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Live low end issues!

jacobrownoly

jacobrownoly

Jun 16, 2007
257
32
#1
Hello, just looking for some tips and tricks for getting a tighter more controlled low end sound when playing live in terms of bass and kick drum. We have 2x Mackie srm450's and 2x Mackie srm1801(subs) combined with various EQ and compression rack units.

I am in a 5 piece wedding band and on the whole the sound does sound pretty good but I still feel its a little muddy in places, I feel the bass and kick lack definition and the whole band sound like one sound rather that hearing the individual instruments (if that makes sense). I also believe that the keyboard clashes with alot of the band too as he has many different sounds (piano, brass, strings ect)

In terms of my bass rig, I run post EQ direct from my GK 1001 (mostly flat setting) into the mixer.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks
 
#4
A little frequency boost in the upper mids for the kik and bass can help as well. Bringing out a bit of the note attack helps. It gives it a sense of "the beat starts HERE" rather than just a low frequency drone that turns everything into mush.
 
#5
If you are separating your subs on opposite sides of the stage, which many of us do for visual reasons, you are introducing all sorts of low end anomalies into the room. Just Google "A Practical Guide to Bass Arrays - Void Acoustics." Check out the diagrams that show the results of splitting your subs on the bass response in the room. A real eye-opening education, and a good graphic representation of effects I have perceived, but have previously been unable to explain. I would go out into the room with a wireless bass, and would hear vastly different amounts of bass in different parts of the room, with some spots being over-boomy and others bass deficient. Now I know why. No more splitting up the subs for me!
 
#6
shastaband said:
If you are separating your subs on opposite sides of the stage, which many of us do for visual reasons, you are introducing all sorts of low end anomalies into the room. Just Google "A Practical Guide to Bass Arrays - Void Acoustics." Check out the diagrams that show the results of splitting your subs on the bass response in the room. A real eye-opening education, and a good graphic representation of effects I have perceived, but have previously been unable to explain. I would go out into the room with a wireless bass, and would hear vastly different amounts of bass in different parts of the room, with some spots being over-boomy and others bass deficient. Now I know why. No more splitting up the subs for me!
Click to expand...

+1

This is also why putting a bass rig on both sides of the drummer is a bad idea.
 
#7
Unless you're putting on a concert for hundreds, weddings are usually relatively low volume. Stage volume needs to be cut right down if you want to be clean and 'loud' in the FOH. For those grand affairs I use just 2x10 monitor, elevated or tilted back.

80hz in FOH is a bunfight between the kick, bass and keys. Keys can sod off, ie stop playing bass notes for the most part. If you want that thumping kick drum sound, clean it up by cutting a little of the bass guitar. A lot of soundguys will boost both down there, booming E string with no definition.
 
#8
Lots of good advice here. Compression can help. Separate the kick and bass by frequencies, if you can, ie don't boost the same bands on both. I've always run aux fed subs. That way, I only send kick, toms, and bass to the subs. It keeps a lot of stage noise and low mic rumble out of the mix.
 
#9
I have a free DBX 215 eq in my rack that never gets used, would it be maybe worth using one for the kick drum to really fine tune it. I use a 31 band on the mains really just for a HPF/LPF, would using this just cancel out the 15 band on the kick drum?

Many thanks
 
#10
funny it was mentioned about the subs being split. I had a sub go out once and didn't realize until my next show. I remember how well it had sounded and scratched my head. Next show try turning one sub off (yes use it as a dummy) and see if that works for you. Visually it is still there. ;)
 

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