Getting the O/D through in the mix

[bass_steak]

Hi Justin,

First of all, kudos on all your accomplishments so far in your career and best wishes and continued success for 2011.

I wanted to have your suggestion on how to tackle a sound issue I'm having live.

Whenever I play a song in which I use an overdriven sound, I'm having a hard time hearing it in the mix. Like as if my sound was never loud enough when it's overdriven. The bottom is still there but it's as if anything else on top isn't loud enough. Everything is fine with my clean sound in the mix and when I soundcheck, both sounds are fine and at the same level.

My setup consists of my bass running through a Bassbone in which I run a VT Bass through the effects loop and then out of the Bassbone to the amp.

Have you encountered such a situation and what can I do to improve matters on this?

Thanks

Mark

[jmjbassplayer]

Thanks, Mark! Looking forward to making things happen in a great way for 2011. HOpe the same for you!

I'm curious why you don't hear that VT bass, man. That thing slices through anything in my experience. You need to twist knobs. In fact: Try setting that character knob and all eq knobs at 12 o'clock first.

The sounds may not be well served being at the same level, BTW. That's not necessarily what the doctor ordered. My OD sounds are always at LEAST 3-5 db hotter than my clean sound. Sometimes even more. I've just always found it necessary.

Also: do not trust your sound when isolated. That will never give you the right picture. Context is everything.

JMJ

[bass_steak]

Aaahhhh thank you very much for the 3 to 5 db tip.

I will tweak the knobs for sure but I think the level increase might do it.

You see, since I often hear soundmen asking keyboardists about their sound level being even or not throughout, and sometimes guitar players too for their different sounds other than leads, I was approaching it the same way.

So is it solely for an on stage matter and the soundman levels it for you in the PA or you find that even in the PA, the level needs to be increased as well?

[jmjbassplayer]

In the PA as well, certainly. You'll be adjusting levels primarily for them, unfortunately. You might want that O/D to come up 5db, but the soundman may only need 2 for their mix perspective, for instance.

[JimmyM]

i've found it takes some practice with the vt to get levels and tones sounding right against your clean sound so don't get discouraged. there are a lot of informational threads about the vt on here that might help you deal with it better, too. i think it's the most amazing pedal i've ever used but it took me about a month to get used to it. but justin is the man when it comes to getting distorted sounds so do what he says and you'll be fine.