Volume crisis

As I am guessing many will ask: What are your EQ settings, because that should be PLENTY loud.

 

Well, it's certainly not the extreme scooping I was hoping (as it would be an easy fix), but if it helps, the peak of the audible human hearing spectrum lies between 1khz and 3khz, so the one frequency you're cutting is the "loudest." Therefore, boosting your 2.4khz will make your sound "cut through" better, although you may not like what it does to your tone.

Try rolling the bass knob back to 12:00, and boost those upper mids a bit. The lower frequencies sound nice when boosted either at low volumes or with the bass as a standalone, but doing so is almost NEVER necessary in a band setting, especially a rock mix. The low end is quite prominent flat by the time it reaches the audience. Also, what is your aural enhancer set to?

Edit: Make sure your input gain is set JUST BELOW the threshold of peaking. Turn the Master down, hit a hard low E and slowly raise the gain until it consistently flashes, then back it off just a bit until it stops. That will ensure that your preamp signal is as hot as it can be without distortion.

 

I would agree that what you have right now should absolutely kill. However, if you're set on replacing your head, just be aware that the SWR is super clean, and the 8 Pro's gonna have the Ampeg tone. Not saying that's bad, but it's different from what you have. I've got a 6 Pro and I love what it does, but Ampegs seem a bit underpowered when you consider the ratings they have. My 6 Pro is rated at 1100 watts, but sounds and feels more like half that. Also, your cabs are among the "loudest" available, so that's not your problem. Good luck, report back with your solution.

 

Are you sure your sound out in the house is weak, or is it just that you can't hear yourself well onstage?

 

Those directions about setting the gain are spot on.
Question. Can you do with no eq on your head?
You can really be surprised what an SWR can do without the tone controls soaking up watts reproducing unhearable and unfeelable lows and/or giving too much hi end.
I feel after using them for years that they can sound choked and limited in volume when more than slightly eq'd.

 

What ohms are those cabs?
Are you bridging the 900?
If the cabs are 8 ohms each in stereo you aren't pushing them much.

SM-900 SPECIFICATIONS
Note: All measurements were taken with a line voltage of 120VAC. All noise specifications are
“unweighted.” All voltages and watts are “RMS.”
POWER(minimum):
Bridge/Mono Mode
900 Watts @ 4 Ohms
650 Watts @ 8 Ohms
440 Watts @ 16 Ohms
(minimum load = 4 Ohms)
Stereo Mode (per side)
400 watts @ 4 Ohms
240 watts @ 8 Ohms
144 watts @ 16 ohms
(minimum load = 2 Ohms)
FREQUENCY RESPONSE (power amplifiers): –3dB @ 20 Hz and 40kHz

 

First, make sure it's bridged as chadds suggested.

What is your Aural Enhancer set to? If you have it above 9 o'clock or so you may want to bump ~200hz a bit.

Finally, are you clipping the power amps at all?

 

+1

 

Good luck tonight and break a leg.
That much Aural Enhancer sucks tone live.

 

If this is the case...I would suggest getting further away from your rig and try to angle the top cab up a little. So, lets say that the cabs are on top of each other. Put a 2X4(or something a little classier) under the top cab in the front so it points more at your head.

Also, are you sure you are turning up as loud as you need to? Are you pushing the head? In some situations you can not get the full amount out of your head even if you have the master all the way up. I would say turn the amp up until the clip light starts showing...then turn it down ever so slightly. maybe that will help.
best of luck

Jonathan

 

A good rule of thumb is to have the post twice as high as the pre regarding gain. That also might make a difference in getting clean volume loud.

And I agree with pointing a cabinet directly at your head. This makes all the difference.

I used to have a Peavey Firebass 700 head with two 4 ohm cabinets (2x10, 1x15) that was so loud I used to overpower my guitarist and his Three Marshall Amps. Now, this resulted in 700 watts @ 2 ohms, so yeah, it was going to be freakin' loud.

Any way you can turn your setup into a 2 ohm system? It makes a difference...

 

So, since it's stage volume, you might not want to screw with your tone. Otherwise, the house is going to hear it differently.

Get your cabs up higher, closer to your ears.

 

Kill that Aural Enhancer and try that. You'll find you'll be able to turn your Master Volume up a few more clicks before clipping.

 

That aural enhancer is getting rid of your midrange frequencies which are a large part of why you can't hear your self. Put that knnob at "0" and make sure you don't boost the bass too crazy on your bass guitar.

I swear we should call the Aural Exciter, the "Fieldy Knob", it just upps the highs, kills the mids - instant clacky & rumbling bass tone.

 

Thanks for listening!

 

I'm using an SVT 4 pro with a 1212/310212 combo, and it crushes everything for miles