EQ'ing

[alfredpunkjazz]

Hey guys, what's up.

I was wondering, how do you build your EQ on a gig? I mean, from the stage (specially when you don't have a PA support) it can become quite tricky. I like starting on flat and then start moving those wonderful knobs (on my lovely SVT.VR), then I ask the guitar player to start playing my bass, and I go all around the place listening and telling him what to bost and what to cut, but sometimes not even that it's ok... You know, when people gets to the gig things change... and they change quite a lot!

So, how do you do it guys?

With a PA support, things change brutaly, I like using a mic in my amp because the DI it's hissy, but sometimes it gets boomy, but it's somehow eassier to just worry about your direct sound.

 

[will33]

When setting your sound in a place where your rig is the only bass, you have to get as far in front of the band as your stuff will let you. (2 or 3 cords strung together, wireless etc.). Having someone else play your bass without the rest of the band playing won't tell you much, you have to hear it in the mix. In very general terms, if your rig sounds a little bass shy and a little mid-rangy for your tastes when you're standing next to the rig, it probably sounds pretty good out in the room. The main thing is to hear it mixed in with the whole band and go from there. Solo sound has nothing to do with ensemble sound.

 

[dave_bass5]

I got a cheap (but not had any problems with it) Radio system as 99% of our gigs are with only vocal PA. Its great to be able to wander around the room to check the mix at sound check. With my MB heads i tend to boost the low's ever so slightly and use the two filters to fine tune my sound. I tend to just run back and forth tweaking until its close to what i want. If im not cutting through enough i usually use the low mid control. on my LMII its at a fixed freq but on my SA450 i set it around 100hz and that thickens it up nicely

 

[smo]

'fraid it's very simple for me.
I start with my default EQ setting (i.e. rehearsal space) and then let the boom do the talking from there...........I use ported 15's only )
Then, if I need to, reduce the bass a little - but usually I'll boost it due to the size of the room.

 

[bgavin]

I use a Rane ME30B in my rack to EQ the speaker system to Flat when outdoors. This is a Set and Forget thing for the most part. The preamp tone controls provide whatever else I need, which is usually none.

If I were playing a quiet, intimate gig such as a jazz thing, I'd bring the analyzer and EQ my rig to the house at the audience position. This is time consuming and unnecessary except when the bass is a featured instrument.

 

[Cristo]

In very general terms, if your rig sounds a little bass shy and a little mid-rangy for your tastes when you're standing next to the rig, it probably sounds pretty good out in the room. The main thing is to hear it mixed in with the whole band and go from there. Solo sound has nothing to do with ensemble sound.

Very well put. If it sounds good on its own, it will likely sound bad with the band.

 

[dave_bass5]

I find with my 1210 cab that is very middy on stage and sometimes its a bit too much but when i go out front i find the mids are less prominent and the lows bloom a bit and it sits nice in the mix.
I never EQ for what im hearing if im standing close by.