To Mic or Not to Mic...That is the Question!!!

[morgansterne]

if it's a benefit, ask another band to share the bill with you. A band with a nicer PA. I just played a benefit show on august 17th, but it was at a nice bar with its own soundsystem. I might be scrooge but I wouldn't play a benefit where I had to lug in and set up my own PA.

 

[taurus1]

some gigs just "are what they are".
sounds like a tiny PA and I can't blame him for not wanting bass and drums through it.
just enjoy it for what it is.

 

[Hevy T]

some gigs just "are what they are".
sounds like a tiny PA and I can't blame him for not wanting bass and drums through it.
just enjoy it for what it is.

I can't either and I am the one that started this mess.

My main thought was if I rented out another amp and ran in stereo through my B3 would that help, I think it would, but I dunno!

 

[BAce]

And keep in mind that if you do decide to run your bass through any PA, IMO a DI is better than a mic. Every mic you add to a stage increases the chance of feedback. DI's don't feedback.
But for the gig you describe, I'd just run what you brung--acoustic drums, vocals through the PA and the guitar amps and bass amp providing all the sound. Play to the volume you can get out of the vocals--and this includes getting a heavy handed drummer to settle down a bit if necessary.

 

[JimmyM]

DI's are great, unless you don't like DI's. I like a couple, but most I don't. I've found feedback to be pretty much a non-issue with micing amps, though. While in theory it's true that open mics can create feedback, the amps are usually far enough back and facing the opposite way of any monitors that as long as you give it a decent enough signal, it shouldn't feedback. Totally agree about playing what they've got and playing to the vocals, though. If they had to cover thousands, maybe I'd say bring more stuff, but they should be fine for what they're doing.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

If I'm not going direct, sometimes I will just bring an extension cabinet and put it up front next to one of the PA speakers, or under it, to get the bass out front a little. Or place it wherever it would work the best. Be sure you adhere to the load specs of your amp when adding extension cabinets.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I just wish he would upgrade to the point where we all could go through the board, even for a small gig.

He?

Why he?

Why not the band?

While I do agree that there's usually only one or two enlightened enough band members to actually care about the PA, caring about the best possible distribution of the very product You're trying to sell should be everyones goal.

An upgrade every time You can afford isn't too far fetched an idea, and actually that's what every budding band I ever been in or worked with have done.

I am just trying to determine the limits of my amp so I know that I can be heard in this outdoor thing we are doing next week.

It's not up to You to determine that, it's the drummer or the guitarist(s) who sets that limit.

Hi,

If I'm not going direct, sometimes I will just bring an extension cabinet and put it up front next to one of the PA speakers, or under it, to get the bass out front a little. Or place it wherever it would work the best. Be sure you adhere to the load specs of your amp when adding extension cabinets.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

If a (semi)decent low end sound coverage out front is a goal, low end cabs should not be dispersed, but rather clustered.
That applies for both PA and MI cabs.

Regards
Sam

 

[JimmyM]

Hi.

He?

Why he?

Why not the band?

Because when the band splits up, then splitting up the PA can get ugly.

 

[BawanaRik]

I wouldn't spend a cent. I'd use what you have and insist that the band play down to your volume capabilities. If not, take your amp and throw it at the guitarist for being a douche.

This, while no being the most friendly advice , does make a point.

I'll take it a step further, does the guitarist want help carrying the PA? And extra cut?

But then to be a realist what kind of PA is it? If it's one of those Fender Porta PAs it's not going to much for you anyhow.

Keeping the volume in line with the gear that everyone has just makes sense. All it takes is one Marshal stack getting his tone at 126 dB to wreck that.

Sit on top of your amp if need be. Do not go blowing up your speakers just to try to keep with a power crazed watt head.

If you can train them that's good. Show them articles about Jimmy Page getting his Les Paul through a Marshall tone using a Tele and a Supro. And let them know that Clapton's amp of choice is a Champ.

And if you can learn them to think that a band isn't a race or a competition to see who's the loudest you would be doing a public service.

Renting another amp would make next to no difference. Unless you went large expensive and heavy.

Then you'd be better off hitting the used market to upgrade.

But the fact is that amp is loud enough for anyone with any connection to reality. If they push you to upgrade your amp push them to upgrade the PA.

 

[FretNoMore]

Because when the band splits up, then splitting up the PA can get ugly.

Which is why every piece of our PA is owned by me ... others have offered to use band money for upgrades but I haven't let anyone chip in. I don't want any discussions about who owns what if we for some reason don't play together in the future.

Anyway, I think I'll join the ranks of those who say "just use what you have now" and keep the volume at levels whre you can still keep a balance between instruments and vocals. If it's a smallish non paying gig, use it to gain some more experience so you can make better choices when buying or renting for future gigs.

 

[sharkbait130]

Without subs , you probably don't want to be miking drums or bass as it will push most regular PA speakers a bit harder than they are designed for. That being said , just get a good sound mix and don't worry about the outdoor part of it. You will sound fine and if its not loud enough 100 yards away , they will just have to come in a little closer. (I don't think anyone will mind that) Have fun and try not to sweat too much lol.

 

[karl_em_all]

I wouldn't spend a cent. I'd use what you have and insist that the band play down to your volume capabilities. If not, take your amp and throw it at the guitarist for being a douche.

What Jimmy said. With a grain of salt on that last bit

 

[JimmyM]

I kind of thought that grain of salt was a given. But I guess we'll see if the lawsuits start flying in.

 

[georgestrings]

You don't have enough PA to play outdoors.

Agreed - also, depending on the type of music he's playing, he might not have enough bass rig to begin with...


- georgestrings

 

[Munjibunga]

At my gig on Sunday, I ran direct to the PA as I always do (JBL PRX612Ms, no sub), but took a small rig (MB200/AE210) because it was outdoors. I also ran the drummer's kick module and an overhead into the PA. This works fine where you don't need a lot of volume, but I wasn't even pushing the PA and we were pretty loud.

With the judicious application of EQ and level control, you can sound good with the whole band going through even a small PA. When I play my iPod through the PA with music from full rock bands, it sounds great. There's no reason why you can't do the same with a live band. It just takes someone who knows how to run the board.