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The most useful live sound tip I know...

P

phatbass

Apr 25, 2006
1,715
30
Perth, WA, Australia
#1
Number one live sound tip - if you can hear yourself really well onstage,

YOU'RE TOO FREAKIN' LOUD!!!!!

(This applies especially to players of that smaller 6 stringed instrument I won't name...)

Also, if a particular instrument is getting drowned out, bring everything else down a little rather than turning that instrument up. Surprise, surprise - a good balanced mix magically happens.

As you may be able to tell I've been getting my ears hammered a bit recently by various idiot instrumentalists. I'm getting really ticked with hearing "Gotta get my TONE, man!" and variations thereof.

O.k.; gotta go change my pad...
 
#2
phatbass said:
Number one live sound tip - if you can hear yourself really well onstage,

YOU'RE TOO FREAKIN' LOUD!!!!!

(This applies especially to players of that smaller 6 stringed instrument I won't name...)

Also, if a particular instrument is getting drowned out, bring everything else down a little rather than turning that instrument up. Surprise, surprise - a good balanced mix magically happens.

As you may be able to tell I've been getting my ears hammered a bit recently by various idiot instrumentalists. I'm getting really ticked with hearing "Gotta get my TONE, man!" and variations thereof.

O.k.; gotta go change my pad...
Click to expand...

So..... how do I turn the trap kit down?? ;)
 
#4
I never go telling a drummer to play softer. There's no volume button on (acoustic) drum kits that I know of, like we other people in the band has on our amps. Saying he should play softer is to say he can't play like he is used to, with the result that the dynamics and energy in the playing suffers. If he's a mediocre player, even the timing might suffer from being forced to play with another touch. You don't tell a horn player to play quieter either... Best way for the drummer to play quieter is to use another drumkit and cymbals, or at least other drumsticks.

It's a different story that some drummers are louder than others. If you have severe problems with a too loud drummer, suggest another drumkit or even an electronic one.

I agree in full with the first sentences in the OP though.
 
#6
Just home from a sit in gig - everything on stage going through 3000 watt PA except my little GK 210 combo because it would blow the powers amps in the PA. Seemingly the two guitars (miked amps) and the drum kit were ok though. A friend told me that the bass in the mix was very good if you were 60 feet or farther away but inaudible any closer. I suppose the tip is - get your own sound as good as you can and accept the things you have no control over.
 
#7
If you are getting "boomy" low end feedback when the band plays together, but not when you play only through your rig, then the low end feedback is not caused by you!

I can't tell you how many times we've done a soundcheck and everything is fine and then during the course of the gig we get low end feedback (and I haven't turned up or adjusted my EQ) and simply because I play bass everyone assumes it's my fault.

9 times out of ten, it is not my fault. It is usually the guitar player not turning down after a lead and his rhythm chords are feeding back, or it's an acoustic guitar...and most of the time it is either one of the drummer's mic's feeding back (noise gate not properly set or even used), or it's a mic stand on the stage (which gives this feedback when the stand is tapped on, even without any other music playing.

Chances are it's not the bass players fault but someone adjusted or turned up the PA/monitors after sound check.

Don't let band members point the finger at you, the bass player, every time there is low end feedback...especially if your rig is fine at soundcheck. Don't believe me? If the low end is feeding back, try playing "air" bass or stop altogether when you are getting dirty looks from band members and put your hands to your side to show them it's not your rig causing it.

I've proved it time and time again. Now, when we have low end feedback the first place we check is the drummer's and vocal mic's and that almost always resolves it.
 
#8
I was in a group a few months ago: acoustic guitar, acoustic guitar/banjo, a vilolin/mandolin & me - electric bass.

Just about every night low end feedback ALWAYS came from one of the guitars.

I would always get the blame first, then the offending guitar player (who was the last to hear it) would make an adjustment and get on with it.

It was the same guy all the time too.
 
#9
Sundogue said:
If you are getting "boomy" low end feedback when the band plays together, but not when you play only through your rig, then the low end feedback is not caused by you!
Click to expand...

+1000. I have no idea why some people think bassists cause feedback onstage. The only time i've ever had feedback issues onstage was when I was playing my acoustic bass! I'd have to place my pickups about four inches from the speaker and crank my amp to 11 in order to induce feedback on any of my electric basses - not fun on the ears!
 
#10
liltommyg said:
Just home from a sit in gig - everything on stage going through 3000 watt PA except my little GK 210 combo because it would blow the powers amps in the PA. Seemingly the two guitars (miked amps) and the drum kit were ok though.
Click to expand...

I love sound guys who say things like that - "oh no, bass! Get it away! It'll hurt my precious PA system on its first excursion out of my bedroom! My Britney records will never sound the same again!!" :p

Peaky instruments like snare drums would be more harmful to PA power amps, and even then only if you've got SFA headroom and no output compressors or limiters.

Bassists don't kill power amps. Dumb sound guys kill power amps. ;)
 
#11
Nothing like playing air bass for several songs and no one noticing :scowl::bawl:

One day someone will invent a meter that you can set up in front of the band and it'll tell you *exactly* which instrument is the offender...... Guitarist complaining the bass is too loud? Check the meter....... Singer can't hear anymore? Check the meter....

Coming to terms with the fact that I'll never hear myself on stage if the FOH sound is good has been tricky..... Using a bass amp (not a tiltback) as a monitor is a PITA cause you're usually standing 4 feet away and the sound starts ohhhhhh 10 feet away LOL.

Oh..... one more thing to add......how come bass players seem to be the only ones wearing earplugs?! :)

I'm also a drummer......and it's not even close as loud behind the drums as it is in front of them. I can play drums without earplugs and be ok, but if I'm playing bass with a drummer I *have* to have earplugs. Stupid soundwaves :)
 
#12
nsmar4211 said:
Nothing like playing air bass for several songs and no one noticing :scowl::bawl:

One day someone will invent a meter that you can set up in front of the band and it'll tell you *exactly* which instrument is the offender...... Guitarist complaining the bass is too loud? Check the meter....... Singer can't hear anymore? Check the meter....

Coming to terms with the fact that I'll never hear myself on stage if the FOH sound is good has been tricky..... Using a bass amp (not a tiltback) as a monitor is a PITA cause you're usually standing 4 feet away and the sound starts ohhhhhh 10 feet away LOL.

Oh..... one more thing to add......how come bass players seem to be the only ones wearing earplugs?! :)

I'm also a drummer......and it's not even close as loud behind the drums as it is in front of them. I can play drums without earplugs and be ok, but if I'm playing bass with a drummer I *have* to have earplugs. Stupid soundwaves :)
Click to expand...

Oh people noticed I wasn't playing...except for the idiot who thought my "low end" was drowning everything out. :hmm:

I have never worn ear plugs (in over 30 years of playing), nor have I ever had a problem hearing...but I've always been on the drummer's hi-hat/snare side by myself, while the guitarists and others have been on the other side.

Funny thing is, any time I have ever gone over to "their" side of the stage, I can barely hear my bass, yet I'm causing all this low end problem? ;)
 

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