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Acoustic Guitar and PA

padenski

padenski

Feb 19, 2008
110
0
Landenberg, PA
www.myspace.com
#1
I play in a band with a several novices when it comes to sound, etc. The guitard player always plays acoustic and has lately been plugging into to the PA using an unbalanced connection (there is an option for balanced as well). The problem I noticed is that he wants to turn himself up in the PA so that he can hear himself. When that happens, he is then to loud. I have also notice that when he is direct into the PA, his acoustic sounds too boomy and results in a muddy band sound.

I told him his best option is to use a small amp as a monitor facing him on stage, and either line out or mic the amp in the PA. Someone told him that he needs a direct box, and that this will make his sound the best.

Its ironic that keyboardist suffers from the same dilemna. I also made the same suggestion about a monitor amp and then mic to the PA.

What's the best sound solution for first the guitard and then the keyboard? What will a direct box do for sound quality, etc? My impression was that these were nothing more than transformers to match and unbalanced load to a balanced load.

Thanks
 
#2
You want the keyboard and the acoustic to go direct. If the guitar is too loud, turn it down. If the guitarist can't hear at that point, you probably need monitors to go with your PA.

The boomy sound can be solved by rolling off the bass, either on the guitar or at the PA. Piezo pickups are bad about having a strong bass thump from the picking sound, it's just the nature of a piezo. For a good modern acoustic-electric sound you should be rolling the bass way off, turning up the mids a bit and turning up the highs to get that nice sparkly sound.

Amp -> mic -> PA for acoustic or keyboards just doesn't make sense. You're adding an unnecessary air gap and more channel bleed.

Edit: He probably shouldn't be plugging in unbalanced, although it does work. A direct box is better.
 
#4
do you have a monitor system?
If you have a good monitor system with seperate mixes, no need for stage amps for keys or acoustic guitar. For the acoustic guitar, I would run into a preamp with EQ/DI box before sending to the PA...Both keys and guitar will need their own monitor mix
 
#6
Definition: A small interface box designed for connecting a high-impedance, unbalanced instrument or other device to a low-impedance, balanced microphone input on a mixer or recording device.

A direct box is also called a "direct injection" box, as it allows a "direct injection" of a signal into the PA or recording system, as opposed to going through an amplifier and microphone combination.
 
#7
AlembicPlayer said:
Definition: A small interface box designed for connecting a high-impedance, unbalanced instrument or other device to a low-impedance, balanced microphone input on a mixer or recording device.

A direct box is also called a "direct injection" box, as it allows a "direct injection" of a signal into the PA or recording system, as opposed to going through an amplifier and microphone combination.
Click to expand...

Thanks Alembic. So if the acoustic guitar has a balanced output, then a direct box is not necessary, right? (His does)
 

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