Some questions from our outdoor jam

[Steve S]

I played at an outdoor jam yesterday and we experienced problems with the sound throughout the event. We had a large raised stage with the drummer located in the center on risers with the keyboard player on the far right, also on risers. The guitar players were on the far left and I as the bassist, was next to the drummer's left. The PA speakers were located at the back part of the stage with a couple of monitors in front.

We experienced feedback during the day, even when we turned off all microphones except for two. The keyboard player complained that he couldn't hear the guitar players and that his vocals sounded muffled. In the audience, the guitars were too loud, no matter who was playing them and the vocals were not loud enough.

What should we have done to help us?

We had a blues guitarist join us and set up on my left. When he went into his solo, neither I nor the keyboard player could hear the chords because the guitar player was on the far right on the other side of the drummer. Plus, none of us knew the songs except for the one guitar player.

 

[GassieBall]

Perhaps the PA speakers should have been in the very front of the stage closest to the audience. Your if your microphones/monitors were pointing back at the PA mains, you'd be in feedback city.

 

[modulusman]

Perhaps the PA speakers should have been in the very front of the stage closest to the audience. Your if your microphones/monitors were pointing back at the PA mains, you'd be in feedback city.

Exactly, Your PA should always be in front of your microphones.

 

[Steve S]

Thanks!

 

[Stumbo]

The PA speakers were located at the back part of the stage with a couple of monitors in front.

Plus, none of us knew the songs except for the one guitar player.

Not only were the mics feeding back into the mains, but the monitors probably were also.

If I may ask, whose idea was it to put the PA in back? Has your band gigged before? There is no PA in any venue that I've ever seen set up in back.

What happened during sound check? These problems would have presented themselves at that time?

Was anyone running the mixer during the gig?

Also, putting people on risers when you're not used to it can cause problems because you may not have the eye contact you usually have. Also, on a big stage, if you spread out to far, the same problems arise.

Lastly, don't play songs you don't know, even at practice. That should have all been worked out before and at least a couple of rehearsals with the blues guitarist needed to be held.

 

[JimmyM]

Not only were the mics feeding back into the mains, but the monitors probably were also.

If I may ask, whose idea was it to put the PA in back? Has your band gigged before? There is no PA in any venue that I've ever seen set up in back.

What happened during sound check? These problems would have presented themselves at that time?

Was anyone running the mixer during the gig?

Also, putting people on risers when you're not used to it can cause problems because you may not have the eye contact you usually have. Also, on a big stage, if you spread out to far, the same problems arise.

Lastly, don't play songs you don't know, even at practice. That should have all been worked out before and at least a couple of rehearsals with the blues guitarist needed to be held.

Rehearsing kind of takes the fun out of jamming

Otherwise, I agree with you.

 

[Steve S]

On the Friday before the jam, we constructed the stage and set everything up then ran through a sound check. The speakers were toward the front and everything sounded fine.

When I returned on Saturday, the whole set up had been rearranged with the PA speakers in the back. I wondered about that but felt that these guys knew what they were doing and with the jam beginning shortly, didn't say anything about it. This was the very first time that this group peformed in front of people although we've all been in different bands.

 

[Steve S]

The mixer was up on stage with the guitar player running it. We should have stopped until we fixed the problem.

 

[Stumbo]

The mixer was up on stage with the guitar player running it. We should have stopped until we fixed the problem.

What was the guitar playing through during sound check?
Maybe he couldn't hear himself that well and decided to put the PA Cabs in back so he could hear himself.

mmm....sounds weird to me....to change everything after a sound check. Whoever did that should be fired....IMO.

 

[Rathead123]

The mixer was up on stage with the guitar player running it. We should have stopped until we fixed the problem.

UUuum theres y'a problem!

 

[TimmyP]

Guitar cabinets spread the lows and low mids out all over, but the upper mids shoot out like a flashlight beam. So, the folks out front are killed with highs from the guitars, but the guitarists can't hear anything but rumble.

Most folks EQ the monitors so that their vocals sound "big & chesty". When the band starts playing, all you have is mud. EQ the monitors so the vocals are natural or even a bit thin.

Feedback is a story all its own.

 

[Rattman]

Well Steveo... sounds like you just survived a very good, though maybe somewhat painful 'learning experience'... Now you know what all the BIG pitfalls are and how to avoid them.. so not everything was a loss at the outdoor jam. It'll be a lot better the 2nd time around when you play this way.