Monitors/PA/Voicing/DI HELP!!

[josh2slk]

Hello Good people,
I have a question or series of question about a live set-up.
First of all i have noticed that connecting directly to a PA (without a DI box) sounds horrible. but which of these options sound better:

-voicing a decent sized to huge cab
-playing directly out of a decent sized or huge rig set-up
-sending the bass signal through the xlr out (with or with out a DI box)

cheers

PS (I am almost a complete noob at live settings i have search other threads but no one seems to say which is better and suggest other options if there are any. any help will be much appreciated thank you)

 

[TinIndian]

Not sure what is better, but I'll tell you what I do. I run through the XLR on my amp and send the signal post EQ to the board because I want the voicing of my head to come thru the PA. I also have a 4x10 cab on stage with me, but it is set up in the front corner of the stage angled back across the stage. This keeps the bulk of my sound coming thru the mains and subs out front and makes it easier to mix. So they tell me anyway.

The fact is, setup this way I could probably get by with a decent combo rather than what I gig with currently, but I'm far to vain for that.

 

[josh2slk]

I run through the XLR on my amp and send the signal post EQ to the board because I want the voicing of my head to come thru the PA. I also have a 4x10 cab on stage with me

thanks for your input, if you run through the XLR to the board does that not mean all your sound goes through the board then PA how can you still connect a cab and use as a monitor this is my dilemma

cheers

 

[Jools4001]

thanks for your input, if you run through the XLR to the board does that not mean all your sound goes through the board then PA how can you still connect a cab and use as a monitor this is my dilemma

cheers

I think we need to clear up a misunderstanding about what XLR is being talked about here.

All amps have a speaker output (obviously) that you use to hook up to your cab(s). This is not typically an XLR connector, older amps usually have a 1/4" jack socket, newer amps have what is called a Speakon connector that eliminates the problems of using a 1/4" Jack. The speaker output produces a hefty enough signal to move a loudspeaker - which is huge in comparison to the input you would need to feed into a mixing board (please don't try this at home).

Most amplifiers worth their salt have a pre-amp output that can provide the desk with the sort of line level input it needs. These connectors are typically a 1/4" Jack (again) or more normally a male XLR which has 3 pins and usually some form of locking mechanism.

So, the XLR output is a completely different signal to the speaker output, and using the XLR output does not cut the speaker output of your amp therefore it is completely possible to run your cabs and provide a mixer feed at the same time

 

[Adam Harzuf]

in %99 of the cases, the bass sound is taken as it is directly from the bass (or effects, if there are any) with a DI directly to the mixer.

Please define "horrible".

Sorry TinIndian, I disagree.
As a sound engineer, I avoid taking the sound post EQ- the EQ is set for the specific amp, and I want to have full control of the sound as I see fit.

There are a few reasons your setup might sound bad:
The DI is bad, underpowered from the mixer (some must get 48v send on the line), bad XLR cable to the mixer, bad mains, bad system tuning or a bad sound engineer, and there a few more possible culprits.