Why have a nice rig just to be run direct?

[two fingers]

The total flipside of all this is the fact that some players play so damn loud that the FOH guy takes them out of the mix completely. This irritates them...a lot.

You are not allowed to bring logic like that into this discussion. If there is ever a problem it is the sound guy ........ period. Everyone here is obviously a trained professional with a sound engineering background and a degree in physics. They are perfect in every way. Sound men (regardless of their experience and education) are the cause of all the problems here. Learn to love it.

 

[Geri O]

I haven't yet found a DI that can nail the sound I get out of my amp overdriving.

Thank Heavens, me neither...))

Geri O

 

[JimmyM]

You are not allowed to bring logic like that into this discussion. If there is ever a problem it is the sound guy ........ period. Everyone here is obviously a trained professional with a sound engineering background and a degree in physics. They are perfect in every way. Sound men (regardless of their experience and education) are the cause of all the problems here. Learn to love it.

No, we're not perfect, but it IS our gigs

 

[BurningSkies]

In most venues these days, your amp is basically a monitor (I usually don't even use an amp at all anymore). We really should be more conscientious of the house sound and less concerned about the stage sound. This is why I bought a REDDI. It was worth the investment to me because it was an investment in the sound that would actually be heard by the audience. For the rare occasion I use an amp, I have a Markbass combo that works fine and sounds find but I have no need for a full rig anymore. I'd say it would do most players good to invest in gear for the FOH and get a good pair of in-ear monitors. This will be a better investment that buying high end boutique amps and cabs but this is only my opinion.

I guess you must be REALLY selfless. Because if I don't like the way I sound on stage, I'm usually not having that much fun. Turns out that I play for two reasons...so I can have fun and so that the crowd has fun. Part of that is putting stuff in my own earholes that doesn't sound like 'whatever' blah, half-assed mediocre just so I can hear myself tone.

Also in ear monitors kind of suck in my estimation.

 

[BurningSkies]

Hey man, maybe we were separated at birth.

Could be.

I also didn't point out that if I didn't bring an amp to about 50% of my gigs, I would probably have been better off just staying home. If its a small room, it will be a vocal only or voc+ guitar/keys and that's it. But hey, if I have in ears, I could hear myself even if no one in the room will hear me.

 

[kirkm24]

I guess you must be REALLY selfless. Because if I don't like the way I sound on stage, I'm usually not having that much fun. Turns out that I play for two reasons...so I can have fun and so that the crowd has fun. Part of that is putting stuff in my own earholes that doesn't sound like 'whatever' blah, half-assed mediocre just so I can hear myself tone.

Also in ear monitors kind of suck in my estimation.

The REDDI sounds as good or better than most amps out there in my opinion. Good in ears (at least dual drivers) make a world of difference and if they fit well and seal well you will not be missing much. Most people hate in ears because they use junky ones, don't wear them right or they don't fit right. The REDDI sounds like a B15 which is the holy grail of bass amplification. If I can get that in my ears, I'm happy. Many of the sound guys I work with want as little stage volume as possible. Even guitar amps get put in baffled housing.

 

[kirkm24]

Could be.

I also didn't point out that if I didn't bring an amp to about 50% of my gigs, I would probably have been better off just staying home. If its a small room, it will be a vocal only or voc+ guitar/keys and that's it. But hey, if I have in ears, I could hear myself even if no one in the room will hear me.

Well, for the gigs I play, full PA is always available. I think for any venue that doesn't have a full PA setup, My Markbass combo would suffice.

 

[georgestrings]

You are not allowed to bring logic like that into this discussion. If there is ever a problem it is the sound guy ........ period. Everyone here is obviously a trained professional with a sound engineering background and a degree in physics. They are perfect in every way. Sound men (regardless of their experience and education) are the cause of all the problems here. Learn to love it.

How about a little cheese with that whine???


- georgestrings

 

[georgestrings]

I guess you must be REALLY selfless. Because if I don't like the way I sound on stage, I'm usually not having that much fun. Turns out that I play for two reasons...so I can have fun and so that the crowd has fun. Part of that is putting stuff in my own earholes that doesn't sound like 'whatever' blah, half-assed mediocre just so I can hear myself tone.

Also in ear monitors kind of suck in my estimation.

Agreed 100%...

The REDDI sounds as good or better than most amps out there in my opinion. Good in ears (at least dual drivers) make a world of difference and if they fit well and seal well you will not be missing much. Most people hate in ears because they use junky ones, don't wear them right or they don't fit right. The REDDI sounds like a B15 which is the holy grail of bass amplification. If I can get that in my ears, I'm happy. Many of the sound guys I work with want as little stage volume as possible. Even guitar amps get put in baffled housing.

You what really sucks??? - broad generalizations, that's what...

*I* don't like IEMs because I didn't care for the isolated feeling I had with them, being at the mercy of different people for their mix on a regular basis, and the fact that there isn't an IEM system on the planet that sounds as good as the typical rig *I* play thru...

Now, I'm sure that for *some* people, IEMs are a great solution - but to say that for *most* people is kinda dumb, since you have no idea of their typical gigging situations...


