Mic Inputs
10
DI Boxes
3
Circuits
2
Total Mic/Line Inputs
10
channels needed
DI Boxes
3
Monitors
6
Area
384 ft²
Inputs
Result
1 vocal mic + 2 guitar mics + 1 bass DI + 2 keyboard DIs + 4 drum mics = 10 inputs. DI boxes: 1 bass + 2 keyboard = 3. XLR: 10 inputs + 6 monitors = 16.
Inputs
Result
2 vocal mics + 2 guitar mics = 4 inputs. No DI boxes needed (using mics on acoustic amps). XLR: 4 inputs + 2 monitors = 6.
A 5-piece rock band typically needs 12-16 mic/line inputs: 1-2 vocals, 1-2 guitar mics, 1 bass DI, 2 keyboard DIs, and 4-8 drum mics (kick, snare, 2 toms, 2 overheads, hi-hat). Add more for backing vocals or additional instruments.
| Band Type | Members | Typical Inputs | Min Console |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo artist | 1 | 2-3 | 8-channel |
| Acoustic duo | 2 | 4-6 | 8-channel |
| Rock band | 4-5 | 12-16 | 16-channel |
| Full band + horns | 7-10 | 20-28 | 24-channel |
| Big band | 15-20 | 28-40 | 32-channel |
Count each instrument without its own mic: bass guitar (1 DI), keyboards (2 DIs for stereo), acoustic guitar with pickup (1 DI), laptop/backing tracks (1-2 DIs). A typical band needs 3-5 DI boxes. Passive DIs work for most; active DIs for low-output sources.
A typical band stage draws 3,000-6,000 watts: monitors (200W each × 6 = 1,200W), backline amps (500W each × 3 = 1,500W), lighting (150W each × 4 = 600W), plus misc. That requires 2-3 dedicated 20A circuits at 120V (2,400W per circuit).
| Equipment | Watts Each | Typical Count | Total Watts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor wedge | 200W | 6 | 1,200W |
| Guitar amp | 500W | 2 | 1,000W |
| Bass amp | 500W | 1 | 500W |
| Lighting | 150W | 4 | 600W |
| Keyboards/misc | 100W | 2 | 200W |
Measure the diagonal of the stage and add 30% for routing around obstacles. A 24×16 ft stage has a ~29 ft diagonal, so plan for ~37 ft average cable runs. Multiply by total cable count for total footage. Always bring extra cables.
Standard setup: 1 per performer position, plus 1 for drum riser. A 5-piece band typically uses 5-6 monitors. In-ear monitors (IEMs) can replace wedges. Large stages may need side-fills in addition to wedges.
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Last Updated: Mar 25, 2026
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