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Double Bass AI Clarus 4+, How many inputs can you use simutaniously?

DB Slidefunk

DB Slidefunk

Guest
Jul 16, 2013
281
41
UK
#1
Hi,
Due to the much higher volume of our new drummer, I am having a bit of a pick up experiment. My question is, would it be possible to use the Ehrlund in one channel and a mic and pickup in the other channel? The purpose of this would be that if stage volume gets unmanageable I can turn off the channels phantom power and turn up the gain on the other pick up that is already plugged in the jack input. Or is it possible to run a mic and pick up in one channel at the same time? I'm probably overcomplicating things but thought it would be interesting as long as I don't damage the amp.
 
#2
Success will depend on the relative signal levels and phases of the mic and pickup you want to run simultaneously into one channel, but you won't otherwise hurt anything. The phantom power is only present on the mic jack, so there's no need to worry about damage to the pickup as long as it's plugged into the 1/4" input jack.

Give it a shot!

EDIT - per the Gollihur website:

"The two-channel, Series 4PLUS Clarus has two separate channels which can be used to blend two sources - two different pickups or mics (or a combination of the two), or two different instruments. The XLR and ¼" inputs are on separate jacks. Additionally, they are separately buffered, which means that you could effectively use both at once, on each channel. You would only have independent control if at least one of those sources had its own volume control (like a keyboard, or an instrument with an outboard active preamp) but it does open up the possibility of actually "mixing" up to four different sources."
 
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#3
DB Slidefunk said:
Hi,
Due to the much higher volume of our new drummer, I am having a bit of a pick up experiment. My question is, would it be possible to use the Ehrlund in one channel and a mic and pickup in the other channel? The purpose of this would be that if stage volume gets unmanageable I can turn off the channels phantom power and turn up the gain on the other pick up that is already plugged in the jack input. Or is it possible to run a mic and pick up in one channel at the same time? I'm probably overcomplicating things but thought it would be interesting as long as I don't damage the amp.
Click to expand...

Dr. Slide Funk,
I'd think I'd try using the Ehrlund and a Piezo, sans microphone, before I tried all three together. With both a pickup and mic into the same channel you could possibly end up with phase issues between the two sources. Since the drummer is the issue, I'd respectfully suggest you tactfully aproach the issue "head on". Just my take of course.
 
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#4
There are enough things to think about, playing a gig to be concerned with switching between a mic and pickup. Considering a third option? I would never think of it. I have a Realist on each of my basses because they are the best compromise I've found. That's just a decision I have made to maintain some sanity.
Yea, if the drummer is to loud, I wouldn't change my game much to accommodate that.
 
#5
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
There are enough things to think about, playing a gig to be concerned with switching between a mic and pickup. Considering a third option? I would never think of it. I have a Realist on each of my basses because they are the best compromise I've found. That's just a decision I have made to maintain some sanity.
Yea, if the drummer is to loud, I wouldn't change my game much to accommodate that.
Click to expand...

+1 I have a hard enough time remembering to bring the newer detachable power cords, and standard guitar cables. If you can do it with one device, which in my case is the Ehrlund, that's
the way I roll. On the infrequent ocassions where I combine a microphone with a pickup, I find it to be a bit of a PITA, I only do it when I think the venue warrants it, or I read the sound tech's
expertise and go with the DPA 4099B FOH because that's what will get me the best sound out front. :)

Ric
 
#6
[QUOTE
EDIT - per the Gollihur website:

"The two-channel, Series 4PLUS Clarus has two separate channels which can be used to blend two sources - two different pickups or mics (or a combination of the two), or two different instruments. The XLR and ¼" inputs are on separate jacks. Additionally, they are separately buffered, which means that you could effectively use both at once, on each channel. You would only have independent control if at least one of those sources had its own volume control (like a keyboard, or an instrument with an outboard active preamp) but it does open up the possibility of actually "mixing" up to four different sources."[/QUOTE]

Not only could you run four inputs at the same time, you can also run two more signals through the "effects return" if you have a preamp of some sort.
For years I used the input of my Focus I for my upright bass and ran my electric bass through a Sansamp preamp, then into the effects return of the Focus.
It stands to reason you could do that on the Clarus S4+ as well. So.... Outputs for six instruments (or whatever) at a time. Theory, or possible?
 
#9
B String said:
Ahh.....I didn't say safely lol. You might want call Rick at AI and ask the expert. I just see the possibilities.
Click to expand...

+1 It would be very wise to contact Rick and sound him out on the idea.
The original AER Basscube, had three independent channels, so it was capable of running a mic and two pickups or two instruments, one with a blended mic and pickup. That amp was superceeded by the Bass Cube v2 where they went with two channels. It was a really nice build, but it was expensive, and a little on the heavy side.

Ric
 
#12
lowfreqgeek said:
............ However, it may not work quite as well as you'd like, but it won't blow up anything.
Click to expand...

Seems to me, that even though you could plug, say three devices into the AI, you would only have two sets of EQ controls, so you'd need a separate Pre amp, and that would make things
more complicated.

B String said:
I agree. It just seems unusual to be able to do six inputs from a two channel head.
Click to expand...

Well, I've seen several amps with three or even four, Gallien Krueger had the 200MK keyboard amp, Ampeg had the B-12X, but those extra channels had individual tone and volume controls attached to each input. Walter Woods even built four channel versions of his MI-100 and MI 225 amps.
 
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#14
Ric Vice said:
+1 If I were going to attempt combining two pickups and a microphone, I'd go out and purchase one of the small Yamaha 4 channel mixers. That way you could mix and EQ the three sources independently.

Ric
Click to expand...
And... You could take the out from the Yamaha into the effect return of the AI head, using it as a very small power amp. I just saw an ad here for an AI SA power amp. Basically the power amp section from the Focus S III. 450 watts @ 8ohms, and tiny. Mackie and Peavey also make tiny mixers that have good specs for this kind of stuff too. Its a good time to be amplifying the upright. Lots of good options.
 
#15
I used my higher power AI Focus 2R head and a pair of ACME cabs last week as a small PA system for my jazz trio. I had channel one for the bass, the guitar player used channel 2 input and the fiddle player used the channel two effects return with a pre amp to control their end. It works fantastic. I have used four inputs in the past; the only issue I run into is that if you want to use the built in effects (reverb, etc.), everyone using that individual channel gets the same amount of reverb in their mix.
 

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