DI: Pre or post EQ

IllGottenGain · #1 02-17-2011, 01:25 PM

I've been reading the thread on the Amp FAQ about DI, but it wasn't totally on this topic so I wanted to ask you guys. When you DI into the PA at a gig, do you send the pre or post EQ signal? I really like the sound I have right now. Will sending the signal pre EQ mess that up? Or will sending it post EQ give the soundguy a hard time mixing me? What do you do?

Pearldiver · #2 02-17-2011, 01:29 PM

In my experience sound guys usually like a pre-EQ DI so they can have the "cleanest" signal to work with. What sounds good on the stage doesn't always work for the room you are playing in*

*also you will experience sound guys who have a "bass" preset they like to use regardless of genre/playing style and then to get pissy if they have to adjust/tweak/acknowledge it.

Eric Moesle · #3 02-17-2011, 01:29 PM

Soundguys almost always prefer PRE EQ. That way they don't have to struggle to even out your tone settings.

When you EQ for your rig, you are EQ'ing around your speaker cabinet's coloration. The mains don't need that. If you send a post EQ signal to the board, there are all sorts of peaks and valleys in your tone structure that while may sound good through your speakers, create havoc for soundmen.

Anyone who tells you that post-EQ gets "their sound" to the board simply don't understand speaker acoustics. Your EQ'd tone through a speaker cab and through a line out are two VERY different things.

***Edit***: If you really want "your tone", mic your cab. You don't get "your tone" by a post-EQ DI send . . .

JimmyM · #4 02-17-2011, 01:31 PM

if you can keep your mitts off the controls or at least do small changes instead of big ones, post is fine. otherwise run pre. however, i always recommend newbs run pre until they get enough experience onstage to where they don't screw themselves and anger soundmen.

BurningSkies · #5 02-17-2011, 01:36 PM

I use post EQ and have for years, although everything everyone is saying here is mostly right.

Of course, it all depends upon your setup and your sound.

I use post for a number of reasons and I get away with it for usually those same reasons.

First off, I have cabinets that are both very uncolored and even (what some would call 'flat'. What you're hearing through my rig is pretty darn close to what you're hearing from a line feed.

Also, I play a genre music where the bass is basically the 'lead' instrument. That ends up giving me leeway when it comes to how I set up. Often times I'm LOUD on stage, but so clean and clear that Its not a huge problem out in the room.

Also, from my perspective, being a 'genre' player in a rock'n'roll world...if I give a full range flat signal to the soundman, about half the time they don't get it right out front. If I give him tone with my highs attenuated, I can at least be sure that they'll get that amount right. If it ain't there, he can't boost it. I've gotten to the point where I don't really boost my lows anymore (thanks to my cabs, I don't have to) so I really don't have any big frequency peaks in my signal...just some valleys

Griff · #6 02-17-2011, 01:48 PM

I run an Avalon U5 and when I meet the sound man I always ask him if he wants mic or line level from me. If he knows immediately what he wants I give him pre EQ. If he seems like he is unsure, post it is!!

rockstarbassist · #7 02-17-2011, 01:55 PM

Post, from teh Boogie. I use my graphic EQ and Compressor as part of my sound. Onboard B/M/T controls are pretty much "flat" except for the contour of my G-EQ which is just a bump around 900hz-2k and everything else about 0.

IllGottenGain · #8 02-17-2011, 01:55 PM

Thanks for the advice. I play in a band where I'm more of a "lead" bassist, so I didn't want to be given the generic bass treatment. Good points though. I think I'll go pre next time and see what happens. The sound guy didn't have a problem with me this past weekend though. One more question. My amp also has a DI level knob on the back. I've just left it at 12 o'clock. Is there any reason you'd change it?

rockstarbassist · #9 02-17-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllGottenGain

Thanks for the advice. I play in a band where I'm more of a "lead" bassist, so I didn't want to be given the generic bass treatment. Good points though. I think I'll go pre next time and see what happens. The sound guy didn't have a problem with me this past weekend though. One more question. My amp also has a DI level knob on the back. I've just left it at 12 o'clock. Is there any reason you'd change it?

I leave mine at about 11, 11:30 but yeah right at Noon shouldn't be an issue. They'll tell you if the signal is too weak.

