• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Pa guy insists on putting me into pa

#41
I'm not sure about the dinky PA, but the rest of the modern world plays through the PA. If you aren't happy with the direct sound he's getting, try miking the cab or get a decent DI. I use a Radial Bassbone. You can control the tone to both FOH and your amp.
 
#42
Why wouldn't you want to be in the FOH? Don't you want to the crowd to hear you at your best? I always looked at it like I have my mix on stage and the house does what they do best to get the entire band mix to work. You need the band as a whole to sound tight and mixed well for the people who are opening their wallet to see your band perform that is what they care about. If you think the guy and his lady in the front row really care about your scooped mids, or how much you sound like Steve Harris you need to go back to playing in your bedroom
 
#45
Why is everyone nowadays so obsessed with going through the PA? No one has asked the OP what type of music he plays. To me, it depends upon the size of the gig. If the venue is small to medium, and the drums are acoustic, then I believe the rest of the band should be staraight out from their own backline too, balancing themselves. Some of the best bands I've ever seen do it this way. I understand that this takes discipline, but that's why I only play with professional musicians and stay away from the "look how loud I am" brigade. If the gig is bigger (eg festivals) and the drums are through the PA then I agree the rest of the band should follow suit. To answer the OP's question - in your situation I would definitely play without PA support, as your bass signal will only add extra stress to the already small PA and cause the sound to muddy. Going direct is far better until such times that you are playing bigger gigs and have a better PA which can handle it.
 
#46
Good point 4String. I personally have never gone through the PA. Two reasons: 1, No band I've ever been in had a sub and going through the mains only was a fartfest. 2, Never played a place big enough to need one for more than vocals or maybe keys. None of the places we play actually have a stage. We're just stuffed into the corner of the restaurant/bar. Think 3 bay Jiffylube size restaurant/bar. And that would be a big place. So there's no such thing as "stage volume" and "FOH". We mix our own from the "stage". Usually the guitar player and I go out in the middle of the room and listen during the first song and make adjustments. So my Shuttle 9.0 and Berg NV215 are overkill. But I like that. Now if we played places that had a stage and a house system then I'd just bring a small combo rig and go through the PA. Sorry for the long winded answer just to agree with the OP and not go through the small PA in the situation he's described.
 
#47
I guess I never thought of it that way. Sure, there are gigs that are so small you don't need anything but vocals in the PA. The only time my band plays like that is rehearsal.
 
#49
Moe Monsarrat said:
I guess I never thought of it that way. Sure, there are gigs that are so small you don't need anything but vocals in the PA. The only time my band plays like that is rehearsal.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I failed to consider the size of the gig. If my band plays for 50 or more people, we have a full PA with subs and we mic as much as possible. Good FOH can improve the mix and make a band sound better, even on small systems.

But I have played very small rooms where only the vocals went through the PA.

Still, I can't condemn someone for at least making the effort. It's a good habit to form IME. When the instruments get loud, the first things to get buried are the un-mic'd kick and snare.
 
#54
You should definitely get routed into the main PA (assuming that the PA can handle it) and lower the level on stage. I'm not a fan of in-ear monitoring, so I'd still need something on stage so that I could hear what I'm doing and play off of the other musicians.
 
#55
Joe Louvar said:
That means the stage volume in to loud!!!

EDIT: When the amps overpower the drums - you need to turn them down!!!
Click to expand...

This is my philosophy.

We play clubs primarily, ranging from small to medium, and we do play outdoors occasionally. Yes, one speaker out to the crowd, one speaker as a monitor. I am glad I got some justification here, though your opinions are way too extreme. You guys would quit a band if the guitar player's cousin was screwin' with your landlord's daughter.
 
#58
Chaddycakes said:
This is my philosophy.

We play clubs primarily, ranging from small to medium, and we do play outdoors occasionally. Yes, one speaker out to the crowd, one speaker as a monitor. I am glad I got some justification here, though your opinions are way too extreme. You guys would quit a band if the guitar player's cousin was screwin' with your landlord's daughter.
Click to expand...

Yeah, given the limitations of your PA, I think you're right to go amp only.

OTOH, given the size venues you describe, I also think a bigger PA would be a good investment.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back