Playing thru a PA system

[thedonald]

What is the purpose for a DI box? Do you need to have a amp to power the sound OR will a DI box work as the amp in a setting where a good PA system is utilized?[/B]

 

[Gearhead17]

The DI box sends a signal to the sound man for him to put in the PA. Without going too technical, the DI box allows you to send a bass signal (or any other signal) to the sound man several 100' without the signal degrading.

Typical setup - you send the signal of your bass guitar ONLY into the DI box and it goes straight to the sound guy. The sound guy takes the sound of your bass and it fits it into the mix. By doing this, the sound man has more control on your tone, no chance for microphone bleeding, and you typically get the most low end out of a Direct signal.

There are direct outputs on the back of most bass combo amps and bass amp heads. These are essentially the exact same thing as a DI box. However, you can send the signal from the bass amp head (usually labeled Post-EQ) to the sound man to give him the tone you are using on stage. Or, you can the bass head to say (Pre-EQ) and just give the sound of whatever you plugged straight into the bass head.

A DI box is generally a fail-safe tool. If the bass amp dies during the show, the DI box will still give the signal to the sound man. Some bass heads do not have good output signals on the back of the heads, therefore a good DI box is a must.

 

[thedonald]

Thanks....I believe that I have the answer now....

My thinking was along the lines of a small bar (no PA) where the bass rig amp would be the "main" power....

In a larger club (with PA) - the club's sound man will take your signal and then manage that signal - but will protect the club's PA investment; with that PA investment being suitable or not suitable for your band's sound quality

You need to have the DI in case they only accept that signal for their PA and you also need to have your rig in case it being a necessity of: no PA, a bad PA or being able to hear yourself with a stage monitor essentially.....

QUESTIONS:
SO in an effort of having a balance of "being ready" for the unexpected it is best to have a 4X10 cabinet minimum as the speaker or stage monitor.....????

Now - will the club with the PA - allow you to use the 4X10 as a stage monitor and allow it to be used simutaneously with their PA....? with the volume of that stage monitor being dictated by the sound man so that only the band hears that 4X10....????

Thanks....Don

 

[Gearhead17]

Thanks....I believe that I have the answer now....

My thinking was along the lines of a small bar (no PA) where the bass rig amp would be the "main" power....

In a larger club (with PA) - the club's sound man will take your signal and then manage that signal - but will protect the club's PA investment; with that PA investment being suitable or not suitable for your band's sound quality

You need to have the DI in case they only accept that signal for their PA and you also need to have your rig in case it being a necessity of: no PA, a bad PA or being able to hear yourself with a stage monitor essentially.....

QUESTIONS:
SO in an effort of having a balance of "being ready" for the unexpected it is best to have a 4X10 cabinet minimum as the speaker or stage monitor.....????

It's a toss up on this one. On some stages you will need a 410 to hear yourself well and/or to get the tone you want. For a stage monitor, you can get away with a 210 if you are not boosting the low end like a mad man. Better to bring more than less, you can always turn down and/or decrease the low end.

Now - will the club with the PA - allow you to use the 4X10 as a stage monitor and allow it to be used simutaneously with their PA....? with the volume of that stage monitor being dictated by the sound man so that only the band hears that 4X10....????

It can go either way. Typically, the sound man wants you to hear your self through your rig, but not to hear your rig too clearly out in the audience or at his sound board. The less he hears from your bass cab, the louder you will be in the PA. He will also have more control of your sound.

On the other hand, I have played shows where I was encouraged to turn my rig WAYYY UP so I can fill the room more while he somehow adjusted the PA to work with my current bass tone. I am not 100% sure what he did, but many friends of mine said I sounded really good.

Be over-prepared and flexible at the gig and life will be good.