pre-amp hiss through pa

brenner182 · #1 03-10-2011, 09:25 AM

Every show, all i ever hear is out guitar player crying about how my preamp (ampeg svp-bsp) is hissing through the pa. and what he want to do is just run my bass into a direct box and call it at that. But the problem with that is his pa board cant adjust my sound to make it sound good just running direct. and then after both guitars are ran im just buried anyway.

So what should i do here? i dont know how to get around the hissing sound. It's getting to the point where im gonna just gonna say #(*& it and just collect my cash at the end of the night and not care what it sounds like. HELP!!!

brenner182 · #2 03-10-2011, 09:27 AM

I forgot to mention, the svp has a direct out that is normally where i get my tone from to the board first. but he just wants straight bass guitar into a separate di box.

Zooberwerx · #3 03-10-2011, 09:49 AM

Greetings from a TBer who spent his years as a youth in LaVale!

Here's your manual: http://www.ampeg.com/manuals/SVP-BSP.PDF

Tell us exactly what settings (front & back...and I mean everything including output levels and pre / post settings) and outputs you're using.

Riis

brenner182 · #4 03-10-2011, 10:00 AM

ok

i only use the clean channel.

going straight across

-15db cut it pushed in (active bass)
gain is at about 1 o'clock
bass is at 12 with pot pulled out
mid at about 3 or 4 depending on which bass i use
treble is at about 11
volume at 2 with pot pulled out for the compressor

master volume is whatever it needs to be, i run my preamp wide open and controll it from the preamp

on the back side, the d.i. output is at 12 o'clock and set to post eq. i dont mess with the overdrive channel

4Mal · #5 03-10-2011, 10:15 AM

Are you sure that the hiss isn't the bass ? Have you tried a passive bass or another instrument ? even a guitar just to test for the hiss ...

FWIW - you might try running the input gain lower and the output level higher. Maybe also experiment with the pad off ...

brenner182 · #6 03-10-2011, 10:17 AM

i know it's not the bass i usually switch between 3 basses a night

tsunami1052 · #7 03-10-2011, 10:29 AM

Try the DI Pre EQ.

4Mal · #8 03-10-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brenner182

i know it's not the bass i usually switch between 3 basses a night

Are you using the pedals in your profile live ? if so, try going straight in and losing the pedals as a test. Boss/MXR/DOD/EHX - that level of stuff is notoriously noisy ...

brenner182 · #9 03-10-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Are you using the pedals in your profile live ? if so, try going straight in and losing the pedals as a test. Boss/MXR/DOD/EHX - that level of stuff is notoriously noisy ...

I dont have any pedals.

here is my hook-ups.

bass-(warwick corvette $$/sx jazz/ mim jazz v)---> senheiser wireless---> ampeg svp-bsp.

It's pretty straight forward.

and to clear another thing it's not the basses. other times i will run a epi t-bird and a peavey grind 5 ntb and both have humbuckers. So it's not a single coil buzz that is causing it.

tsunami1052 · #10 03-10-2011, 10:47 AM

If you are getting lost in the mix and you can't get rid of the hiss from your preamp - look for a used SanSamp DI.

Zooberwerx · #11 03-10-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brenner182

ok

i only use the clean channel.

going straight across

-15db cut it pushed in (active bass)
gain is at about 1 o'clock
bass is at 12 with pot pulled out
mid at about 3 or 4 depending on which bass i use
treble is at about 11
volume at 2 with pot pulled out for the compressor

master volume is whatever it needs to be, i run my preamp wide open and controll it from the preampon the back side, the d.i. output is at 12 o'clock and set to post eq. i dont mess with the overdrive channel

Sorry, but would you please clarify this statement?

Edit: BTW, the "pre / post" switch on the back is pre / post volume, not EQ....if I'm reading the manual correctly. I'd run it in "pre" to see if there's a difference. Essentially, it becomes a tube-driven DI.

Riis

brenner182 · #12 03-10-2011, 10:51 AM

That was supposed to say power amp. soryy sorry lol. i do not run the pre amp wide open i run the power amp wide open.

brenner182 · #13 03-10-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsunami1052

If you are getting lost in the mix and you can't get rid of the hiss from your preamp - look for a used SanSamp DI.

i was actually using one of those as my preamp for a while. but got tired of not having stuff in a rack.

I think i might have to get another one though. But i hate messing with pedals.

tsunami1052 · #14 03-10-2011, 11:04 AM

Zooberwerx - You are correct, it is Pre/Post Volume. I thought it was pre/post EQ, my bad.

Zooberwerx · #15 03-10-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brenner182

i was actually using one of those as my preamp for a while. but got tired of not having stuff in a rack.

I think i might have to get another one though. But i hate messing with pedals.

I wouldn't spend any money on anything...yet. There's a good chance we're dealing with gain structure issues which may (or may not!) be resolved by twisting a few knobs.

Thanks for verifying the power amp reference but it doesn't fold into the preamp / mixer board mis-match. I would recommend you back off your attenuators a tad to achieve a better signal / noise ratio, though.

Riis

brenner182 · #16 03-10-2011, 11:13 AM

i have a show friday and saturday night so i will have to try that and then come back with the results.

Gotta love playing the double d saloon in lonaconing. lol

Zooberwerx · #17 03-10-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsunami1052

Zooberwerx - You are correct, it is Pre/Post Volume. I thought it was pre/post EQ, my bad.

Kinda blew my mind, too! I can see where a post-volume output could add noise and /or overdrive a board.

Riis

Zooberwerx · #18 03-10-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brenner182

i have a show friday and saturday night so i will have to try that and then come back with the results.

Gotta love playing the double d saloon in lonaconing. lol

Haven't lived there or visited in ages.

Okay, time is tight so probably the best thing you can do is set the pre / post button to "pre" and have your soundguy adjust the mixer input trim accordingly. I haven't finished with the manual so I'm not 100% sure as to what effect the clean channel XLR output control will have...if any. You'll just have to experiment. Of course, we'll be expecting a full follow-up report. We'll tackle the finer points later.

Riis

projectMalamute · #19 03-10-2011, 11:27 AM

You are padding the signal way down(-15 dB button) and then boosting it back up (gain at 1 o'clock). You are getting noise here for sure.

You are also sending a teeny-tiny signal out of the pre and then amplifying the crap out of it(power amp run wide open). This will also create noise.

Zooberwerx · #20 03-10-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

You are padding the signal way down(-15 dB button) and then boosting it back up (gain at 1 o'clock). You are getting noise here for sure.

You are also sending a teeny-tiny signal out of the pre and then amplifying the crap out of it(power amp run wide open). This will also create noise.

Actually, the pad is only -6 dB according to the manual but your point is still valid.

Riis