The Cube is a really good product ( have an older model) but I recommend you take a really close look at the Mackie FreePlay Live powered speakers. Perfectly suited for my purposes (small and medium sized venues) , 150 watts of really clear sound, two XLR balanced line/mic inputs, 1/8 input and Bluetooth, built in rechargeable batteries, simple controls, light weight and a great mobile app that gives you EQ and mixer controls on your tablet or phone. I disagree on your microphone suggestion. I work in the trade show environment where there is lots of Bluetooth and Radio Frequency interference. Go with a high quality portable microphone system if you can possibly afford it. I use the Sennheiser EQ 100 G3 portable receiver and matching transmitter with a countryman E6 headset mic. Stay with the professional grade products and you're bullet proof. Never use Bluetooth for anything. Bluetooth will fail at the worse possible moments. These are my suggestions as a professional magician and with 30 years experience working in the Audio Visual trade show industry.
Rich, Thank you. This exactly the kind of comments I was hoping to get. A well thought-out response like this helps EVERYONE trying to decide what sound system to purchase.
No good real plugged in vocal n inst reviews on that Mackie. Humm. Besides bluetooth the Roland looks much better from speakers to guitar effects. Only thing I dont like about the Roland is the AA batteries compared to the built in rechargeable.
@@camcook7241 If you have built in rechargeable then what do you do when the battery runs low while playing? I like the external batteries for that reason
Thanks for this post after 20 years my back can’t take my Fender suitcase (65 pds). So I bit the bullet and took your advice…I’ll let you know how it works!
Magician and paid keyboardist here. Great review! I'm a big fan of Roland stuff. (Also not a paid endorser.) The Cube amps are pretty solid. My experience is battery life can vary on volume level; I usually get 5-6 hours before draining the battery. Full agreement to use a plug if you can avoid burning through handfuls of batteries. Great choice of mic as well, which I'll be switching to soon. Thanks!
Unfortunately the Samson Airline mics use part of the radio spectrum that was reassigned to Homeland Security more than a year ago. Where I am in the Washington, D.C. area, they can get a ton of interference from first responders. Is highly recommend going to another mic. I’m still on my search. Right now I use a Samson wireless handheld with a mic holder (Nick Lewin makes the best mic holders).
Eric, I did not know that about the frequencies. But, I do know that I was able to get a different frequency on mine. Samsung customer service looked at my area and sent me one that did not interfere. But, I cannot speak for them.
Totally agree Eric! Stay with a high quality pro or semi pro microphone system. I use the Sennheiser portable EK 100 G3 receiver, matching belt pack and a Countryman E6 headset mic.
Sadly the Samson mic is not available in the UK, and my research shows it will need plugging in each night to recharge which is a faff I would rather avoid.
Yes, the microphone is a rechargable system. It has to be plugged in. For me.that is easier than keeping up with batteries. I did not research availability in the UK. There is no perfect universal solution. But I hope this video gives people a little more information.
Kip, I work alone too. I have tried several remote systems and have had mixed results. Now I just have the amp on stage and cue the songs myself. The 3-5 seconds of distraction seems to be less intrusive than remotes (for my show any way). But I would also like to hear what others do.
Yes, I have tried many Bluetooth and wireless remotes... most dependable is the Audio Ape remote system, used and recommended by many pros. check out their website: www.audioaperemote.com/. I use the Go Button software (mac based only)
I use the mp3 tech... 16 years and counting without fail unfortunately it is now unavailable/obsolete... new version is the Media Star Pro......www.promystic.com .......I used samson airline mics 10 years ago but ran into many carnival game mics using the same and same frequency.... I do fair grounds show so I always have electric power. I use Shure GLXD mic last 10 years it changes frequency automatically picks clean frequency very rarely/briefly have any issues with clarity.
I never considered buying an amp because I am really loud and I'm really good at projecting my voice and also there's nothing worse than screeching feedback.
I new it's too complicated for 32 words young people. Everyone of them want a tube sound but solid states come a long way. You who know me have your friends write me. ( Sorry for too many words).
That is a great question. I tried to find the best I could for performing. Did not really have a second choice. But there are lots of good ones out there. For my UA-cam videos I have recently started using the Sony ECM 77B. It is wired and only for recording (not for live performance).
@@ProfessorQB The thing is that I need the features of the Airline but I'm close to DC. I don't know how much interference there would be. I contacted Samson and they don't seem to have the ability to change the frequencies.
I called Samson and they were able.to check what frequencies work best in an area. I don't pretend to understand all of that but they looked at what frequencies were most likely to cause interference in my area and helped me pick the mic that was hardwired to work best. Don't know how much help that is.
The Cube is a really good product ( have an older model) but I recommend you take a really close look at the Mackie FreePlay Live powered speakers. Perfectly suited for my purposes (small and medium sized venues) , 150 watts of really clear sound, two XLR balanced line/mic inputs, 1/8 input and Bluetooth, built in rechargeable batteries, simple controls, light weight and a great mobile app that gives you EQ and mixer controls on your tablet or phone. I disagree on your microphone suggestion. I work in the trade show environment where there is lots of Bluetooth and Radio Frequency interference. Go with a high quality portable microphone system if you can possibly afford it. I use the Sennheiser EQ 100 G3 portable receiver and matching transmitter with a countryman E6 headset mic. Stay with the professional grade products and you're bullet proof. Never use Bluetooth for anything. Bluetooth will fail at the worse possible moments. These are my suggestions as a professional magician and with 30 years experience working in the Audio Visual trade show industry.
