Chorus cutting through the band mix?

[Marill]

Yesterday was the first time I tried using a chorus effect in a band, and I find that I can't cut through.

Without the chorus, the attack of my plucking gets the bass notes through the mix and I can hear my bass. When I use the chorus, my notes are all gone coz the chorus eats away the attack of my notes.

Does anyone experience this and how can I fix the problem?

Is it just that the band needs to get the a good mix of volume and frequencies together? Wrong chorus settings, too deep? My playing technique is wrong to only rely on attack to get the notes through?

any advise for me? thanks in advance!

[JehuJava]

I prefer to only use chorus when its mostly bass and drums. Once the guitars kick in its goodbye bass. I also found found using the pitch modulation of the TC Electronic SCF sounds way better than traditional chorus...not so phony.

[RickenBoogie]

Well, turn the intesity, or depth control down for starters. Maybe even keep the speed real slow, otherwise, maybe your chorus is just sucking your tone away. If that's the case, that blows.

[hyp.spec]

for something like just drum and bass, feel free to crank up the rate and depth to get a crazy sound, but in a band setting, don't go crazy on the knobs, because you won't hear the crazy chorus effect anyway. A chorus works wonders to "fatten" your tone - hence using conservative settings - than giving you some crazy sounds.

Sorry if I rambled, i've been up for 22 hours...

[David Wilson]

yes, if you're planning on using it all the time turn the depth down. A little chorus actually helps the bass stand out more, especially when picking.
If you want to hear somewhere where I did this, picking a bassline through mild chorus, go to http://www.mimiferocious.com and click on the player until the song 'tupperwhere sky' starts playing.

[bigchiefbc]

+1 to everyone above. If you're playing over distorted guitars, turn both the depth and rate down. If your band has any clean sections, that's when you break out the warbly awesomeness

[roflol]

i don't have problems with my chorus and cutting through, maybe if you can only cut through with your attack anyway you should turn up and blast out some lows ;<

[Mr. Pickles]

Solo your bridge p'up while using chorus. That way the mids and highs push through the mix.

Use a pick to sharpen your attack.

Use your bass's onboard eq to boost mids/highs.

Get a blender to dial some dry bass.

Engage an EQ pedal or footswitcheable amp EQ while using chorus.

Run a wet signal to the sound guy and have him mix it properly.

Digital chorus, by virtue of being brittle and tinny, actually cuts through well ,IMO.

[tomvelsor]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

Solo your bridge p'up while using chorus. That way the mids and highs push through the mix.

Use a pick to sharpen your attack.

Use your bass's onboard eq to boost mids/highs.

Get a blender to dial some dry bass.

Engage an EQ pedal or footswitcheable amp EQ while using chorus.

Run a wet signal to the sound guy and have him mix it properly.

Digital chorus, by virtue of being brittle and tinny, actually cuts through well ,IMO.

i have to disagree with this post. ive made no compromises with my tone to use chorus with distorted guitars..i think its the specific one your using. if youve got a low quality chorus, that might be it. the analogman has no effect on how well i cut. i leave it set at speed around 11 o'clock and depth about 2 o'clock. no problems, ever. at the worst, if you needed to preserve your attack, blend in your dry signal, be it on your pedal or a seperate blender pedal..but i've never gone that far, never needed too.

[SpectorDetector]

I have a BOSS CE-2 and slow and low seems to work. Low speed, high on the depth knob.

[JJBass30]

Originally Posted by SpectorDetector

I have a BOSS CE-2 and slow and low seems to work. Low speed, high on the depth knob.

yea i have a CE-5 I use Identical settings it cuts through with perfection

[Mr. Pickles]

Originally Posted by tomvelsor

i have to disagree with this post. ive made no compromises with my tone to use chorus with distorted guitars..i think its the specific one your using. if youve got a low quality chorus, that might be it. the analogman has no effect on how well i cut. i leave it set at speed around 11 o'clock and depth about 2 o'clock. no problems, ever. at the worst, if you needed to preserve your attack, blend in your dry signal, be it on your pedal or a seperate blender pedal..but i've never gone that far, never needed too.

Right, but the OP asked how to alter his existing setup to remedy the issue. It's not a mattrer of "compromising" one's tone, as all of our tone goals are different.

[Marill]

thanks for replies!

getting a blender to mix in a dry signal for the attack is a good idea, I think i'll try it, coz I want my attack to come in first, then chorus comes in as I hold the notes.

less depth as well i guess.