Help with Silent Stage/IEM signal processing

[MrBasseyPants]

Hi All,

After 20 years of playing (gosh has it been that long already), I've decided I am tired of constantly being told I am too loud (which is always the case unless you are playing to a room full of bassists)...or worse....playing in a band where guitarists are so loud you can't even hear yourself. I've decided to take the problem into my own hands and fix it. So, I've gotten myself plenty of toys and gigged with them over the weekend The gig went well, but i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to improve my sound. I am not unhappy with it, but I am wondering if I can make it better. I have generally been a straight ahead rock player plugged into my GK Fusion 550 with a SWR Goliath 4x10 and SWR Son of Bertha cabs. I kind of want that big rock sound (and some slap/funk) with no amp.

So here is my current setup (in chain order):

* Bass (usually MusicMan Stingray 4, but sometimes a passive jazz...and others)
* Line 6 XDR95 wireless
* Korg Pitch Black Tuner
* Aguilar Tone Hammer (to bring out some more pizazz)
* Effects to be named later (probably GT-10B)
* BBE MaxCom compressor/sonic maximizer channel 1 (for initial compressing)
* VT Bass (for some cabinet "emulation")
* BBE MaxCom compressor/sonic maximizer channel 2 (to prep for DI)

Then the signal essentially goes in three directions:
1) DI to FOH
2) to Shure PSM200 Wireless IEM with Ultimate Ears Super-fi 5 EBs (mixed with dedicated monitor mix)
3) to Sansamp Bass DI as preamp/gain for Buttkicker and platform

So, as you can see I am totally relying on an effected signal to send to my ears and FOH. I liked my sound this past weekend, but I know it can be better. I am a total novice when it comes to compressors, dedicated pre-amps, and whatever you call the VT bass. I guess I am fishing for ideas on settings or re-ordering the chain to get a nice IEM/FOH fat SVT-style rock sound without a cabinet.

As a side note...so far so good...the buttkicker power amp is the heaviest component, and it all fits in my trunk!

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

jc

[ehque]

Sounds like a great setup. However, i'm confused by the double compression, and basically by the large number of preamp-style effects you have in your chain. The VT bass in particular would react to your playing volume, and so i fail to see the use of both BBE MaxCom channels. The Tone Hammer would probably also have some compression built-in, as long as you've got the gain high enough for it to begin affecting your tone, but i have no experience with that particular product.

You could try stripping all the extra stuff out of your chain. I would go with removing at least the BBE's channel 1 from the chain, and possibly channel 2, since the mixing board will probably control your volume effectively enough. I am also unsure of the placement of your SABDDI, why would you need another amp-sim, for a application that goes to a maximum of 200Hz (the buttkicker)?

Let the normal compression of the tone hammer and the VT Bass work for you.

[MrBasseyPants]

Originally Posted by ehque

Sounds like a great setup. However, i'm confused by the double compression, and basically by the large number of preamp-style effects you have in your chain. The VT bass in particular would react to your playing volume, and so i fail to see the use of both BBE MaxCom channels. The Tone Hammer would probably also have some compression built-in, as long as you've got the gain high enough for it to begin affecting your tone, but i have no experience with that particular product.

You could try stripping all the extra stuff out of your chain. I would go with removing at least the BBE's channel 1 from the chain, and possibly channel 2, since the mixing board will probably control your volume effectively enough. I am also unsure of the placement of your SABDDI, why would you need another amp-sim, for a application that goes to a maximum of 200Hz (the buttkicker)?

Let the normal compression of the tone hammer and the VT Bass work for you.

Thanks for the info. The BDDI is really only in the chain to boost the signal to the buttkicker. I've done two gigs with the Buttkicker, and the first I had used the BDDI to send a signal to the power amp, and the second gig I went straight from the maxcom. This way I can adjust the gain to the Buttkicker independently from the output to the mixer.

My feelings on the maxcom were to provide compression on the front end of the signal before any cabinet emulation or effects, and then at the very end of the chain to tighten up the whole sound before going to the FOH. It makes sense to me . I also notice some differences with the sonic maximizers, but I am not sure if I can effectively use them or if it is just overkill.


jc

[ehque]

Hrm. A amp-sim definitely has some sort of compression built in - just listen to how the BDDI (and, i believe, the VT bass) has a subtle drive when you dig in - subtleties that are lost when you lead them with a compressor. Since compressors compress cleanly, they prevent your VT bass from responding tonally to the loudness of your signal.

Generally i believe that to get the most dynamics out of the FOH, the most minimal of compression should be used. Perhaps just a limiter just to catch the really bad stuff. I haven't played with maximisers so i can't give any opinion there, but just try turning stuff off to get a sound you like instead of piling on more and more effects.