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Am I underpowereded?

#64
I agree with Jimmy and Chef. Get another GII. You can certainly find one for under $300. The 550x is enough to drive them to or over their max. Hope you have a hand truck, strong back, and a big vehicle.

To be louder with that rig:

1) Keep the enhance and sub octave effect 100% OFF!
2) Leave bass and high EQ at 12 noon or slightly cut
3) Keep Tweeters at 50%
4) Boost mids (boost near 100%)--experiment for best frequency setting for your situation.
5) Get a compressor pedal: something like a Barge or Multi-Comp.
6) If using an active bass, don't boost the bass.
7) Follow chef's advice on gain staging.
8) turn up until it farts or hurts (Kidding).
 
#66
Jim Carr said:
I agree with Jimmy and Chef. Get another GII. You can certainly find one for under $300. The 550x is enough to drive them to or over their max. Hope you have a hand truck, strong back, and a big vehicle.

To be louder with that rig:

1) Keep the enhance and sub octave effect 100% OFF!
2) Leave bass and high EQ at 12 noon or slightly cut
3) Keep Tweeters at 50%
4) Boost mids (boost near 100%)--experiment for best frequency setting for your situation.
5) Get a compressor pedal: something like a Barge or Multi-Comp.
6) If using an active bass, don't boost the bass.
7) Follow chef's advice on gain staging.
8) turn up until it farts or hurts (Kidding).
Click to expand...

Yeah, pretty much all these things.

I don't even have a rig that tends too much towards mid-scoop, and I crank the mids all the way up, and cut the super lows. I'm pretty sure my rig doesn't have a tweeter, so that's not a problem.

I don't use a compressor, but I use a tube amp, so it acts somewhat similarly.

Boosting lows definitely takes up power. It's not usually needed anyway, as in the audience the low end tends to carry reasonably well, IME.
 
#67
Sartori said:
Yeah, pretty much all these things.

I don't even have a rig that tends too much towards mid-scoop, and I crank the mids all the way up, and cut the super lows. I'm pretty sure my rig doesn't have a tweeter, so that's not a problem.

I don't use a compressor, but I use a tube amp, so it acts somewhat similarly.

Boosting lows definitely takes up power. It's not usually needed anyway, as in the audience the low end tends to carry reasonably well, IME.
Click to expand...

Yes, yes, yes! Someone knows what's up! Boosting lows at shows - especially small venues, is useless. The PA systems' subwoofers are generally in front of the stage or just under it. You are going to feel and hear the low end on stage in most cases. Turning down the lows on your rig live helps you hear what your rig sounds like - the combination of low end from your rig plus the PA system can create a huge mountain of low end at your ears. You basically will only hear low end and your rig will become useless. Watch out for that!
 
#68
You presume everyone is playing shows:
-with bass in the pa
-with bass in a pa with subs

I believe that's a bad assumption. I know it is, in my case.
We use two Bose stick/sub combos, but we don't put the bass in there.
My Epi UL410 is the show. Usually, it's plenty in that context.
 
#70
Chef said:
You presume everyone is playing shows:
-with bass in the pa
-with bass in a pa with subs

I believe that's a bad assumption. I know it is, in my case.
We use two Bose stick/sub combos, but we don't put the bass in there.
My Epi UL410 is the show. Usually, it's plenty in that context.
Click to expand...

True to a point, I am coming from the cover band world and the rock/dance/oldies music we/they all play. If 90% of bars did not have PA systems, there would be very few cover bands around the Chicago area. Very few of us could afford a soundman at shows - I know we could not.

So my suggestions work with PA systems.
 

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