Can hear ANY effects in the mix

JonnyAngle · #1 03-21-2010, 04:45 PM

Played my first gig with my pedalboard last night. I stomped on the flanger and I couldn't even tell it was on. Then, I hit my DD-6 and I had to double check that was on! I know distortions can get lost in the mix, but a Flanger and Delay???

My Digitech Bass Syth Wah had no problems coming through. Is there something I am missing?

I use a Musicman Sterling going to my pedalboard, to a gk Backline 210 with a 410 backline extension cabinet. From the sansamp, I go DI to the bose L1 tower

Pedalboard: Bass> tuner> bass synth wah> ODB-3> black russian muff> bf-2> dd-6> BDDI

TortillaChip520 · #2 03-21-2010, 05:05 PM

well unless you're playing during relatively quiet parts or parts where the bass is more pronounced, you aren't going to hear them that much.

JonnyAngle · #3 03-21-2010, 05:06 PM

bummer!

Jazz Ad · #4 03-21-2010, 05:13 PM

Bass will sound very different in your bedroom and during a gig.
This is why Q shall be adjusted only with the full band.
The same goes for effects. Some may seem obnoxious by themselves but will fit fine with a full band.

dancehallclasher · #5 03-21-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Bass will sound very different in your bedroom and during a gig.
This is why Q shall be adjusted only with the full band.
The same goes for effects. Some may seem obnoxious by themselves but will fit fine with a full band.

Definitely. Also you may not yet have a good feel for the kind of effects that go well with certain parts? Flanger, for instance, is a lot more audible on high frequencies. If you're playing stuff on the D and G strings it can add something, especially with longer-sustaining notes. But if it's a fast-ish low E riff I could see the flanger totally disappearing in the mix.

bassbrad · #6 03-22-2010, 10:43 AM

Using and hearing bass effects on stage is a long time issue and a lot depends on your situation. In most rock situations I have a tendency to shy away from effects unless they are really needed and then they will be very brash almost over the top sounds to cut thru the guitars and drums. I find it most important to collaborate with the other players to get the band textures right, for some of your efx sounds to come thru it might be necessary for other players to change theirs. For example in my current rock quartet with 2 gtrz I only stomp the ODB3 at the end of songs for sustain or feedback, a chorus sound on a section that's just bass, drums and vox, and a very brash fuzzy envelope filter sound on a song that features the bass line both gtr players are using cleanish sounds to not take the bite out of mine.

electracoyote · #7 03-22-2010, 10:46 AM

In general, if you go too subtle with your effects, they will get lost in the mix. If you are setting your effects to "gentle" or when solo'd, everything changes when the band kicks in.

Set your effects when the band is going full throttle.

Tim C. · #8 03-22-2010, 10:47 AM

If your sound or effects are "dissapearing" from the mix, somebody isn't doing something right. Either you're chasing a tone that is inherently unfriendly with the band's live mix or whoever running your PA board isn't very good at it.

+1 all adjustments to tone/EQ/effects should be done while playing with the rest of the band. Your best tones for live band mix may very well not sound pleasant at all while playing solo.

jrmy · #9 03-22-2010, 12:30 PM

All good advice here - also, what flanger are you using? Some modulation pedals will have a noticeable volume drop, along with the changes to your EQ...

EDIT: never mind, misread your post. Dunno about the BF-2 - mine doesn't have a drop, but it has been modded...

jgroh · #10 03-22-2010, 02:39 PM

Even though Ive been playing for a long time, I didnt use any effects except the occasional chorus. Last year however, I got bitten by the pedal bug and started picking some up. I quickly realized how much they disappear in the mix (at least in my situation). I have two guitarists and a keyboardist in my band so there is not much sonic space to work with. So Ive decided to scale way back and now Im GAS free (for the moment anyway!)

JonnyAngle · #11 03-22-2010, 03:50 PM

There are some spots where the flanger would be KILLER! I am so dissapointed in this news.

Would it make a difference if I put the effects through the effects loop as opposed to before my amp?

electracoyote · #12 03-22-2010, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnyAngle

There are some spots where the flanger would be KILLER! I am so dissapointed in this news.

Would it make a difference if I put the effects through the effects loop as opposed to before my amp?

It depends on the effect. Some sound great through the loop, some don't. You really have to experiment. In my experience, only reverbs sound decent through the loop, and everything else gets weaker. I tried my pedalboard through the loop last night and decided front-loading sounded much better, but YMMV.