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Bass guitar through a PA
- Thread starter gdhadden
- Start date
I run my bass through our band's PA for presence, not for volume. Just hi mids and such, just enough to hear that it's there, because the bulk of my sound still comes from the stage, especially the lows. The whole idea is to get some articulation in the bass sound, so it's not just boom-boom-boom.
Why not try it at a sound check or rehearsal and see how it sounds. Spend some time trying to make it work. Maybe it works maybe it doesn't but you won't know unless you try.
There is nothing better then showing up to a gig with your bass and a DI box if the PA can handle it.
There is nothing better then showing up to a gig with your bass and a DI box if the PA can handle it.
its only going to sound as good as your pa.....if you dont run through pa ...it will always souond seperate..from everything else...run everything through pa ...and get a good mix ...it should sound fine...its no different than running a cd player to the pa a mixing the sound...
Doppler shift?? That must mean your band and the audience is continuously expanding, like the universe! (assuming your sound guy thinks it's a red shift and not a blue shift...if he thinks it's a blue shift, you and the audience would implode and end up as a white dwarf). You should probably ask him which color the shift is. And while you're at it, ask him where he gets his drugs because he obviously gets the good stuff!
Playing through your rig is fine. I have been doing that for 40 years of playing bass. It leaves the PA more pristine for the other instruments and vocals.
Now, if you had a monster PA with lots of wattage, and a bi or tri amped PA speaker system with subs, that would be another story, but based on the equipment your band has, you are doing the right thing by just playing through your rig.
Playing through your rig is fine. I have been doing that for 40 years of playing bass. It leaves the PA more pristine for the other instruments and vocals.
Now, if you had a monster PA with lots of wattage, and a bi or tri amped PA speaker system with subs, that would be another story, but based on the equipment your band has, you are doing the right thing by just playing through your rig.
Exactly what i think and wrote ......
I asked if the mixer was digital because this is a case (i experienced) when the sound of the bass in the PA and out of the amp could have some time-align problems if both are running .... But it doesn't seem to be his case ....
There is also to add, though, that it's very important that the mixing sound person KNOWS how a bass sound works, and understands to let the right sonic space ........
But, as i said, this can be discussed AFTER trying .........
Floor toms, sure. But not like Metallica, where the floor toms have more bottom-end presence than the bass guitar does.
Keys, sure, but even then they can't be allowed to go too deep in the freq. spectrum or they just create mud. The real low end should be reserved for those instruments whose names begin with "bass."
That is, bass guitar and bass drum.
No subs, don't do it. If your PA cabs are really good, they may make it down to about 55 hz. If they're not good, maybe 80 hz. Your bass notes will probably overload the cabs if you try to get any meaningful volume.
As far as the doppler thing, the sound guy is a bit confused, but I know what he's talking about. Depending on how far your backline is behind the mains, there is a delay in the time between when the audience hears the sound from the PA and the sound from your rig. It's about one millisecond per foot. So if the backline is 10 feet behind the mains, the sound guy should put a delay on the mains to time-align them with the backline. For most applications, that time differential isn't even noticeable.
As far as the doppler thing, the sound guy is a bit confused, but I know what he's talking about. Depending on how far your backline is behind the mains, there is a delay in the time between when the audience hears the sound from the PA and the sound from your rig. It's about one millisecond per foot. So if the backline is 10 feet behind the mains, the sound guy should put a delay on the mains to time-align them with the backline. For most applications, that time differential isn't even noticeable.
I just re-joined my band and am gearing up for shows in the future, but right now $ is tight and I don't have a speaker cab yet. Soon I'll have a 2x12 by LDS, but not yet. I'm DIing my Ashdown into the PA for rehearsals - two of these:Invalid Link Removed
No bottom end to speak of, get pretty damn loud but not loud enough. Fact is, if you want bass through the PA, you need PA cabs that can handle bass. That means subs.
Or you just need one hell of a backline, depending on the venue.
No bottom end to speak of, get pretty damn loud but not loud enough. Fact is, if you want bass through the PA, you need PA cabs that can handle bass. That means subs.
Or you just need one hell of a backline, depending on the venue.
This. We use powered JBL eon stuff, it just doesn't handle it well. The only bass signal we use is with the subs (We have two in the front). Even outdoors that is more than enough. In fact, at our last outdoor show (we're a classic rock band primarily), the sound guys didn't even need much of the subs for great bass.
Unless the PA is pretty crummy (and/or has no subs) it should sound better than any bass rig you've heard.
Without subs and a crossover you will most likely blow up the horns or tweeters.
I learned this the hard way.
I learned this the hard way.
I played a gig with a 9 piece Ska band just D.I'ed, no amp as the backline turned out not to be supplied...worst gig sound wise i've ever played.
Best thing to do is use your rig as a monitor on stage for you, and send a DI signal post-EQ ( so you can get some of your tone into the FOH mix basically).
Best thing to do is use your rig as a monitor on stage for you, and send a DI signal post-EQ ( so you can get some of your tone into the FOH mix basically).
This.
But to be honest, whether or not your PA will work for you will depend on how loud you play and what style of music you play.
For about three years I played in a Jazz band just running through the PA. No amps or cabs to haul around! The PA consisted of a Mackie powered head, 2 JBL EON G2's and monitors for everyone.
It worked fine and sounded great!
Try running through your rig and feeding the PA at the same time. Use your rig to monitor yourself and let the sound guy mix you into the PA for the crowd. Give it an honest chance and see how it sounds. You may be surprised. If it doesn't work you can always turn back up!
Joe.
Of the many times I've tried going straight through the PA, DI or not, I've always hated it. After trying it a couple of times with my newest band, they all told me to bring my rig next time. Seems they all prefer to "feel" the bass haha.
Definitely get some subs and a crossover.
I use my rig as a stage monitor, send out a DI signal and FOH sounds nicely mixed. We get a well rounded full sound to the whole band that way.
I use my rig as a stage monitor, send out a DI signal and FOH sounds nicely mixed. We get a well rounded full sound to the whole band that way.
