I generally play through a 2x10 speaker cabinet (Mark Bass) and place is on an end so I have a two 10" speaker stack. I often play on boomy stages. In the Talk Bass collective wisdom which is the best was to solve this problem: a speaker stand to get the cabinet off of the floor, use a Gramma pad or similar homemade version, or something else?
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Boomy Stage Solutions?
- Thread starter BluesWalker
- Start date
...also, if you have a parametric EQ try cutting the lowest frequencies (center around 50hz) a bit and try to use fresh roundwounds and even avoid humbucking pups....just some more ideas... .
Jimbob
Jimbob
Two words: milk crate.
It will keep the cabinet from coupling with the stage floor, and get the speakers up closer to your ears so you can run less volume.
I have also heard it's better to back off the low-end EQ and run a little hotter volume than vice versa. I have tried this and can definitely say it's true.
It will keep the cabinet from coupling with the stage floor, and get the speakers up closer to your ears so you can run less volume.
I have also heard it's better to back off the low-end EQ and run a little hotter volume than vice versa. I have tried this and can definitely say it's true.
So is the situation that you have horrible boom on stage, or that the low frequencies are overwhelming the whole room? If you can't hear yourself, then getting the amp up, or tilting it up at your ears will help. If the room is booming, then move the amp or turn down the overactive frequencies with an EQ. Low sound waves travel in every direction, like ripples in a pond, and the distances to walls and ceilings cause reinforcing or canceling of those ripples.
In your case, I'd turn down the low EQ knob until the boom is just right. Be sure to have someone in the room tell you when it sounds good, often stages sound like crap when the room is great.
Here's a link to a page on room modes. Link Removed
In summary, the author states it's best to excite as many modes as possible for even response instead of having one or two frequencies dominating. I.E. Put your amp in the corner.
In your case, I'd turn down the low EQ knob until the boom is just right. Be sure to have someone in the room tell you when it sounds good, often stages sound like crap when the room is great.
Here's a link to a page on room modes. Link Removed
In summary, the author states it's best to excite as many modes as possible for even response instead of having one or two frequencies dominating. I.E. Put your amp in the corner.
The amp stand will lower the overall bass response, and will also give you a notch in the response, but likely not at the right frequency. Leave it on the floor, and tilt it so it's pointed at your head.
Get the bass right in the PA first. Then turn it off.
Insert a parametric EQ, find the most offensive frequency, sweep the RQ till you find it (most easily done with boost), cut the band a bunch, then widen the bandwidth if necessary.
Now bring the PA back up, and adjust the bass rig to remove the frequencies from it that are too hot in the house.
Get the bass right in the PA first. Then turn it off.
Insert a parametric EQ, find the most offensive frequency, sweep the RQ till you find it (most easily done with boost), cut the band a bunch, then widen the bandwidth if necessary.
Now bring the PA back up, and adjust the bass rig to remove the frequencies from it that are too hot in the house.
You have to raise an amp a good two feet or so before you lose the benefits of floor coupling I forget the exact number). The only reason it sounds like you don't get the benefits is because you hear more increased mids and highs, not decreased lows.
With the cabinet on the floor the reflections create a mirror image that boosts the bottom end. This goes away quickly in some cases, not in others. As to the notch, 2' will notch at 140Hz which is useful (as that's close to where many cabinets have a bump), but may not be the frequency you need to kill on a particular stage. See the frequency chart at [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It sounds like you've got your answer here. There are three basic ways to address this issue.
1. Tilt the cab
2. Lift the cab
3. Eq the problem frequency
You probably won't get a consensus here about the best approach. It will depend on your unique situation and your perception of what you hear.
I'll add that I've frequently had better luck cutting the offending frequency in the PA's eq. I don't typically run my bass through the PA, but the stage mics pick up my signal anyway and if it's a problem fq then it get's amplified in the PA just the same. Plus other instruments (like drums) are likely to produce the same frequency, so I try to find the problem fq and cut it both at my amp and in the mains and monitors.
1. Tilt the cab
2. Lift the cab
3. Eq the problem frequency
You probably won't get a consensus here about the best approach. It will depend on your unique situation and your perception of what you hear.
I'll add that I've frequently had better luck cutting the offending frequency in the PA's eq. I don't typically run my bass through the PA, but the stage mics pick up my signal anyway and if it's a problem fq then it get's amplified in the PA just the same. Plus other instruments (like drums) are likely to produce the same frequency, so I try to find the problem fq and cut it both at my amp and in the mains and monitors.
Three words; black milk crate
Not at all disagreeing with you, Jimmy. It's about the functionality but also about the stage look. I'll use a pair of cable cases (black milk crates) to raise my 4x10. Failing that, a couple at the bar but use some black cloth to tarp them over.
That'll decouple enough for 'floor bounce' but I still can get a lot of 'bloom' on some stages (VERY interesting gig last weekend; G resonated wildly). I'm trying to gear up some way of reducing conduction from cab to stage floor.
Three words; black milk crate
Not at all disagreeing with you, Jimmy. It's about the functionality but also about the stage look. I'll use a pair of cable cases (black milk crates) to raise my 4x10. Failing that, a couple at the bar but use some black cloth to tarp them over.
As long as you cover it up, doesn't make a difference what you use. I put my 4x10 on top of a $5 milk crate, "skirt" the cabinet with a black cloth that goes down to the floor and nobody is the wiser.
I could buy an amp stand... but I would rather spend my money on things people see and that actually make a difference to my sound.
The fundamental issue is that you need to acoustically decouple the speaker cabinet from the stage. This is best accomplished by placing a dampening material between the cab and the floor. Best examples would be rubber feet, an amp stand with rubber feet, or something like an Auralex Gamma. I'm not a fan of milk crates as they tend to vibrate if they aren't sitting perfectly flat.
EQ doesn't correct the problem for several reasons, the biggest of which is phase related. Yes, the stage acts as a giant resonator and enhances certain frequencies while canceling out others, but since sound travels at different speeds through different mediums, those frequencies arrive at the listener at different times compared to what's coming out of your speaker cabinet. Assuming that your speaker cabinet sounds better than the floor, it makes more sense to reduce the amount of stage vibration so the audience hears more of you and less of the floor.
EQ doesn't correct the problem for several reasons, the biggest of which is phase related. Yes, the stage acts as a giant resonator and enhances certain frequencies while canceling out others, but since sound travels at different speeds through different mediums, those frequencies arrive at the listener at different times compared to what's coming out of your speaker cabinet. Assuming that your speaker cabinet sounds better than the floor, it makes more sense to reduce the amount of stage vibration so the audience hears more of you and less of the floor.
