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Cant hear myself when DI'ed

BrandonBass

BrandonBass

May 29, 2006
2,348
33
#1
I live in area where ill just use whatever backline the gig organisers offer us as my band doesnt have the budget to transport equipment from place to place. Most of the time I get to plug into an amp then the amp will go to the monitors. Most of the times this works fine. However, everytime I have to run direct from my DI box into the monitor, my sound seem to be scooped of mids and I cant hear myself in the mix. It sounds decent from the audience but I seem to scooped to myself, though just 2 acoustic guitars.

Im using a MXR M80 DI fyi and running a ebmm stingray
 
#2
If you are just not able to hear yourself because there is not monitors you may wish to look into a In Ear Monitor system. Even a cheaper one would give you the volume you need, esp. if you are only playing with 2 acoustics.

You could also get a stationary monitor system if you do not move around a lot. I think its made by Rohdes (???) but someone else can elaborate on that.
 
#3
HometownLetdown said:
If you are just not able to hear yourself because there is not monitors you may wish to look into a In Ear Monitor system. Even a cheaper one would give you the volume you need, esp. if you are only playing with 2 acoustics.

You could also get a stationary monitor system if you do not move around a lot. I think its made by Rohdes (???) but someone else can elaborate on that.
Click to expand...

there are monitors in the locations, but even then it seems muddy compared to when i im running into an amp. or could it be my di box's problem?
 
#4
I don't think the problem is with your DI. It's probably with the fact that you are going direct into a soundboard, and into monitor speakers... I find that a lot of monitor speakers are not the best, and not really designed to reproduce bass the way a bass amp/cab is, or the way a FOH system is.
If transportation is a problem, then think about one of these crazy micro rigs that everyone is using now. Something like A GenzBenz shuttle 6 - 12T is a tiny rig with lot's of power. that amp and 12" would probably do you just fine. Especailly if you still DI to the house. Let the sound guy handle FOH, and you can monitor yourself on stage with a little rig. Even has a tilt up foot so you can use it as a monitor.
 
#5
I use a Fender 60 Watt Rumble Amp on stage. It is mostly just to be my monitor; the DI is what gets me out to the mains.

That Rumble 60 is WAAAY more than I need. You could probably use an even smaller practice amp to get your own sound.
 
#8
I know Carvin has a 2 channel wireless in-ear set-up. Take a monitor feed and a bass feed in to it. Adjust your bass as loud as you like with the monitor mix. I think they go for around $300.00. I'm sure there are other brands that do this as well. If you don't move much you could do the same thing with a small headphone mixer and a set of in-ear head phones for under $100.00
 
#9
Hi.

chaosMK said:
That's the trouble running DI only.
Click to expand...

BS.

The trouble doesn't lie in using a DI, the trouble lies in lazy/cheap people.


BrandonBass said:
Any ideas on how to solve this? I figure ill be doing more acoustic gigs in the near future and usually they dont provide bass amp for those gigs. Was a nightmare when you cant hear urself, or hear your bass sounding lik crap
Click to expand...

Unless someone other (like that's going to happen) can provide adequate monitoring, it's up to You to do it. I usually use SWR WM10 on a stand, enough for the whole band to get the idea where I'm going (or what mistakes I do ;)).

Sure I'd like to use my tube rig, but the on-stage sound becomes unbearable really fast.


On very low volume gigs I've used an ancient, active FBT Jolly A monitor, but that's only for me then, not adequate coverage for the whole band.

On most places the bass player -preferably the whole band, but that's just a fantasy- going rigless straight to the board, makes the performance easier for everyone.

You can obviously use a personal iem, but that takes care of You only, what about the rest of the band, especially the drummer?

Regards
Sam
 
#11
to be clear, the problem here isn't using a DI or not, it's going ampless.

if the system doesn't have adequate monitors (as in pretty strong boxes with separate mixes so you can get yourself without messing up the other players, or a proper IEM system) then you need to bring a little bass amp out to these gigs, maybe something that kicks back like a monitor.
 
#12
You need something consistant for bass monitor use. Even when you get a great big expensive floor monitor, the sound guy is running it through an EQ and possibly scooping out what you really need, and what you wouldn't be scooping out with a personal monitor, if you had the choice. If you constantly rely on venue gear, the only way you can get consistancy is to bring a small cab/amp, or better yet, throw together an IEM system just for you to augement what they give you. You have to bring your own stuff for consistancy.
Wes
 

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