This forum has been great for educating me on amplification, etc.  I have a quick question -- if my boosters buy a Mackie 1604VLZ3 Mixer (16 channels) -- which has ";16 studio-grade XDR2™ Extended Dynamic Range mic preamps "; -- so I am assuming that I won't have to buy a separate pre-amp, right?  I know this might sound like a dumb question -- but man until a month ago I was clueless about any of this stuff -- so I just want to double check with the experts here before saying something dumb to my boosters. 

Next question -- if I have 2 marimbas (so 4 mics/channels total) and 3 vibes (1 mic/channel each), a synth, and a xylo -- would I/should I buy a subwoofer too (in addition to speakers)?  Or would that be overkill?  Also, is 1 subwoofer enough, or should I go with the Yamaha 2 speaker (CM15V) and 2 sub (CM118V) approach?  I am assuming I would need an amp as well?

Thank you all for your help.  I am getting smarter every day reading this forum!

JV

[quote author=jeremy116 link=topic=2444.msg13074#msg13074 date=1210101962]
This forum has been great for educating me on amplification, etc.�� I have a quick question -- if my boosters buy a Mackie 1604VLZ3 Mixer (16 channels) -- which has ";16 studio-grade XDR2�� Extended Dynamic Range mic preamps "; -- so I am assuming that I won't have to buy a separate pre-amp, right?[/quote]Correct.

[quote]Next question -- if I have 2 marimbas (so 4 mics/channels total) and 3 vibes (1 mic/channel each), a synth, and a xylo -- would I/should I buy a subwoofer too (in addition to speakers)?�� Or would that be overkill? [/quote]That depends on the frequency range of your speakers, and the range of your marimbas (and also your synth of you are using it for low-frequency stuff). A 4-octave marimba will go down to 131 Hz (C3), a 4.3 down to 110 Hz (A2), a 4.5 down to 87 Hz (F2), and a 5-octave will go all the way down to 65 Hz (C2). Look up the specs on your loudspeakers and find their frequency response (usually given in a +/- 3dB range, e.g. 100 Hz - 18,000 Hz, +/- 3dB).

[quote]Also, is 1 subwoofer enough, or should I go with the Yamaha 2 speaker (CM15V) and 2 sub (CM118V) approach?[/quote]1 sub should be fine.

[quote]I am assuming I would need an amp as well?[/quote] That depends what amp you are using now, how many channels it has, and if there is available capacity left over. Or maybe the loudspeakers you are using now are powered, meaning they have their own amps, in which case you will need an amp for the subwoofer.

This may be a dumb question, so I apologize ";up front"; (no pun intended).....but I am going to mic up my front ensemble for the first time. Does anyone mic up the xylophone?  I am not sure if it is really necessary, but I wanted to get a feel from the experts that use this forum first.

Thanks!!

Jeremy

The best answer would be-

Use your ears.

I have mic'd Xylos before, however it is usually only when they play very specific parts.  In general, I find that the Xylo projects well on its own.  Your mallet choices are going to impact that more than a mic.