IllGottenGain · #10 02-17-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Post, from teh Boogie. I use my graphic EQ and Compressor as part of my sound. Onboard B/M/T controls are pretty much "flat" except for the contour of my G-EQ which is just a bump around 900hz-2k and everything else about 0.

This just made me think of something else. I also have a BBE 31 band EQ (maybe it's overkill, but I can hear a difference, and it looks cool) and an Alesis 3630 compressor that I run through my effects loop. Will sending the pre EQ signal bypass these units too? I'm pretty sure it will, in which case I think I'll stick to the post EQ. I really like the way I sounds through them.

rockstarbassist · #11 02-17-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllGottenGain

This just made me think of something else. I also have a BBE 31 band EQ (maybe it's overkill, but I can hear a difference, and it looks cool) and an Alesis 3630 compressor that I run through my effects loop. Will sending the pre EQ signal bypass these units too? I'm pretty sure it will, in which case I think I'll stick to the post EQ. I really like the way I sounds through them.

I don't know your amp well enough to say, but more than likely. Usually Pre means just a basic in/out from the Input jack to the DI with no flavor, etc.. So yeah I'd think so.

Fuzzbass · #12 02-17-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllGottenGain

When you DI into the PA at a gig, do you send the pre or post EQ signal? I really like the sound I have right now. Will sending the signal pre EQ mess that up? Or will sending it post EQ give the soundguy a hard time mixing me? What do you do?

I love my gritty stage tone, but after all these years I usually just do what the soundman asks... it's the path of least resistance.

I suppose pre-EQ DI is the most common request, particularly from soundmen who don't know you: this because the soundman knows that any tweaking you do won't mess with his mix. Then again, I've encountered plenty of soundmen that were eager to please... they wanted "my tone" to come thru the mains: they'd offer to set up a mic, or even mic plus DI. I had one soundman ask for DI from the last possible link in my signal chain (non-power!)... that turned out to be the parallel out from my power amp.

electracoyote · #13 02-17-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearldiver

In my experience sound guys usually like a pre-EQ DI so they can have the "cleanest" signal to work with. What sounds good on the stage doesn't always work for the room you are playing in*

*also you will experience sound guys who have a "bass" preset they like to use regardless of genre/playing style and then to get pissy if they have to adjust/tweak/acknowledge it.

This has always worked for me.

wcriley · #14 02-17-2011, 02:25 PM

I'm a soundman's worst nightmare. Constant shifting from a traditional supporting role to a screaming lead role and everything in between. Drastic EQ and volume changes mid-song. Distortion kicked in and out.

Like BurningSkies, I have a reasonably uncolored cab. I know how to self-mix. As long as I have a monitor mix that's similar to the FOH, everyone's job is much easier if I send a post EQ signal to the board.

That said, I'd probably send a pre EQ signal if I worked in a typical rock band...as long as the soundman wasn't the "more subs than brains" type.

rockstarbassist · #15 02-17-2011, 02:34 PM

The absolute best thing I can do for a gig re: sound is get there early and listen to how the soundman is EQ'ing the band that's already playing. Then you take into account his gear, bass, etc., and during gear swap time, you basically say "Hey, compared to the last guy I want more of this/that/the other" and it's not all that difficult.
I have no problem saying "I need some low-bass cut and some Mid punch if you don't mind".

BurningSkies · #16 02-17-2011, 03:22 PM

Ideally, I like having a 25 foot cable then getting out in the room to hear what's going on and if it's working or it's a hot mess. Depending upon the night, a "soundman" may be a working sound engineer who knows what he's doing or it might be a guy who's seen a board. Once. I've been in both these situations many times.

rockstarbassist · #17 02-17-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Ideally, I like having a 25 foot cable then getting out in the room to hear what's going on and if it's working or it's a hot mess. Depending upon the night, a "soundman" may be a working sound engineer who knows what he's doing or it might be a guy who's seen a board. Once. I've been in both these situations many times.

THis is the main reason I have a wireless unit in my rig.

Wes Whitmore · #18 02-17-2011, 05:54 PM

You can run post EQ but leave the amp EQ flat...Even then, it sounds drastically different than pre EQ with my amp.