SUB BASS
 

Hello Everyone,

I need some advice. I play keyboard bass in my band. I am trying to get the crazy sub bass sound that you hear in a lot of electronic music. Body shaking sounds. My keyboard has these sounds and I want to reproduce them accurately in a live setting. Any suggestions on what equipment I would need in order to do this? I hear that running a direct out from my head to a powered sub might work. What do you think? Thank you for your help.

Dunno, but seems like that would work. Not all speaker cabs can reproduce sub frequencies, obviously, so a designated powered sub should be okay. I am assuming that such cabs would have some form of limiting protection.

same as in the amps forum
Maxxbass, or Ren Bass

Peavey or Crest DSP has it built in.

Loud and Low!

Live demands lots of power from sub = big to carry.
Usually you can't demand a sub in technical rider for most places.. Ask the engineer to do his best with what he's got.

If there's a sub in the venue you will probably hear it a lot if you position yourself next to it (assuming it's not centered). Place your wedge as close as possible to it or if possible for good hearing- on top of it. This will yield phase coherant sound. Since the sub is controlled for FOH and your wedge is personal monitor mix, you'll be lucky to have the sound levels to match and still maintain minimal level in the wedge. If the sub is too loud, just reposition yourself and the wedge further away and give up on phase coherance.

If there's no sub and it's a small venue, perhaps you can find a 15" powered sub (portability) that can handle the job, one with onboard crossover, to be fed with your monitor mix->venue's wedge..
Honestly I would co-ordinate with the engineer on this and use it with the mains, it will upgrade the whole band's sound in these cases- perhaps the members can even help you out a bit with the expense. Still, position yourself as close to the sub as you can, because it's a fair to assume the wedge won't handle sub frequencies in a clean, audiable way in a loud stage.

Even most PA subs aren't much good below 55 or so.