Play through Cab vs DI for small Gigs

[Smooth Operator]

I'd like your opinions on playing through a Quality Amp and Cab vs DI to PA. Most of the gigs I play with my Party Cover Band are venues with House Sound and a Sound Engineer. Every other month or so we provide PA for small/medium gig. Our PA is of mediocre Quality, Class D Poweres 12s and 15" subs. I have always used the DI from my Mesa Subway amps to our PA, even though I have Good Cabs(Mesa Subway 1x15/2x10/2x12/2x15, Berg NV610 etc..). Im relatively new to gigging and wouls like your input on which you prefer in these situations. I bring a Cab regardless of gig size because I prefer to hear myseld out of my amp instead of a small 10" monitor, I wish this band switched to IEMs. Our next gig is a Independence Day party at a local Fire House and I'm considering just playing through my amp and cabs only.

 

[SteveC]

Last week for a singer/songwriter duo (one acoustic, 2 vocals into a small 10” PA) I used my Genzler MG350/12” combo AND my REDDI into the PA. The signal to the PA was just to give me some “presence” in the mix. My combo gave me a little beef. I think it always sounds better - regardless of size of band, gig or venue - to have everything coming from a universal source. This was outside at a farmers market kind of event.

 

[Geogio]

I plug in to the amp which is plugged into the DI the only purpose of amp really serves is as additional support up on the stage for both the audience to hear and a monitor for my use. It's a noisy. I have worked silent stages before and that was strictly DI/IEM and I actually kind of preferred it cuz you can get in and out of the gig quickly.

 

[SteveC]

Much prefer DI only, but this little 10” on sticks wasn’t going to put out any low end at all. That may have been ok for the gig, but my combo is lime26 pounds so….

 

[SoCal80s]

...I wish this band switched to IEMs.

There is no need for anyone else to be on IEM's. You can do it on your own and everyone else can stay on wedges if they want the torture. You can do it by getting an XLR splitter (or splitter snake) and a mixer. Put it all in one rolling rack for easy setup. Have the instruments you want in your mix plugged into your splitter, send one feed to the house snake and the other feed to your mixer and then out to your IEM transmitter. (You can do it with just one drum overhead, bass, one rhythm guitar, lead vocals, and your vocals.)

 

[4Mal]

I'm in the PA 100% of the time. Generally I take an aux feed from FOH to a power amp and bass cab as monitor. Once in a great while I'll take an amp, forgo the Aux feed but still send a DI to FOH.

Note that I am also often mixing from stage these days.

 

[MrLenny1]

Small gigs thru amp/cab.
Medium gigs amp/cab & thru PA.

 

[tshapiro]

Don't forget, an onstage amp is a great source of tactical feedback. I always use an onstage amp, 2 stacked or 1 on a stand for small gigs, always run an XLR from the amp to the FOH, and always use in ears. I will take one in ear out on occasion to 'hear' myself out front - usually the ear away from the drummer. Once I feel comfortable that everything is balanced, I put both in ears back in for protection and to hear the subtleties of my playing.

Keep in mind I play dance clubs. For a church gig, I would likely go with just a DI and in ears.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I prefer a mix. I can't really pick me out of the monitor mix, so I use a Fender Rumble 100 combo and feed the PA off the XLR jack. I use enough volume on the amp so I can hear myself. The drummer likes this setup. He says he can hear me better that way.

 

[Marko 1]

I've done ampless, never had a problem with it; I even remember thinking this might be the way to go... I guess I can go back and forth on the matter.

Right now I'm gigging with a stage rig and not through the PA (I'm patched in though, just in case), but if I encounter a reeeealy small stage, I can see me just leaving the rig in the trailer.

That said, I provide us with good 12" monitors that put out a nice bass.