Some collected tips from the web for a good sound-mix in the rehearsal room:
Volume Wars
Ok you've got all your gear together and away you go with the first song.
You can't hear yourself over the drums so you turn up a bit.
Now the guitarist can't hear their licks so they turn up a bit.
Now the bassist decides they are too quiet and they turn up
so you can't hear the vocals and these go up again.
After two songs everyone is turned up to 11 and no-one has
any idea of what they are doing through the mud.
Welcome to the volume war.
Getting Your Room to Sound Right
The sound level of the drums generally determines the overall sound level in the room.
Lower frequencies from the kick drum are usually less of a concern in a practice room as this keeps everyone playing in time.
It is usually the cymbals, snare and toms that overwhelm and cause the guitarist to turn up.
This snow balls as each player tries to hear their instrument.
A good solution is to add extra absorption around and above the drum kit.
This will help control the spill and reduce the overall sound pressure in the room.
Another way to help balance the sound is to try to avoid using
radical ‘smile’ curves on the PA, guitars and bass.
It is natural to want to reduce the mid range as our ears are much more sensitive to the frequencies in the vocal range.
But when you reduce the mids by cutting them out, you then have to make up for it by increasing the volume level.
Try leaving the EQ as flat as possible on all instruments and the PA.
This will ensure the mid-range information that your brain and ears need to identify pitch is as clear as possible andwill help you keep the volume level down in the room.
Don’t worry… your brain is a lot smarter than you think. Your ‘ears’ will automatically compensate as you get use to playing in the room.
Balancing the sound
The drums set the basic sound level, so first of all balance the bass against the drums, taking note of connection between the kick drum and the bass.
This can be a good point to set a rough vocal level, or at least get an idea of how much headroom is available.
Balance the guitars against the drums/bass sound.
They should not dominate, the whole sound should be have weight and power.
Then, hopefully you will have some headroom left for your vocals,
if not you will have to turn everything else down, and in particular anything that clashes with the vocal sound.
Repeat: If you still have problems then turn everything else DOWN!
If that is impossible, then you need to find another practice venue!
Sources:
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Volume Wars
Ok you've got all your gear together and away you go with the first song.
You can't hear yourself over the drums so you turn up a bit.
Now the guitarist can't hear their licks so they turn up a bit.
Now the bassist decides they are too quiet and they turn up
so you can't hear the vocals and these go up again.
After two songs everyone is turned up to 11 and no-one has
any idea of what they are doing through the mud.
Welcome to the volume war.
Getting Your Room to Sound Right
The sound level of the drums generally determines the overall sound level in the room.
Lower frequencies from the kick drum are usually less of a concern in a practice room as this keeps everyone playing in time.
It is usually the cymbals, snare and toms that overwhelm and cause the guitarist to turn up.
This snow balls as each player tries to hear their instrument.
A good solution is to add extra absorption around and above the drum kit.
This will help control the spill and reduce the overall sound pressure in the room.
Another way to help balance the sound is to try to avoid using
radical ‘smile’ curves on the PA, guitars and bass.
It is natural to want to reduce the mid range as our ears are much more sensitive to the frequencies in the vocal range.
But when you reduce the mids by cutting them out, you then have to make up for it by increasing the volume level.
Try leaving the EQ as flat as possible on all instruments and the PA.
This will ensure the mid-range information that your brain and ears need to identify pitch is as clear as possible andwill help you keep the volume level down in the room.
Don’t worry… your brain is a lot smarter than you think. Your ‘ears’ will automatically compensate as you get use to playing in the room.
Balancing the sound
The drums set the basic sound level, so first of all balance the bass against the drums, taking note of connection between the kick drum and the bass.
This can be a good point to set a rough vocal level, or at least get an idea of how much headroom is available.
Balance the guitars against the drums/bass sound.
They should not dominate, the whole sound should be have weight and power.
Then, hopefully you will have some headroom left for your vocals,
if not you will have to turn everything else down, and in particular anything that clashes with the vocal sound.
Repeat: If you still have problems then turn everything else DOWN!
If that is impossible, then you need to find another practice venue!
Sources:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Invalid Link Removed
Link Removed
