Question about mic'ing/DI'ing my amp on stage

TwoColorsKiller · #1 01-31-2011, 12:39 PM

Recently I bought an Ampeg SVT 410HLF with an Ampeg SVT350H head. In about a month and a half, I am going to be playing my first show in a while, and my first show with this rig. It is going to be a big show, in front of ~2000 people (at a charity event at my old high school). They've always had nice professional sound systems and set-ups, but they give people the option of mic'ing their amps or DI'ing them. For a venue like that, what do you think I should do with my current set-up? (NOTE: before I would use smaller amps at smaller venues and just mic them, but in this situation everything is much different. Any advice?

jjk2007 · #2 01-31-2011, 01:24 PM

Use the DI.

chadhargis · #3 01-31-2011, 02:18 PM

+1 on the DI.

SwamiRob · #4 01-31-2011, 05:45 PM

You wanna mic your amp if firstly you like the sound, and secondly if it's good enough to carry itself for what your using it for. If you want a big deep sound for example, and are using a small practise amp to gig with then your probably not gonna get it out of a small practise amp nevermind when it's been miced up with a 57 or 58 or something. I'd usually go for just using a DI in that situaytion personally, cos at least you'll get some depth to your sound even if it is potentially a bit dull and lifeless. Mind you one of the coolest bass sounds I've got in recording is when I messed about with a mates Frontman guitar practise amp with the overdrive on, not pushing the volume too much and well miced it sounded ace somehow...

I personally am a big fan of micing cos I'm really into the sound of my bass AND amp, not just my bass, so really it's just up to your personal preference since you've nicely been given the choice, something you usually won't get. The only thing I'd take into consideration is that for one, the mic your using probably won't go low enough to to get the full sound of your amp (unless your sound guy miraculously has a nice flat mic that goes down very low, just don't use a kick mic cos they sound rubbish unless your into very very very scooped sounds), secondly if you use your tweeter you won't be getting any of that either.

Generally, if you wanna use a mic that is, the most sensible thing seems to be to use a mic like a 57 to get the main part of the sound in the midrange and use a DI to get back all the lower end that isn't been picked up.