- georgestrings

 

[kirkm24]

Whatever... I have a sound guy that gives me what I want in my ears and it works. They also have mics to pick up the audience so you have ambient sound and don't feel isolated. Everyone I have ever talked to personally that hated IEMs was using Apple iPod ear buds and complaining that it didn't sound good. Maybe that wasn't your experience but that has been mine. Just sharing my experience and my opinions based on those experiences. No need to be a jerk about it.

 

[kirkm24]

.

 

[two fingers]

No, we're not perfect, but it IS our gigs

Uh..... if I am running a house system, or get hired by a promoter, or I am running sound for a festival and am being payed by a township or other organization, it is every bit as much MY gig as it is ANY band on stage.

 

[JimmyM]

Hey, if in ears work for you, they work and that's all there is to it. There's no way in hell I could do it if I didn't have a REDDI, though.

 

[JimmyM]

Uh..... if I am running a house system, or get hired by a promoter, or I am running sound for a festival and am being payed by a township or other organization, it is every bit as much MY gig as it is ANY band on stage.

How many people came to see you run sound?

Hey, don't feel screwed by the pecking order. I have to follow one, too. And those who help you out have to follow your pecking order as well. But the bands are what draws people, not the sound company.

 

[two fingers]

How about a little cheese with that whine???


- georgestrings

The only ones whining here are a bunch of bassists, most of whom don't own, haven't trained on, and wouldn't know where to begin setting up a PA system. They simply bought a bass rig and suddenly think they are experts on room/FOH sound and physics. How's that for some sharp cheese?

 

[Jeff Scott]

I prefer Swiss Cheese.

 

[two fingers]

How many people came to see you run sound?

Hey, don't feel screwed by the pecking order. I have to follow one, too. And those who help you out have to follow your pecking order as well. But the bands are what draws people, not the sound company.

How many people would come to hear/see those bands if I wasn't there running sound? The point is, if I am being paid by someone other than the band, my reputation is every bit on the line as yours.

And, again, I am only playing devil's advocate here. I get along with everyone I work with (OK MOST everyone I work with). But I completely understand some sound guys having a chip on their shoulder. It's as though some musicians show up to the gig breathing fire and spitting nails just LOOKING for a fight with a sound guy. It's as if even driving TO the gig some are thinking "If that muther ****** slams one of those generic ******* DI boxes on MY ******* stage at MY ******* gig I will rip his little head off and piss down his throat! This is MY sound. He can live with or else!" And if you come at ME with that attitude, I will be a little less than cooperative right back at you. And it may be YOUR gig, but it's MY $50K worth of gear. I assure you that way less than 1% of you here have nearly as much time, money, and effort invested in your craft OR your gear than I do. So don't hand me "I've been honing my craft for 15 centuries and know what I want and I know what sounds good." I'll get you there. Don't worry. Nobody wants you to sound amazing more than I do. Hooking up hundreds of cables, setting hundreds of dials slides and knobs in exactly the correct position, and having a band sound HUMONGOUS and CLEAR is fun for me. ESPECIALLY bass players. But put your attitude in your pocket or I will make getting there ZERO fun (and lose ZERO sleep over it).

 

[georgestrings]

The only ones whining here are a bunch of bassists, most of whom don't own, haven't trained on, and wouldn't know where to begin setting up a PA system. They simply bought a bass rig and suddenly think they are experts on room/FOH sound and physics. How's that for some sharp cheese?

It was more like a steaming pile of BS...


- georgestrings

 

[JimmyM]

How many people would come to hear/see those bands if I wasn't there running sound? The point is, if I am being paid by someone other than the band, my reputation is every bit on the line as yours.

And, again, I am only playing devil's advocate here. I get along with everyone I work with (OK MOST everyone I work with). But I completely understand some sound guys having a chip on their shoulder. It's as though some musicians show up to the gig breathing fire and spitting nails just LOOKING for a fight with a sound guy. It's as if even driving TO the gig some are thinking "If that muther ****** slams one of those generic ******* DI boxes on MY ******* stage at MY ******* gig I will rip his little head off and piss down his throat! This is MY sound. He can live with or else!" And if you come at ME with that attitude, I will be a little less than cooperative right back at you. And it may be YOUR gig, but it's MY $50K worth of gear. I assure you that way less than 1% of you here have nearly as much time, money, and effort invested in your craft OR your gear than I do. So don't hand me "I've been honing my craft for 15 centuries and know what I want and I know what sounds good." I'll get you there. Don't worry. Nobody wants you to sound amazing more than I do. Hooking up hundreds of cables, setting hundreds of dials slides and knobs in exactly the correct position, and having a band sound HUMONGOUS and CLEAR is fun for me. ESPECIALLY bass players. But put your attitude in your pocket or I will make getting there ZERO fun (and lose ZERO sleep over it).

Yeah, I know some sound companies feel like the band is window dressing for their sound gear

 

[Geri O]

Yeah, I know some sound companies feel like the band is window dressing for their sound gear

I can vouch for the fact that there are entirely too many of those, no doubt. Of course, it takes only one to make the Cheerios feel as though they have been pee'd in.

Geri O