Rich,
Thank you.
This exactly the kind of comments I was hoping to get.
A well thought-out response like this helps EVERYONE trying to decide what sound system to purchase.
No good real plugged in vocal n inst reviews on that Mackie. Humm. Besides bluetooth the Roland looks much better from speakers to guitar effects. Only thing I dont like about the Roland is the AA batteries compared to the built in rechargeable.
@@camcook7241 If you have built in rechargeable then what do you do when the battery runs low while playing? I like the external batteries for that reason
@@frontcentermusician 🤔🤔🤔 after 4 plus hours quit🤣🤣 But I see your point
Thanks for this post after 20 years my back can’t take my Fender suitcase (65 pds). So I bit the bullet and took your advice…I’ll let you know how it works!
How is the Roland working out for you? 🙂
You should at least put an affiliate link via Amazon because you really sold me on this product and the microphone
Thank you My balloon guy. I am just posting this to try to help people. I have NO FINANCIAL STAKE in any of this. But thank you so much.
Magician and paid keyboardist here. Great review! I'm a big fan of Roland stuff. (Also not a paid endorser.) The Cube amps are pretty solid. My experience is battery life can vary on volume level; I usually get 5-6 hours before draining the battery. Full agreement to use a plug if you can avoid burning through handfuls of batteries. Great choice of mic as well, which I'll be switching to soon. Thanks!
Very good video, I also have this amp, recently I found out that A Power bank on sell on Amazon which can use for this amp. I bought one, very useful
Interesting wireless mic setup to the cube.
Unfortunately the Samson Airline mics use part of the radio spectrum that was reassigned to Homeland Security more than a year ago. Where I am in the Washington, D.C. area, they can get a ton of interference from first responders. Is highly recommend going to another mic. I’m still on my search. Right now I use a Samson wireless handheld with a mic holder (Nick Lewin makes the best mic holders).
Eric, I did not know that about the frequencies. But, I do know that I was able to get a different frequency on mine. Samsung customer service looked at my area and sent me one that did not interfere. But, I cannot speak for them.
Totally agree Eric! Stay with a high quality pro or semi pro microphone system. I use the Sennheiser portable EK 100 G3 receiver, matching belt pack and a Countryman E6 headset mic.
This is great thank you 🤗💕
Thank you for saying so. 🙂
Sadly the Samson mic is not available in the UK, and my research shows it will need plugging in each night to recharge which is a faff I would rather avoid.
Yes, the microphone is a rechargable system. It has to be plugged in. For me.that is easier than keeping up with batteries.
I did not research availability in the UK. There is no perfect universal solution. But I hope this video gives people a little more information.
Great review of these portable DC products.
I work completely alone and was curious if anyone knows a good device for triggering music or sound fx
Kip, I work alone too.
I have tried several remote systems and have had mixed results.
Now I just have the amp on stage and cue the songs myself.
The 3-5 seconds of distraction seems to be less intrusive than remotes (for my show any way).
But I would also like to hear what others do.
Yes, I have tried many Bluetooth and wireless remotes... most dependable is the Audio Ape remote system, used and recommended by many pros. check out their website: www.audioaperemote.com/. I use the Go Button software (mac based only)
I use the mp3 tech... 16 years and counting without fail unfortunately it is now unavailable/obsolete... new version is the Media Star Pro......www.promystic.com .......I used samson airline mics 10 years ago but ran into many carnival game mics using the same and same frequency.... I do fair grounds show so I always have electric power. I use Shure GLXD mic last 10 years it changes frequency automatically picks clean frequency very rarely/briefly have any issues with clarity.
I'm sold
I remain pleased with mine (after having it for years).
lol that dog made me laugh lol
I never considered buying an amp because I am really loud and I'm really good at projecting my voice and also there's nothing worse than screeching feedback.
So you' responded here why?...To impose your useless opinion??
@@melroberts7987 your response is equally useless.
@@ScottKazan I articulated what needed to be stated.
I made this comment 2 years ago, so like I said, your response was unnecessary.
@@ScottKazan So you got away with it for 2 years?..Well NOT on MY watch!
I new it's too complicated for 32 words young people. Everyone of them want a tube sound but solid states come a long way. You who know me have your friends write me. ( Sorry for too many words).
Got lost. Are you talking about 5W or the 50W?
The Roland Street Cube EX is 50W
When you were researching mics did you have a second choice?
That is a great question. I tried to find the best I could for performing. Did not really have a second choice. But there are lots of good ones out there.
For my UA-cam videos I have recently started using the Sony ECM 77B. It is wired and only for recording (not for live performance).
@@ProfessorQB The thing is that I need the features of the Airline but I'm close to DC. I don't know how much interference there would be. I contacted Samson and they don't seem to have the ability to change the frequencies.
I called Samson and they were able.to check what frequencies work best in an area.
I don't pretend to understand all of that but they looked at what frequencies were most likely to cause interference in my area and helped me pick the mic that was hardwired to work best.
Don't know how much help that is.
50 watts. not 50 amps!
Bose s1 pro is better in my opinion.
That is a good one. Is it battery powered?
@@ProfessorQB it can be if you buy the battery with it.
Thank you.
Off of = from