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[Tim Perry]

I am also curious as well ...

I like the Behringher Signal Processors. Particularly the Compressor and Crossover.
I know Behringher isn't as sturdy as dbx, but I like the additional LEDs
particularly on MDX1600 and the CX3400. and their DEQ-1024 or FBQ6200 EQs complement great, too!

Peter, it all makes for a starter kit... how good is mostly up to you to wring the best you can get out of it. 99.9% of the people who go to live shows don't even look at the sound gear, or if they do they haven a clue as to what they are seeing.

More then the gear it's learning  a different approach to setting up the system. It may at first be way more impotent to just jet through the night without many sequels then to wring the nTH degree of sound quality out of what you have.

As a DJ you have the advantage of cranking it up to thunderous. Live has lots of limitations.  When you run break music, don't push it too hard. you don't want the band to sound weak when they come back on stage.

Run a few show and come back and ask specific questions. Someon will be around to help you progress.

[dick rees]

It may at first be way more impotent to just jet through the night without many sequels then to wring the nTH degree of sound quality out of what you have.

Translation, please......

[Tim Perry]

Translation, please......

It's easier to do live sound with high quality gear. Its easy to do loud DJ gigs on just about anything.

[Peter Tran]

Great suggestions! Thanks so much!
Yes. I agree. The off brand speakers are a turn-off, and the mixer is minuscule.
Having to bang on an amp is embarrassing, too, but I was, is, and will always be on a budget.
To clarify, I wasn't ever a DJ, and a DJ would be offended if I was ever considered one. LOL!
I just played mp3s for hours on end at near clipping, and I enjoyed it. There's just no challenge.
The band I'm going to be working with is a 4 man set. Drummer, Bass, Guitarist & Vocal.
They each have their own gear and were looking for a guy that could mix their sound live.
They've run into venues where the house engineer was off in another world or
completely preoccupied with some other job entirely.
They also wanted a sound guy to work with anybody they're unable to work with.
I've had a lot of experience for some time.
I'll be 30 in June and have fiddled with tiny systems and stacked systems since I was 13.
I've mixed bands before, but I just want this first band JOB to actually be great.
The CE-2000 only intermittently does a weird dimmed/distorted sound when cold.
After warming it up for 15-30minutes, there is no issue at all. I can run it for the entire day.
I've tried fiddling with the XTi DSP through the computer, but computer interfaces are cumbersome for me to use.
I prefer physical knobs and sliders. Call me old or stubborn, but its my comfort preference.
I have a yard that is about 1/3 acre (100ftx100ft). I can light the whole thing up with sound.
I've also gone to quite a few outdoor carshows in huge parking lots or parking structures.
I can be heard from a mile away.
The drummer has a 12 channel mixer and and all the mics he needs for his drums.
The Bass Player has a cushioned rolling road cabinet with his head, DSP, etc and 4x8" speakers
(which apparently has a line level output).
The Electric guitarist has a head and I think a dual 12" cab which I can mic with a sennheiser.
I figured I'd let the vocalist use the wireless microphone.

Maybe I should tell them to come over so I can do a massive sound check.
Not only that, they can really see how I work, and if they even like me.
I managed to get their dinky Yamaha package to work the best they've ever seen it work.
It was one of these numbers: Yamaha Box Package PA system

Please keep the suggestions, concerns & comments coming! I really love learning new stuff.

[Tim Perry]

To clarify, I wasn't ever a DJ, and a DJ would be offended if I was ever considered one. LOL!
I just played mp3s for hours on end at near clipping, and I enjoyed it.

Um...that what DJ's do, mostly...

Peter, could you make a space between you first and last name?   

[Peter Tran]

Um...that what DJ's do, mostly...

Peter, could you make a space between you first and last name?

Yes. I can definitely fix my name, but just wanted you to know, if you google that exactly as it is,
you'll locate all information on me, as I've used it for about 5 years now. 

I also do have mic stands and direct boxes. I am curious though ...
if I have 4 TRS 1/4'' returns on my snake, are the direct boxes necessary?
I've never understood the full use of direct boxes except to convert from 1/4" - XLR.

[Bob Leonard]

The snake and the DI are not the same thing. The equipment you have is probably OK for small DJ gigs Peter, but live sound for a live band is a different animal all together. The demands will be for loud accurate replication of instruments and vocals, and where playing an MP3 loud may work with your system, replicating a kick drum, bass guitar, etc. will require much more power than you have working into much better speakers than you now own.

Keep working the DJ gigs and save your money. Start by upgrading the $300 subs you're using, then the amplifiers, then the SF15s. Eventually replace the SF15s and use them for side fills, drum monitors, etc. You can use the CE-2000 for monitor duty eventually, or dump it while it still works. Use the board you have and replace it last. Once you've completed the upgrade (In about a year) you'll have a working system capable of handling a small band in small clubs. Continue to upgrade as needed, never spending more than you make, and waiting patiently until you can afford the gear you can actually use.

You can keep the dbx hardware but get rid of everything else, and eventually you'll end up with a new system, but please, stop buying junk.

[Marc Platt]

I wouldn't be suprised if those subs were not half as bad as everyone thinks, all things considered they might not be the weakest link at this point.
 Peter, do the subs sound decent so far? they look like a knock off of my qrx218s although they certainly are not qrx they might be just fine for now. I've seen bands playing club scene with 1 1x18 sub, or less.

[Marc Platt]

If you dont want to use the DSP just yet, I reccomend at least set the limiters which are not very good in the xtis but dont hurt to use them and definately dial in some HPF aka LOW CUT around 35Hz 24dB/oct this will assure the subs are protected from excessive signal below the sub's cutoff freq which will quickly blow drivers.
  These settings can be saved in the amps so you dont need PC hooked up once saved.
 This way you can play with the DBX analog xover safer. The Low cut filter isn't somthing you would want to tweek at the gig anyway, it should remain in place at alll times.

[Marc Platt]

acording to the specs in the link your subs are 8ohm nominal which means the xti's are at an 8ohm bridged load not 4ohms as you stated. thats still more then enough juice for those subs. If you ran both subs parralel from a bridged xti2k that would result 2000w output @4ohms giving each sub 1000w which is plenty for those 700w rated subs.