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direct out v. Microphone

#5
Mantis Tobaggan said:
my cab is an 810e and my amp is an svt-7. Often times, due to time and space constraints, the sound guy runs a direct line out of the amp. Other times, they mic the cab. I really cant hear what the audience hears, being on stage, and i have heard ppl advocate for both. Which is better, getting a direct line or have a mic placed up to one of the 10's?
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Search: Mic vs DI or something similar to that. It's an endless debate and there are no "correct" answers here. It really depends on what tone you want in the end. Best thing to do is to stand out in the audience area with a wireless unit and listen to the sound differences of both methods.
 
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#7
lazybfarm said:
I usually mic the cab if there is no sound guy, That way I can control what is heard in the PA, levels and tone . If there is an option to do both I like that flexibility, but if given a choice , I like the Mic. I use a wireless so its easy to know what the foh sound is.
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I have wireless too but usually no time to do that unfortunately.
 
#8
Look at it this way, the mic is intended to capture your rig's tone and the DI is used to capture your bass, and possibly your amp/pedals. A DI will be a more full-spectrum sound without stage noise - something a sound guy will usually prefer. A microphone is prone to pickup noise from the stage depending on the placement, proximity to other speakers and the pickup pattern of the mic itself. You MUST have a competent sound man for either application. Otherwise, it does not matter what you send to him, it's going to sound like crap/however he wants it to sound. A mic can have a fantastic end result tone - I have merely mentioned what CAN go wrong when using one.

Head to a Guitar Center/Samash and plug your bass into a DI, then straight into their display mixer with their PA speakers. Listen to your bass directly into the board and determine if that tone works for you. It's going to sound quite similar to that venue to venue. Make sure you are plugged into some sub woofers too.
 
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#9
Any type of cabinet emulating DI device - to be used either last before your physical amp head, or from the preamp (1/4") output of your amp head - sent to the PA can be a tidy way to bridge the gap between pure DI and mic'ing a cabinet. This topic is discussed a lot on the forum, and some players really like to dig in their heels with absolutes. Ideally, a mix of both mic and DI is the most common preference. As technology evolves, amp modeling and cabinet emulation present more options for a pure DI, to provide consistency, and/or when mic'ing a cab is not in the cards (for whatever reason).

Speaking personally, I've been exclusively using amp modeling and cabinet emulation and it just works for me. JMHO, YMMV, etc.
 
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#10
I usually prefer to mic the bass cabinet. If the said path is taken, I do suggest making an investment in one's own mic for this purpose, as the vocal mics that are usually available, at most venues, might not deliver the desired results.

In spite of my preference, in most actual situations, I use a DI instead of a mic.

Regardless, when PA support is needed (or even when it is not), I bring my own cab mic and DI to provide options.
 
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#11
As has been said, this is a subject that has been discussed time and time again. In short, neither way is necessary more right than the other (though I personally think a properly set up mic with a competent engineer at the board sounds superior to a DI). However, a DI with your rig is going to have extended lows and highs. The 810e, being a sealed cab lacking a tweeter, is going to have a more narrow frequency spectrum, which is really part of its magic.
 
#12
The answer is simple... If you are to the point where your speaker and cabinet and mic are an important part of your sound than you know that's the way you have to go. If you can't tell the difference go direct because it's is easier.

Personally, I only use certain speakers (regardless of the cabinet) and a certain mic. It's how I get 'my' sound so I will never go direct. But, it's a personal passion of mine and in the end makes me no better or worse then someone who goes direct.
 
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