MACKIE FREEPLAY | Full Review + Live DEMO Performance
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- Mackie FreePlay Personal PA System full review and sound demonstration performance.
*OPEN FOR LINKS/INFO*
Below are links on Amazon.com to purchase in the US:
Mackie Freeplay: goo.gl/ONQc8T
Lithium battery: goo.gl/JS4jQq
Kick stand: goo.gl/HqGO11
Link to the tech specs: goo.gl/EMiHC4
Mackie FreePlay official website: goo.gl/EMiHC4
I bought the Mackie FreePlay PA system a short while ago and thought I would do a review for anyone who is thinking of purchasing this! I also included a live performance when I was at an event last week - to really give you an idea of the sound.
I would say this PA system suits a small to medium room.
Overall a great little system. Incredibly compact and lightweight which is perfect for me as I like to go to events/weddings/gigs with a little equipment as possible and therefore less to lug around in and out of my car and less to go wrong lol (always a nightmare for any musician!)
Almost 100% wireless too if you get the battery (it also takes 8 x D Cell batteries).
I didnt have the battery or kick stand at the time of filming this review, but I have now. I will update this review here as to how well the battery does and long it 'really' lasts for!
This is a great review. thank you for explaining and taking us along to watch you work.
+308bushmaster you are welcome :)
Thankyou so much for these videos they are so helpful !!! I'm hoping to go to a music university and I'm doing my grades in singing and piano so your videos have been so helpful especially the theory vids , so thankyou xx
Your always fabulous. I have other Mackie amps and this is something I will be getting. Thanks
+videoemilioisis yes, im really pleased with it. As i said, to totally suits my needs since i work alone and only have 2 hands, its sure does beat lugging around an amp heavier than me, plus my violin, wires, music and music stand etc and spares for when it all goes wrong lol. This is certainly the answer and serves me well.
magnificent review and demo vid. Well done and thank you
Good detailed review thanks
Thanks for this. I'm a wedding dj, and just ordered a Freeplay from Sweetwater.com. Looks it will be perfect for outdoor ceremonies where electricity may not be readily accessible. Obviously not to be used for receptions, as I've got the Mackie Thumps for those.
Heyy, I love your tutorials. They are helping me a lot. I was wondering if you could maybe do a review about your violin. xx
+Renee Smulders i keep thinking about it, but its a top of the line professional electric violin worth over $2,000 which to be honest is way out of peoples budget or just not necessary for them, which woukd make the video a little pointless.
Sold. Cheers, dear.x
Hi Alison,
Firstly, thanks SO much for posting this video - you've gone to a lot of effort and for people like me (digital music/keyboard/cello/dj'ing/classroom teacher) it answers SO many questions. Particularly as the huge majority of shopping is done online these days...there is seemingly no way to test things out properly!
I have just one question....and it may be difficult to answer - but I'll try it anyway.
I used to use a Roland keyboard amp, but it died on me a month ago. This product seems too good to be true, perfect convenience, features etc. But in truth how loud would you describe it? Your video is great, but it's still hard to gauge how much power it has. Mackie claims 300 watts....but for something that size...it seems impossible!!
I'll be using it for large classrooms (of noisy Steel Pan players at times!) and also small dj'ing events where I might connect it to a powered subwoofer. Is it really comparable to a small pa system??
Thanks in advance for your time and let me congratulate you on your passions for the power of music education!
All the best,
M.
+audiochemical69 i would say its for small to medium events. If you need to fill a school classroom, then it 'should' be fine. I also have a Yamaha 500 Stagepass and its nowhere near as powerful as that - hopefully that should give you a frame of reference.
Its compact, small and lightweight and I would say it has as much power as you can imagine it has when you look at it - if you see what i mean. I like that its not too bassey as i use it for my violin.
Hope that helps.
That's great, thanks so much for getting back to me. I know exactly what you mean...and I have a Yamaha StagePass 600i....so understand what you mean.
All the best for the future and congrats on such a fantastic youtube page.
Thank you for this video 😊
Great review. I bought one for my wife's workout. I didn't know all the other good uses. btw you should get a wireless adapter for your violin.
+News Slam I have one, but the point of this is that its 100% wireless. If i take a wireless mic/adapter, then I have to plug that into the wall, thus defeating the object. I did have it plugged in here for the video purpose.
Gr8 review, gr8 playing, gr8 dress at gig. Would u not prefer to place mackie behind u for better monitoring/foldback? ty.
No, for 2 reasons: 1, although I can hear it, my body blocks the sound and 2 I can’t see or easily reach the controls on the back should I need too.
Makes sense. After a little research and reviews, I'm now looking at the Fishman loud box mini for my vox and acoustic guitar, running on seperate battery/inverter for busking. Looks like the mackie does the job 4 u just fine. ty 4 review and merry xmas friend.
Great Review! Can such a small device fill a room like that ballroom with sound?
+TheViolinLife Just about - but the people were mostly on the wooden dance floor you see as thats were the champagne was being served on the long table. I suits small to medium to small large if that makes sense lol.
Oh wow. Have you ever played a gig at the 10dB intensity level? If so (and forgive me for asking) does it have a twingy sound? I just want to make sure that it doesn't since I plan on doing some open-air performances through which loud crowds walk.
+Daniel Corona I dont tend to work out what dB im playing at as I adjust the sound depending on the gig. Sorry.
Great Alison -Have you tried it with a piano or keyboard as there's not much on the market for busking with piano and/or keyboard
No, because pianos already have decent and large speakers in them. Im not sure why you would want to go busking with a digital piano and a PA speaker unless you are truing to cover a 5 mile radius with the sound lol?
