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Basses ruining bands....

#24
Some other things about live bass being too loud are that 1) sometimes bassists turn up the volume when really they're looking for better definition; which might be better done through a different amp and speakers and 2) similarly, most PA speakers are 15's, and the PA speakers have everything else going through them so the bass sound is getting underpowered and cluttered, possibly causing woofiness.

Also, wanted to throw my hat in with fellow New Jersey bassists! I'm in San Jose now, but am Madison born and raised.

Cheers!
Jeb
 
#25
Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield



turn up and tune out!!
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You just had to quote the Timothy Leary didn't you? :D

Seriously though, I agree with Rumble. I've heard so many good performances destroyed by bad drum mixes. Personally,where I'm from, I think it's kind of pointless to mike the drums anyways. None of the venues are large enough to justify it. Still, miked drums do have more of a "whoompf" to them. Unforunatley, they are usually mixed wrong and drown out the bass. While good mixes helps, I agree with Bruce. The musicians have a lot to do with it. I've seen so many amatuer bands who suffered because their singer doesn't understand about projecting his voice, so thus, anything they sing is inaudiable.

Personally, I never was really into playing loud. I think that the control over your dynamics just goes to pot once you start getting to loud. Besides, the audience at a club doesn't enjoy being pummeled by a wall of sound for 3 hours straight.
 
#26
Mixing is 50% of the battle, take note of what they are doing wrong so you don't make the same mistakes. We bring along a good buddy of ours who helps us mix our stuff and it helps a lot. We are not afraid to yell at a crappy sound guy. It's tough because each venue is different, I try to get there real early and do a sound check. It's always a good idea to play a little softer during guitar solos and drum parts I found, but you noticed that and that's a very god observation on your part.
 
#27
well as being as a sound man and musician i would have to say the burden does fall on both parties. sometimes the sound guy sucks and sometimes the band does not compliment each other very well. also, it is very hard to get a good sound out of a band with several instruments....percussion and brass are hard to mix especially. i do have to say that i hate it when some guy that is not in the band/management comes and complains. anyways, i would just say do what you think is the best for the situation but always be humble and proffesional. good luck
 
#28
Like crossxbones, I run sound as well as play. Last week I did sound for a private party, two bands plus a solo singer/acoustic guitar opening act. Room acoustics were absolutely awful, monitor mixes could not be heard for the echos. After I got the opening singer dialed in, the next band--supposedly pro musicians--came in late, with absolutely no time for a sound check, they just threw me mic and DI cables, I plugged them in and they went on. Their problem was the electric guitar (the one instrument I had no control over), it was way too loud and completely covered up everything else. Somebody came up and asked me to turn up lead vocals, but between the room acoustics and the arena-level guitar volume, I couldn't do anything more.

Next act was opposite. The bass and guitar were way too quiet, even though I had them in mix I they needed to turn up stage volume so I could keep vocals to the forefront in the mix.

Moral of the story? The sound man can only do so much. Bands must be mindful of their stage levels....:cool:
 
#30
Originally posted by nashvillebill
Like crossxbones, I run sound as well as play. Last week I did sound for a private party, two bands plus a solo singer/acoustic guitar opening act. Room acoustics were absolutely awful, monitor mixes could not be heard for the echos. After I got the opening singer dialed in, the next band--supposedly pro musicians--came in late, with absolutely no time for a sound check, they just threw me mic and DI cables, I plugged them in and they went on. Their problem was the electric guitar (the one instrument I had no control over), it was way too loud and completely covered up everything else. Somebody came up and asked me to turn up lead vocals, but between the room acoustics and the arena-level guitar volume, I couldn't do anything more.

Next act was opposite. The bass and guitar were way too quiet, even though I had them in mix I they needed to turn up stage volume so I could keep vocals to the forefront in the mix.

Moral of the story? The sound man can only do so much. Bands must be mindful of their stage levels....:cool:
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I agree with you there, but sometimes the sound guy just sucks and must be yelled at, my biggest beef is bad vocals!
 

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