Live Volume

[Purj]

When I play live, I usually go through an amp as a monitor, and from the amp to the PA. So I was wondering, how can I tell if I'm loud enough through the PA? Like, I turn up the amp until it sounds good on stage, but does that effect the PA's volume? I also go through a pedal before I go into the amp, and I use the pedal to adjust sound, I know it adjusts it through the amp, but again, does it actually effect the PA?

 

[Jehos]

If the pedal is before the amp, it will probably affect the PA volume. Turning up your amp using the Master knob probably won't. The sound guy controls the volume of the PA.

 

[Purj]

Ok, yeah that makes sense, the pedal is like turning down the volume knob I guess

But the other day I played at a new place and they had a head/cab combo for a monitor, and it had a volume knob, but next to the output to the PA, there was another knob with dB's on it, and it didn't affect the cab volume, would this be a control for the PA volume?

 

[Jehos]

Yes. If there's a knob next to the XLR jack in the back of the amp (or front if that's where it is) it probably controls the gain for the DI.

Let the sound guy set that, don't screw with it unless you know what you're doing. It's unlikely, but it's possible that you crank the DI while he's got the gain cranked on his board and something lets out the magic smoke (i.e. fries itself).

Every amp is different though in terms of how the gain structure works. Almost all DI's are post-gain, some are pre-eq, some are post-eq, pre-effects/post-effects, etc. It's best to work off the assumption that any tweak *except* master volume will go out the DI, so don't twiddle too many knobs while you're playing or you'll just annoy the sound guy. Try to get it right in sound check.

 

[Purj]

Ohhh, ok thanks, thats great advice, haha. I'm not used to going through a PA, I used to just go through an amp. I find it hard to trust sound guys, they never put the bass loud enough xD Thanks!

 

[Vanillabass36]

What up, Purj? Perhaps you should qualify your mistrust of sound guys by working with a few more, or maybe spending some time with one beforehand to let him know what your band would like to sound like. You may find that your engineer is ALSO a bassist!

 

[slipkyes]

How do you know you´re loud enough through the PA? That´s the sound guy´s job, not yours

 

[mcapote]

I have a friend in the audience that listens to the sound and lets me know what is lacking or overpowering. tends to get everything dialed in nice by the end of the first song.

 

[stflbn]

Wireless Unit. Hear it for yourself.

Only 100% solution.



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[JohnMCA72]

How do you know you´re loud enough through the PA? That´s the sound guy´s job, not yours

Honestly, it's best to learn to relax & let other people do their jobs. That make it that much easier for you to do yours! There's no way in the world, from the stage, that you can tell how things sound out in the house. That's why the sound engineer is stationed where he is.