Plugging into PA system for me, the noobie

[newbassdude]

So I've been playing bass for my church for about six months now. I purchased an Acoustic B20 Amp which is very convenient for travel and can get pretty loud despite its size. However, no matter how big or small the amp is, we've been having problems. Like its either to loud so every one around us ONLY hears the bass, or to quiet so only I can hear it. Its just hard to adjust so the entire church can hear it. So i've been talking with the guy in charge about plugging all the guitars right into the PA system. Seems easy enough.

Alas, (like my name says) I'm pretty new to this stuff. I've been playing piano for nearly thirteen years but i've never had to deal with live sound or anything.

We've already put down the idea of mic'ing it, so we're set on directly connecting. Now, my Acoustic B20 amp does not have a line out, but it has a small headphones slot. I was reading elsewhere that you can use a headphones slot instead of a line out.

But thats pretty much where I am at the moment. I don't even know what I'm plugging into the headphones slot or where that cord will go into on the other end.


TL : DR

• Will the Acoustic B20 work to go from Bass => Amp => Pa system?

• If not, what can i get (other than buying the bigger B100 model) that will let me go from Bass ==> [ ] ==> PA


I know the nice people of TB will look at a noobie without to much facepalm'ing

~thanks, Jon

 

[modulusman]

Well it might work but if you use the headphone out does it mute the speaker? Your best bet would be to get a DI box IMO.

 

[newbassdude]

do you have any specific ones to recommend? passive?active?

 

[Bardley]

Active would be better, but they are more expensive. If budget will not allow that, you can get by fine with a passive DI. With that amp, you will probably want to plug straight into the DI and then take the parallel out of the DI to the amp for your personal monitoring. They amp will not effect the send to the PA in that setup.

 

[Staccato]

Sansamp. Visit the TB Classifieds for a pre-owned one! I've got Ver. 1 of this one. The link shows Ver. 2.

There's different versions, and some DO NOT have the DI function built-in.

 

[newbassdude]

Hmmm..


Okay, lets see if im getting any of this

I could get a setup to go something like this:

Bass ==> Invalid Link Removed ==> mixer with all our guitars in it ==> big PA system mixer ==> speakers


thanks for all the help so far, by the way

 

[Bardley]

Hmmm..


Okay, lets see if im getting any of this

I could get a setup to go something like this:

Bass ==> Invalid Link Removed ==> mixer with all our guitars in it ==> big PA system mixer ==> speakers


thanks for all the help so far, by the way

Yes, but you don't want the multi-media DI like you linked to. Just a regular DI. Pretty much any box that will convert an instrument level 1/4" input (from your bass) to a line or mic level balanced XLR output (to PA mixer) will work. You can also look into the bass preamp pedals, such as the Sansamp already mentioned, or the aguilar tone hammer, sadowsky DI, etc in order to have a bit more control of your sound.

 

[newbassdude]

okay, so lets try again

would this one work?:

Bass => http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...AWELAID=26039607&CJAID=10451188&CJPID=3353204 => mixer with all guitars => big pa mixer console => speakers in church ?

and with this convenient little box i wouldn't have to haul my amp to church and practices every week?

 

[Bardley]

okay, so lets try again

would this one work?:

Bass => http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...AWELAID=26039607&CJAID=10451188&CJPID=3353204 => mixer with all guitars => big pa mixer console => speakers in church ?

and with this convenient little box i wouldn't have to haul my amp to church and practices every week?

That would work fine. Just make sure you have adequate monitoring available or you will probably still want your amp to hear yourself.

 

[newbassdude]

you will probably still want your amp to hear yourself

Wont I be able to hear myself over the speaker system? or just so i can hear myself better

 

[WayneP]

Basically, a direct box has two 1/4" jacks and a single XLR. You plug your bass into one of the 1/4" jacks, and from the other you send a cable to your bass amp. The XLR goes to the PA system.

So basically, all a direct box does is connect between your bass and amp, and taps off a signal (from your bass) for the PA. Make sense?

The Behringer DI100 is a nice active direct box you can get for under $60.

Wont I be able to hear myself over the speaker system? or just so i can hear myself better

Not necessarily. Typically when you’re fed into the PA system, they give you a signal through one of the stage monitors.

