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different tone/gain changing foh volume

B

bannerman

Aug 29, 2007
103
4
Portland
marlena.bandcamp.com
#1
I recently upgraded to an Ashdown tube preamp. It sounds awesome, but I like to play with the gain. I want one song to sound dirty, another song clean and punchy, etc... I play through a cheap PJ and really like P tone for some songs, growly J tone with some distortion for others. Just changing pickups effects my volume pretty radically. How are sound guys going to feel about that inconsistent level? Is this just a bad idea? I can just use a distortion pedal with a volume control to get distortion that doesn't change my volume, but it doesn't sound as good to me.
 
#3
unless the the focus of the show is on YOU, you should really try to keep your level-fluctuations in as few dB´s as you can... the engineer has other things to pay attention to (the vocals, f.ex.), and, in a pinch, might have to compress bass heavily to have your levels in check, or worse, turn you down...

many A/B-boxes have level controls in them...
 
#4
Can't you turn up the gain and turn down the master? Do you have a master control that affects the signal going out of the preamp to the FOH? If so, just hook up to your practice PA or whatever and get a dB meter. Figure out your settings so you know that if you turn the gain up by X you have to turn the master down by Y to keep the same dB level coming out of the PA.
 
#5
Jehos said:
Can't you turn up the gain and turn down the master? Do you have a master control that affects the signal going out of the preamp to the FOH? If so, just hook up to your practice PA or whatever and get a dB meter. Figure out your settings so you know that if you turn the gain up by X you have to turn the master down by Y to keep the same dB level coming out of the PA.
Click to expand...

I'm actually not sure if my master volume effects my DI level as well or not. At practice I just fix the volume as I go and it's not a problem. Thanks for the advice!
 
#6
bannerman said:
I'm actually not sure if my master volume effects my DI level as well or not. At practice I just fix the volume as I go and it's not a problem. Thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...
Easy way to test would be to plug into a board with meters, or even just run the preamp direct to a PA, without hooking up to a power amp (or plugging in speakers if the power amp is built-in) and see.

If not, you might consider something like this:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...no-Patch-Passive-Volume-Attenuator?sku=180226

You would run your DI into this, then the output from this to the PA. Maybe a little overkill, but it would definitely help you precisely adjust the output of your DI before it gets to the board. You'd turn it all the way up for your lowest gain setting, then turn it down as you turn up the gain.
 
#7
bannerman said:
I recently upgraded to an Ashdown tube preamp. It sounds awesome, but I like to play with the gain. I want one song to sound dirty, another song clean and punchy, etc... I play through a cheap PJ and really like P tone for some songs, growly J tone with some distortion for others. Just changing pickups effects my volume pretty radically. How are sound guys going to feel about that inconsistent level? Is this just a bad idea? I can just use a distortion pedal with a volume control to get distortion that doesn't change my volume, but it doesn't sound as good to me.
Click to expand...

I can easily imagine a soundtech equating erratic levels with erratic playing.

I'm with ya on playing with the gain, but I think it'll be a rare soundtech that will devote their limited time & attention to counteracting your level variations. The set list with your changes is a good idea, but I still think they'll compress you strongly AND keep your level low just in case.

What can you do to even out your levels? The metering tips are a good idea.

And that thing about changing pickups affecting your level a lot; get that fixed.
 
#8
Consider two separate lines.

I'm in the process (a long one, as my wallet won't allow it right now) of putting together sucha pedalboard.

Bass >>> Pitchblack tuner >>> Bassballs >>> Boss OC-3 (wet out) to Sansamp PBDDI

OC-3 (dry out) to an independent DI, that, bassballs sound aside, never changes in drive or FX. The FOH guy can feel like Miley Cyrus and Sammy Hagar and get the best of both worlds.
 

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