Hi - I would like some advice for playing a small venue gig and my set up. I have not played a gig for several years. Here is a plan and will go from there:  I have a Fishman Loudbox mini;which I love how it sounds on my acoustic guitars. Will use the second mic channel for vocal. This venue is a small artist co-op setting, with the walls lined with local art. To get a good spread of my sound, my plan is to use a friend's monitor speaker off the XLR -out on the Loudbox- some feet to my side. One main question I have is to use an active or passive monitor??
 
I think I will place my amp just slightly behind me, to the other side from the monitor /speaker, but closer to me, so I get a good read of the sound. I don't think in such a small and quiet venue I need floor monitor in front of me. Anyway that is the plan  - any suggestions are welcomed.     ps - using a Fishman aura 16, and a Zoom acoustic fx box for tweaking my guitar as desired, but this is all secondary stuff.      
 
Thanks  - Charles

silvercn
 To get a good spread of my sound, my plan is to use a friend's monitor speaker off the XLR -out on the Loudbox- some feet to my side. One main question I have is to use an active or passive monitor??
 

Yes, you will need a powered speaker for that output.
 
Rocky

Thanks Rocky. 

Charles,
 
A powered monitor/speaker would be easier, in that you don't need to drag a power amp along.
 
Myself, I'd try the setup before you go play your show. Listen for the difference in sound quality. Might work great, but they might sound different enough to distract from your performance.
 
Just a thought. 

Yeah - plan on a full gig rehearsal with all the gear. I was sort of assuming that that out would be powered by the guitar amp, and the level on the extension speaker would match whatever volume I set on the amp - but I guess not. Or will it be there, but much weaker than the amp - thus requiring an active? 

silvercn
Yeah - plan on a full gig rehearsal with all the gear. I was sort of assuming that that out would be powered by the guitar amp, and the level on the extension speaker would match whatever volume I set on the amp - but I guess not. Or will it be there, but much weaker than the amp - thus requiring an active? 

It's at best a line level output. The user guide suggests you plug it into a preamp, which might mean it is a mic or guitar level output. Either way, you must use a powered speaker or a passive speaker with a power amp. I guess you could even use another combo guitar amp if you have one. My advice: Just use the Loudbox by itself. This will be about songs, not sounds, and the one amp will be loud enough.

Good advice. I guess it will be loud enough - after all thats what it was designed for. But I am going to give the extra speaker a practice run and then decide. You have all been helpful. Thanks !

Let us know how the gig goes, Charles. Don't forget to take along spare batteries for your stompbox.

yes thanks - and for my acoustic pick up for sure. Today I just received a TC Electronics Ditto Looper! Have not used one before and very excited to try it out.If I can manage to get one song down with that - will be happy. TC makes good stuff ! Just got their Polytune tuner - very slick/low profile. With it you can just strum the open strings and it displays which strings are on or off tune.... ! 

The Diito Looper's pretty good, I've one - the simpler one-switch type - myself.
 
Two things to watch though. It can't be tempo-synched so you have to be very accurate with your foot timing when switching it between record and play to get loops that are exactly the right length..
 
The other thing is that when you clear a recording the foot-switch tap sequence means that the first tap on the switch starts it playing. It's a good idea to kill the volume of whatever it's plugged into before clearing its memory. Turning the Ditto's volume down might do the trick as well, but once that volume has been set to give whatever output volume you want it's best left alone, at least in a gig situation. I usually aim for unity volume with the instrument, then just play quieter for backing parts so one the Ditto's volume is set I don't need to touch it.