But what you could do, that would probably be better, is use your Acoustic B20 for your monitor. Since it’s no longer needed to cover the auditorium, you can put it out in front of you, turned around and tilted back, aimed at your head – i.e., the same as a stage vocal monitor. You’ll be able to hear it much better that way compared to how you’ve been using it - behind you and aimed at your ankles. And you’ll be able to run it at lower volumes than before, which will make the soundman happy.

Speaking of, I’m surprised your soundman has never heard of a direct box. I take it he’s a noob, too?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt




Pedulla Club #45

 

[newbassdude]

well i don't really have a "sound guy." we really just use amps to get our sound across, but like i said, the amps can't be perfect due to location. It was just at the last practice that i wondered if we could plug our guitars into the same system that the church microphones went through, which started this whole thing. i dont think the head of the choir guitar group is a noob, just me hehe

"So basically, all a direct box does is connect between your bass and amp, and taps off a signal (from your bass) for the PA. Make sense?"

but is the amp needed?

 

[tobie]

Who controls the "system that the church microphones went through"? The chior leader? If so, where is his/her PA situated?

Your DI's signal to the PA is a little more than a 'tap-off'. It converts the signal to low impedance and from unbalanced to balanced.

If you manage to tap into the "chior's system", you'll still need your amp as a personal monitor. It serves an additional purpose: most band members like to hear the bass on-stage for various reasons and it's unlikely that the "chior's system" will do. So your amp will also serve as a monitor for them.

It sounds like you'll need a 'spy' in the pews to indicate to you whether your instrument volumes are acceptable - specially the bass volume coming from your amp.

 

[JimmyM]

but is the amp needed?

well you do want to hear yourself, and the others might want to hear you, too.

 

[JJreese]

i don't think he really understands whats going on.

print out a picture of the Sansamp and show it to the head of your choir thing, see if thats what he wants

 

[thebasssponge]

Invalid Link Removed

this is what I use at our church for various instruments

use your amp as your monitor and have the volume set so that you can hear it but its not overwhelming to everyone on stage

Hook Up As Such ...................
Bass to Input on DI Box
2 Outputs on DI:
1 - XLR (mic cable) Output to Mixing Board
1 - 1/4" Output to Bass Amp

make sure ground lift is on or you will hear an annoying hum

works like a charm

 

[newbassdude]

Invalid Link Removed

this is what I use at our church for various instruments

use your amp as your monitor and have the volume set so that you can hear it but its not overwhelming to everyone on stage

Hook Up As Such ...................
Bass to Input on DI Box
2 Outputs on DI:
1 - XLR (mic cable) Output to Mixing Board
1 - 1/4" Output to Bass Amp

make sure ground lift is on or you will hear an annoying hum

works like a charm

see this is what i was looking for

thanks so much, and thanks to everyone else for putting up with my questions hehe

 

[M0ses]

I hate to sound like a snob, but I have to recommend staying away from Behringer stuff, it really is more unreliable than any other brand I know of. I also would stay away from Nady, their products have always come of as cheap and low-quality to me. At least, their cheaper lines, which is what I have experience with. Obviously the Sansamp is the best choice for a beginner, if you have the money. Many people will find a DI that they prefer, but since it's so popular it's a great choice for someone who doesn't yet know what they want. Those Radials are good quality, too, but it's worth the extra $50 for a sansamp, you won't regret that. Frankly, though, I'm surprised your PA setup doesn't already have something you can use, and that they didn't come running to you with it before you even got hooked up to the amp

 

[newbassdude]

Frankly, though, I'm surprised your PA setup doesn't already have something you can use, and that they didn't come running to you with it before you even got hooked up to the amp

Heh, the church usually just has an organist who plays the masses, the contemporary group is "semi-new" (new being maybe two years old, one year of which was just a piano)

 

[thebasssponge]

I hate to sound like a snob, but I have to recommend staying away from Behringer stuff, it really is more unreliable than any other brand I know of. I also would stay away from Nady, their products have always come of as cheap and low-quality to me. At least, their cheaper lines, which is what I have experience with. Obviously the Sansamp is the best choice for a beginner, if you have the money. Many people will find a DI that they prefer, but since it's so popular it's a great choice for someone who doesn't yet know what they want. Those Radials are good quality, too, but it's worth the extra $50 for a sansamp, you won't regret that. Frankly, though, I'm surprised your PA setup doesn't already have something you can use, and that they didn't come running to you with it before you even got hooked up to the amp

while I have heard of issues and all the stories about Behringer, I can only speak from my experience and say that I bought these cause they were economical and I do not use them alot but they have never failed to work properly for me.