The Roland SPM-120 combined mixer/power amplifier solves sound problems for small bands

Buying your first professional quality mixer and power amplifier is an important step. Few individuals, or bands, can afford a highly specialised item — most would prefer something capable of working on the road or in recording. Again, should you spend more on a good power amp or concentrate on getting a decent desk, which after all is the creative heart of your music? What facilities are essential, and which are merely trendy? Which products will take the pace if you play regular gigs?

The answer to these and several dozen more good questions about buying the right sound system is — the Roland SPM-120 Stereo Powered Mixing Desk.

The SPM-120 is the result of exhaustive research into compact, cost-effective high quality powered mixing desks. Roland already have an excellent track record in this kind of product, but the SPM-120 is something different. For the first time the price has been ruthlessly pared down to the absolute minimum possible for a professional quality product. In effect, Roland have decided to make an offer that musicians can't refuse by putting an irresistibly competitive product into a part of the market that has previously been confusing and costly. The SPM-120 is an 8:2 desk with a 2x60 Watt power amplifier built onto a compact, rugged diecast aluminium chassis. The price is £550. The combination can't be beaten.

On the Road.

Take a Roland SPM-120 power mixer, plug in a couple of high quality cabinets such as the Roland SRS 80 system, and you have the perfect compact PA system. The eight inputs should prove ample for most bands and each channel has an effect send, while pre-out sends and returns allow the use of a graphic equaliser for more difficult playing environments. On-board Eq comprises bass and treble pots on each channel with 10dB cut and boost in the 10kHz and 100Hz bands. There are overload lights on all inputs and LED ladders monitor the power output. At a conservative rating of 60 plus 60 into an 8 ohm impedance you get 120 watts of the crispest, best defined sound you'll find on any system anywhere. Plus the control and reliability so essential for serious work.

Recording

In home or semi-pro recording set-ups most people use a mixing desk which they choose with considerable care and research, and an old hi-fi amp which they add as an after-thought.

Since the power amplifier stage of the SPM-120 has a very similar audio specification to many professional studio power amplifiers, it is a considerable improvement in this state of affairs. A headphone socket is also provided for monitoring purposes. In multitrack recording as in PA use the provision of effects sends on each channel is important, and the peak LED's ensure an optimum level of signal in the desk itself. With an 8:2 design of mixer any multitracking procedure requires a little more re-patching than on a mixer having more outputs, but the overall versatility of the SPM-120 more than compensates for this. It's also perfect for live recordings.

Performance

The performance of any band is as good as the equipment it goes through. That's why choosing a system matters so much. And why choosing an SPM-120 may prove the best decision you ever make.