffice
The ability to cover a standard 100 yard football field with up to 200 band members
99% vocal projection only with the very rare occasion of possibly hooking up an MP3 player for music playback

Thanks,
Chad
Gold Star Marching Band
Graduate Teaching Assistant
North Dakota State University

[ai698]

Check out what Dan Ryder has to offer-
http://www.danryderfielddrills.com/

[Chadtuba]

The nicest (and most aurally humane) thing would be 200 receivers with ear buds, but that's probably way too expensive.

Now wouldn't that be nice

[achmiedl]

It is a great system! We all fight over ours, the cd play function is great! And the dr. beat is not ringing in my ears for hours. It does how ever pic up cell phone static and other rf signals sometimes...

[Chadtuba]

It is a great system! We all fight over ours, the cd play function is great! And the dr. beat is not ringing in my ears for hours. It does how ever pic up cell phone static and other rf signals sometimes...

I assume you are talking about the Mipro 808 I posted? Do you have the 2 speakers or just the single?

[Bob Kolada]

Huh?? Just throw the kids some raw hamburgers with A1 sauce on them. That should toughen them up.

[SousaSaver]

The band directors I work with use something they call the "long ranger."

http://www.lectrosonics.com/Long-Ranger ... ger-4.html

Here are the features (from the website):
High audio output covers large outdoor areas with clear voice recognition
Built-in VHF wireless microphone allows complete freedom of movement
Optional dual-channel wireless capability
Operates on rechargeable battery pack or external 12 Volt DC power
Fast Charge circuitry for 3-hour recharge time and/or AC powering
Powers built-in and/or external speakers
Sold as a complete system including transmitter, microphone and charger
Designed and made in the USA

(NOTE: I don't sell these. I'm just trying to help.)

[Chadtuba]

Thanks BRsousa, but he wants to get away from the "megaphone" style speakers and try to get into something a little less piercing. If we had access to power at all 3 rehearsal sites it wouldn't be an issue, but since we don't, that severely limits our options.

[TubaRay]

The nicest (and most aurally humane) thing would be 200 receivers with ear buds, but that's probably way too expensive.

At the present rate of escalation of high school band expenditures, this should reach attainable status within 2-3 yrs.

[Chadtuba]

I have a pair of tall P.A. speaker columns (shipping cost would probably be something over $100 for the pair, but...)

I'd be willing to sell them for a super-reasonable price. (I do not need them.) You would need to come up with a p.a. head (pretty easy to locate, if you are within striking distance of a big city with some pawn shops...IS there a pawn shop IN EXISTENCE that does NOT have a Peavey P.A. head for sale...??) and mics. You might not want very fancy mics for this ($50 or less)...When they tear up, pitch 'em and get more.

I guess you could get two 50' speaker cables and put each column at the 35 yd. lines on the field...(??)

Whoops, sorry. ' not a battery-driven set-up... oh well...

Here's a hint on the "wireless" mics, though:

If you buy some econo headset mics (non-wireless) and a couple of econo-grade GUITAR wireless outfits (with transmitters), you can plug the low-cost head-set mics into the low-cost transmitters. again: Stuff tends to get torn up on a marching field. ' probably better to have low-cost stuff that might last 1-3 years, and just replace it when it fails, rather than panicking when super-high-$$ stuff gets torn up.

Also:

ONE way to get away from the "battery operated" requirement (and batteries are always going to limit power AS WELL AS eventually fail) is to have some band-owned (read: CHEAP) "fishin' car" and run a 12VDC-110 AC converter from it to the P.A. System. You could also STORE the P.A. system in the "fishin' car" (or van). Yeah, the vehicle would probably need to be idling for at least some of the rehearsal.

If we had access to 120v power this is almost exactly what I would do. I will however, suggest the "fishin' car" to to powers that be and see what they think. We have the band equipment truck that goes to all rehearsals anyway so why not?

[tubatooter1940]

I have a 6,000 watt generator to run a P.A. system on a truck bed for Mardi Gras parades.