Bass through FOH subs only?

[Jazzdogg]

Why? I have always wondered about this. Perhaps it is another approach to HPF everything except bass and kick?

This allows me to tailor how much of each source is fed to subs, and exclude flutes, mic drops, and such from the sub feed; on-stage noise picked up by microphones can be excluded from the sub feed. I can use this very effectively to create a balance (in the audience) between how much they hear from backline, mains, and subs. In some mid-sized venues where a bass amp almost covers the room, adding a smidgen of bass in the subs can sometimes help. In a small club, subs may not be used.

 

[Roxbororob]

Aux out to the subs is a valid thing. Running the bass only through the subs is not. Even if you have a loud backline, routing bass only to the subs is a ticket to ride off into the sunset.

Other than that I think all the previous posts are pretty clear and unanimous.

 

[SoCal80s]

People hear "feed only kick and bass to the sub" and they take it to mean "feed kick and bass only to the sub"

 

[Swizzledoop]

Just drop a link to this thread in the band group chat. Nuff said.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Two problems here. First and most important, bass is a LOT more than the fundamentals- it carries about what the subs cover. Second, if FOH is carrying the bass, you shouldn't be fighting him - bass amp should be your monitor.

Sounds like you and soundproofing need to come to some kind of reasonable understanding.

 

[ashtray]

Have them run their guitars through the horns only, and save the cones for just the vocals.

The term “bass guitar” really confuses some people…

 

[Altitude]

I’m thinking through this with an open mind and I have come to a possible rationale.

Think about a bass amp. Pretty simple - a head with a little EQ sending a non-crossovered signal to a full-range speaker cabinet, often one loaded with large drivers.

Your sound guy might be trying to duplicate that effect in your FOH. If he runs your signal into the subs using some aux input solution, your signal would be full-range, not the bottom end only that the subs are getting from the post-crossover house mix.

Maybe he thinks this approach is the best way to make you sound like your amp sounds, but through the FOH. Especially if he doesn’t love horns in bass cabinets, because this approach would totally eliminate them.

Still seems like a whole lot of effort to accomplish an outcome that could be more easily accomplished in other ways.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

Bass through subs only is noise. Low frequency noise.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I play with a band that only puts the bass through the subs so all I hear is rumble, no top end at all. (We play old school r&b and funky songs from the 70’s that have lots of slapped bass parts.)
I had them put me through the main speakers and it sounded better but they seemed to find this strange. They were struggling with the mixer at some shows so they brought in a sound guy to fix the problems at rehearsal. First thing the guy did was to take my bass completely out of the mains and put it through just the subs again. I was planning to just go direct using a preamp/di but I guess I’ll just have to continue bringing my amp and turning it up to get a full-range sound. Otherwise we should play reggae lol.

Reggea bass is much more mid heavy than people realize

 

[darwin-bass]

Perhaps the sound person is a keyboard player wanting to leave room for the L hand?

 

[Luckydog]

People hear "feed only kick and bass to the sub" and they take it to mean "feed kick and bass only to the sub"

very good point! Amazing what changing the placement of a single word can do.

 

[bikeplate]

Awful

 

[brianrost]

Seems the simplest way to show the band what happens with the bass only in the sub is to turn your amp off

 

[groovaholic]

I play with a band that only puts the bass through the subs so all I hear is rumble, no top end at all.

What amuses me is how universally (and correctly) despised this approach is by everyone here.
But isn't it all-too-often EXACTLY how the bass sounds at venues?

That wallowing, shapeless blob of low-frequency muck...where everything is loud, yet nothing is clear.
It's like trying to read a book by only looking at the edges of the pages.

 

[DJ Bebop]

The real answer, fire the drummer!

 

[Rayjay]

I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE this. I have a few sound guys on a team I lead at church that were trained to mix that way, and prefer the sound. (Not trained by me of course) “Bass should be felt, not here.” It’s hard to train them any other way. I hate it. I want to hear the bass player!!

 

[kittywithabanjo]

I used to run Aux fed subs, but for most gigs I run just LR and rely on the cross-over that is in the DSP on my speakers, for bigger gigs, I do go Aux fed, as well as run a matrix, if doing sidefill/Frontfill.

Even with aux fed subs though I am putting bass through the mains of course.

Dave Rat has some good videos on why, basically mics even with a high-pass still generate some undesirable low end content.

 

[GreyBeard]

Sound tech doesn't understand bass guitar and where it should be placed in the mix. Probably thinks it should be only subsonic rumble and no one can tell him/her any different. GOOD LUCK

 

[Jack]

It occurs to me that, in a rehearsal room with a 4x10 bass cab, just adding a tiny bit of sub for reinforcement may have actually been the right call. What kind of idiot thinks that would translate to EVERY GIG though?

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Seems the simplest way to show the band what happens with the bass only in the sub is to turn your amp off

Or, the way I figured out that bass only to the subs wouldn't work is to set up the PA with subs and tops, get things balanced to sound good. Than turn off the tops and listen to what's left. It probably won't be good. Than do the reverse and listen to how much more of the bass is present without the subs.

Or maybe that's just me.