Awesome review!!! I'm debating between this, or the Freeplay live, and the Bose battery powered amp. I will need to plug a keyboard and violin into it. Do you think that is too much? It's mostly for outdoor weddings and we need to be portable. Ours will be a very similar setup with iPads and such, though no backing tracks. Thanks in advance for any advice!
If you are asking as to which PA would be better, I dont know as Im not familiar with the Bose. It all depends on your crowd with the Freeplay.
I would say for most weddings, it might not suffice, but then again, it might. I honestly dont know what sort of events you play at, so I cant really specifically help.
Personally I have this and the Reach (also by mackie) and i take them both to gigs as you should ALWAYS carry 2 of everything. I mostly aim to use the Reach as it has a 750w output whereas the Freeplay is only 250W. The FP will suffice for smaller rooms with not 'that' many people in it and the Reach is for medium/large rooms with a busy chatting crowd as it will need to cut through.
If you do mostly small intimate events, this will be fine, but not as a unit on its own. What I mean by that is that you shouldn't just buy this and hope that it solves all your problems as it wont.
The FP is good for outside where there really is no power as being outside. It wont carry far, but if its a choice between the FP or nothing, then obviously it will work for those close to you.
The FP is also great for smaller events and where there is no power, but you also need something for bigger events (the average wedding I would say). You change between the 2 depending on the gig. If you feel when you get there that the FP will suffice, then you dont have to lug the big Reach about, but if you feel the room is small, but there are 60 or so people going to be in there, then you will find the FP will not be enough to cut through - even though you think it might.
I have both to compliment each other.
I know thats not much help, but it depends on your need and situation. Music equipment is not as simple as one item does it all - unfortunately you will find that you will need a variety of the same thing to suit different needs etc.
@@TheOnlineViolinTutor Thank you for your suggestions! I will look into a variety of solutions.
can you please make a video explaining how you used Abelton for your loopping performances?
+GARDENERSTOES Lol, I barely know how to use it myself as its all very new to me. Im not sure it would be a worth while video coming from me - I would personally watch and find a better tutorial on UA-cam if you want to know how to use Ableton. Sorry :(
Does the product also charges R20 rechargeable batteries when plugged in? Thank you!
Hi Alison, great review. I have just ordered a freeplay, and when I turn it on I do notice a small but noticeable hiss coming from the tweeters at both sides of the amp, even when nothing is plugged in and all the volume channels are down. Is this something you experience and just deal with, or is your freeplay quiet? Thanks
This is something I would talk to the Mackie technicians about to be honest.
Thanks for the advice!
You look Gorgeous in the black dress...My daughter is in her first year of Violin. Though she goes to her routine classes, I ensure that I also get her to do your classes on a daily basis. Currently we are doing the 3rd & 4th Finger lesson and the practice of Vibrato. She is 7 Years old. I am bit lame, thus a question...in a violin music sheet...does it show where to do a vibrato. Could you please share with me a small music sheet which indicates a vibrato or if it is already there in your channel please point me to the link.
+Ajit S There is no musical symbol for vibrato. You add it when necessary or you feel the music needs it etc. There are no rules as to when it should or should be played.
Hi Alison,
Firstly, thanks SO much for posting this video. i just want to ask if i want to play in Similar occasions , is there any way can i get
? notes and the soundtrack
You can find them all on Google if you have a look.
Hi thx for the great review really gives usfull information before hands on. do you have some expeience how this pa will perofrm outside? is it still have enough power to be heared good and maitain the high sound quality with in small radius (30m)? i'm clarinetist and looking for good PA system that maintain high quality along all clarinet octaves going from low to high Tonal? will appriciate your experience and opinion.Also if you have some new inofrmtation (arround battery life, etc..) will appriciate your sharing.thx a lot Doron
+doron levin I have not tried it outside, so i really wouldnt like to say....I would say its the same as a small-medium room though, but in distance - so your audience would need to be in the vicinity of you to hear you (i wouldnt like to put a figure in metres on it!), no miles away if that makes sense. A wedding reception outside, would be fine i would guess though...
I dont play the clarinet, so i really cant comment on your octave range for tone, but the violin also has a high octave range to G just below middle c, and i find it fine. I would say this pa is 'high' but in that case, suits most solo instrument such as violin, flute, clarinet, alto sax etc etc....Hard for me to say and I would urge you to test it before you go solely on my word for it. Even if you ask at a shop or Mackie themselves, they will all probably either say the same as me and/or urge you to test it before you commit.
Sweetwater Sound Rocks!!!!!
Hi Please let me know which PA system where you using before you purchased the Mackie freeplay. Have you evaluated any other bluetooth PA system before deciding on Mackie Freeplay.
+Ajit S I was using the Yamaha Stagepass 500. I used to use just one speaker though as i never needed 2 with the stands etc for gigs similar to the set up in this video. As for bluetooth - there is very little on the market without paying 10,000 for a system - that I could find anyway. I also wanted something totally wireless that works on a lithium battery. The info under the video sums up my thoughts.
If i plugged my Double Bass into this would you think it would sound crap?
possibly, i would have thoght you need a bigger amp than this and more like a PA with 2 amps etc ( where you can use just one of them like i do with my Yamaha Stagepass 500). I would say that would be more suitable for you over this.
Hi Alison. I love your videos. I was just wondering how a violinist players repeating quarter notes. Like d d d. I don't know how to incorporate the bow. I started learning violin three days ago so any advice would be handy. Thanks Alison.
+Strikerpro if ou want to play several D notes in a row, just move the bow up and down for each D.
+The Online Piano and Violin Tutor thanks :)