Double Bass DPA 4099B/AI CONTRA

[BYRDMAN]

whats up everyone,
would like some feedback on this set up.considering buying the
dpa 4099b,ready to check out the world of "bass mic".have had my contra for a while with no issues.

 

[Steve Freides]

whats up everyone,
would like some feedback on this set up.considering buying the
dpa 4099b,ready to check out the world of "bass mic".have had my contra for a while with no issues.

I have yet to purchase a 4099 although it's on my short list - nothing not to like about your proposed setup that I can think of.

-S-

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Before springing for the DPA, why don't you try any old mic with your contra and find out if you get something you like with it, unless you already have, of course. IME, mic through PA=usable, mic through bass amp, not so much.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

In my experience, mics and mixing with mics tends to work best when the mic can't "see" the speaker cab and vice versa (I have several articles about mixing mic and pickups for bass amplification [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] if you're interested). My guess is that the contra, designed to emit a more omnidirectional ambient sound, would be a feedback nightmare with the DPA, but that's just a hunch.

 

[al808]

Hi BYRDMAN,

I have a contra and a DPA, and have found that combination to be rather prone to feedback, even at lowish levels.
I had a lot more satisfaction using an el cheapo Behringer active speaker ( the euro live b208), on a stand at ear level.
I don't bother with the DPA for gigs anymore( it would also pickup the drums and crowd noise in a noisy restaurant-great for recording though), after discovering the Ehrlund pickup, my preferred option at this stage.

Best of luck, Al.

 

[Adam Booker]

Well I guess I'm lucky. DPA through my AI 10-2 is a dream, Loud gigs I run the line out no problem, but for the average quartet gig, this set up kills. And the 10-2 is more directional than the contra. I use the -10Db pad in the mic channel though. When (and rarely) I mix in a pick up, it's just for the bare minimum required to tighten up the low end. YMMV

 

[Ric Vice]

whats up everyone,
would like some feedback on this set up.considering buying the
dpa 4099b,ready to check out the world of "bass mic".have had my contra for a while with no issues.

Byrdman,
The DPA 4099 excellent off axis rejection and sounds great, but I've never had much success using it with an amplifier. It's strength is using it for a FOH mic. Most of the TB members using it as their primary source, are playing it into a QSC K10, that's often pole mounted, just like a PA. That's seems to work best for the mic. I tried it into my Walter Woods amps using a VL 208 and it didn't have a lot of useable volume before it feed back.

Ric

 

[jcrowe]

I use the DPA mic through a AI Focus and into a Bergantino 12 on stage; send the AI DI to FOH and it works great. I have more than enough level on stage and that is even with a full (loud!) big band. I do play a very loud Bass and having a big sound coming off the Bass is a "must have" IMO if you want to use this approach in a live playing situation.

 

[jcrowe]

In an earlier post Chris makes a good point about the mic not being able to "see" the speaker. I always have the bass and the speaker at an angle from each other and that works well.

 

[BYRDMAN]

thanks everyone for response to this set up.DPA sent me a loaner for a week to check out and as most of you said the gain before feedback is minimal.thanks for the advice.
byrdman