My only real question is, "Why would you give control of your blend to someone that doesn't even know what you're "supposed" to sound like?" Unless you are referring to your band's dedicated touring soundperson and they know exactly what the band's sound and mix should be. If that's the case, disregard my question =)
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Is this a good live setup? Would this make a soundman happy?
- Thread starter Bimlen
- Start date
Will you be working with the same sound guy the whole tour? If yes then tell him you would prefer to use a blend of your two DI's but leave it up to him. If no and you'll be meeting a new sound guy at every show, I'd stick to one DI that most closely produces the sound you want. Why not do the dry-to-dirt signal blending BEFORE your DI out?
Edit: Most sound guys will only want one DI signal, and you'll even meet some who will insist on using their own DI box anyway. I think you'll make more enemies than friends when you meet new sound guy and tell them you want them to blend two bass DI signals.
Edit: Most sound guys will only want one DI signal, and you'll even meet some who will insist on using their own DI box anyway. I think you'll make more enemies than friends when you meet new sound guy and tell them you want them to blend two bass DI signals.
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I would tell you how cool it was and just use the clean. I'm the least pro sound guy on here, though.
It depends entirely on context. For that gig where you know the soundman, he loves your playing and your band, knows what you're going for on blending/favoring clean and dirty signals, and maybe even you're paying him, then absolutely go for both inputs to the FOH board.
In all other cases I would mix the sound the way you want it, with as little EQ as possible, and give the sound engineer one feed. Most guys don't want options, they want ease. Especially if they're doing 4 or 6 different bands tonight, the last thing the guy wants to do is fiddle with the bass mix between two sends. He'll just use one send and move on to the vocals.
In all other cases I would mix the sound the way you want it, with as little EQ as possible, and give the sound engineer one feed. Most guys don't want options, they want ease. Especially if they're doing 4 or 6 different bands tonight, the last thing the guy wants to do is fiddle with the bass mix between two sends. He'll just use one send and move on to the vocals.
I dunno, this seems like an entirely professional answer to me.
Your concept works with your own sound guy and probably won't happen otherwise, as previously stated. I'd just blend the two at the board to your tastes and send a single line to the sound guy.
A great pedal for mixing clean and dirty sounds is the Two Notes Le Bass. And it has a built in DI.
A great pedal for mixing clean and dirty sounds is the Two Notes Le Bass. And it has a built in DI.
I guess I didnt read close enough. I have a question
Are you an opening act or is this your own tour?
Are you an opening act or is this your own tour?
Here's what you really wanted in posting this..." My My what awesome pedals you have!!" Am I jealous - Yes. I wanted to waste $350-$400 on a awesome DI but I just couldn't justify that much cash just to send a dry signal..$80 used DI in fair condition is more up my alley now. Impressing the 10 drunks at the gig is priceless ( I guess)..
That's the reality of it.
OP is talking about doing something that works great in the studio, but if they're using a different sound person every night it might go off as intended 1 out of 10 shows.
If the mix of clean and drive is important to him he should do it himself and send one signal to the board.
The more I think of it the better way is to ask the sound person: "I can give you clean and dirt DI signals separately to mix or a blended signal. Which do you prefer?". Switching between the two should only involve one end of two different patch cables.
I would give them the clean.
But I'm from a time when even aggressive music didn't over drive the bass.
I like to actually hear notes, and so does everyone else except the guy who recently bought an expensive bass distortion pedal.
The chances of having you take up two faders on the mixer is low.
But I'm from a time when even aggressive music didn't over drive the bass.
I like to actually hear notes, and so does everyone else except the guy who recently bought an expensive bass distortion pedal.
The chances of having you take up two faders on the mixer is low.
Thanks for the input guys. Really cleared up some things i've been wondering.
I'll just go for the Darkglass DI blended 50/50 dirt and clean. Thanks again!
I'll just go for the Darkglass DI blended 50/50 dirt and clean. Thanks again!
I may be an exception on this. I personally try to get the bass players sound to come through for better or worse. If you use effects I want a send with effects. If the effects don't translate in the house then that's on you.
That is for a band that I'm working with in a casual one off situation. The kind of gig where I don't know your band or set, probably a rushed sound check. If it's a band that I work with regularly, or I have ample time to sound check, then we do whatever we feel will work.
Really though it doesn't hurt to have options and you can let the engineer decide.
If you have a tour sound guy, plan it with him and run two signals. If you are going with whomever the house or festival sound guy is, blend it yourself and send him one signal.
As a sound guy, this is my advice.
As a sound guy, this is my advice.
The soundguys I know and work with will have a single XLR cable on stage for the bass. When they read a tech rider, they just look for how many people instruments there are, how many power sockets are needed where. Guitars get mics, bass and keys get DIs. I know soundguys that will put a mic on your cab if you insist, and blend it with the DI signal. The blend will be 0/100.
If you insist on using your own DI instead of theirs, make sure you provide a pristine signal straight away. They will do a line check and match the gain. If your DI is extremely hot or does not pump enough juice, they will insist on their own or be fed up with you already.
If you use an OD on some songs/parts play it during soundcheck. If you want a blend, provide it yourself.
There may be one in ten guys who will do what you imagine, while the 9 others will just use one signal, most likely the clean one.
If you insist on using your own DI instead of theirs, make sure you provide a pristine signal straight away. They will do a line check and match the gain. If your DI is extremely hot or does not pump enough juice, they will insist on their own or be fed up with you already.
If you use an OD on some songs/parts play it during soundcheck. If you want a blend, provide it yourself.
There may be one in ten guys who will do what you imagine, while the 9 others will just use one signal, most likely the clean one.
As usual, with a few of these comments....
The idea of blending your tone and sending that one line to the PA is the best one. Unless you are touring with a soundguy and have worked with him on the blend in rehearsals, and when and it is and when it's not needed, it's a complete and total crapshoot that you'll get the blend you are looking for.
Work out that blend and send that to the PA. If you are using Kombat PA, the soundly (the good ones, anyway) that's mixing your band for the first and maybe only time will have enough to figure out.
When I was mixing, I liked to take two bass lines, one DI (either a decent amp XLR out or a good DI that's AFTER all of your pedals and effects. Read that again.) as well as a mic on the cabinet. If this idea is appealing to you, you should put this on your technical rider and input list that you send out to the PA companies.
The idea of blending your tone and sending that one line to the PA is the best one. Unless you are touring with a soundguy and have worked with him on the blend in rehearsals, and when and it is and when it's not needed, it's a complete and total crapshoot that you'll get the blend you are looking for.
Work out that blend and send that to the PA. If you are using Kombat PA, the soundly (the good ones, anyway) that's mixing your band for the first and maybe only time will have enough to figure out.
When I was mixing, I liked to take two bass lines, one DI (either a decent amp XLR out or a good DI that's AFTER all of your pedals and effects. Read that again.) as well as a mic on the cabinet. If this idea is appealing to you, you should put this on your technical rider and input list that you send out to the PA companies.
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