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Mic'ing bass amp for live shows?

#7
Here's a little secret about sound guys: most of them don't care what you want your bass to sound like. They will do what ever is easiest for them (direct) and dial in the tone they want on the board.

The sound guys that work the best gigs have more of a vested interest in good tone. I was talking to the sound man for the mainstage at Sasquatch (huge festival here in WA) and he always takes a signal from both, and for good reason. Us bassists spend a lot on our cabs because we like the way they shape our tone. We spend hours dialing in the perfect tone on our rig. If the soundman takes the cabs out of the equation, he's taking part of our tone out with it.

Both is the way to go.
 
#11
alfredpunkjazz said:
Someone needs to do a rackmountable DI that also alows to feed a mic signal, and then, mix that up... that way you send just one line to the PA.... That would be cool, but I'm dreaming...
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Well, it might work OK but, the purpose of using both is having the ability to taylor the mix. With both sent to the DI (bass and mic) the sound tech wouldn't have that control, you would.
 
#14
Well, it might work OK but, the purpose of using both is having the ability to taylor the mix. With both sent to the DI (bass and mic) the sound tech wouldn't have that control, you would.
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Its very likely that I've misunderstood but I think the point may have been to be able to send to the sound guy an entire mix of the band, the way the band wants - it allowing FOH to amplify that mix. My concert going experience is that too many mixes feature a chest-pounding kick drum, almost inaudible bass guitar, a bit of guitar and some vocals.
 
#16
:) When my rig is mic'd, I have for years put the SM57 directly in front of the center of the lowest mounted speaker about an inch or so away from the grill. Gives the sound that I personally like, although, direct has worked in some situations. It just seems to be that I lose some of the fullness when direct only. Of course, this is all subjective to the style and sound that you like to do and whether you do your own sound or not. If you don't, try and go with a wireless or something that will allow you to go out and hear what your crowd hears. Soundguys are your band's best friend or worst enemy. Many times I have heard what I knew to be good bands sound bad with a soundguy doing a poor job. Or, good soundguys can help you sound better with good mixing etc. So, unless you have your own guy that you know does it well, be carefull.
 
#17
Passinwind said:
Yep, but if it's really important to you consider carrying your own mike for the purpose. As a sound man, I never refuse anyone who's serious enough to do that, regardless of instrument.;)
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+1...For most gigs...I play small enough rooms that I don't need to run both a DI and mic the cab...but when I do, I carry my own mic...and what I am currently carrying is an Audix D6....
 
#18
allexcosta said:
I used DI and 57 on 10" speakers for years. Love it.
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If you like the way your bass speaker adds to your tone, and trust it, then do the combo like allexcosta. I do the same with the same mic (Sure SM57) centered on the cone a foot away. Ask a friend to play your bass on stage and walk back to the main board. Have the engineer do a crossfade between the DI signal and the mic. It's actually surprisingly different.
 
#19
AlstottMVP2 said:
I run direct because it's what I've always done.

Do any bass players mic their bass cab? Or do the low tones dictate running direct? thanks!
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I mic my cab whenever the sound guy lets me because that's how I sound for shows with no instrumental PA support and for recordings. I don't know how my amp sounds through other speakers so I'd rather have the PA reproduce the sound coming from my cab.
 

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