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Would you accept to do this?

Deacon_Blues

Deacon_Blues

Feb 11, 2007
3,360
54
47
Finland
#1
Hi,

Would you accept to run your bass like this?

Bass -> DI -> Mixer -> Aux out (pre) -> Bass amp input

This way, the soundguy has the possibility to adjust the volume of your amp from the board.

Reading all the "soundguy from hell" stories here on TB, I have a feeling most of you would be a bit skeptical to do this, but I thought why not ask you directly?

I actually did run my bass like this back in the days. We never had a soundguy at our gigs though, so I was completely in charge of my sound. (The reason was that the DI/line out on the amp was crap). My own answer to my question above would probably be "yes", but if he lowers the volume so much I don't hear myself anymore, I'd not accept doing it again with the same soundguy at the mixer.
 
#7
Wow. I expected some no's, but not this massive resistance. Notice I said PRE out from the mixer, meaning you get the signal back as it is, only the volume might be different. This way you're giving the soundman a chance to lower or raise the volume of your amp if needed, i.e. when the stage volume already is too loud for FOH. The sound from your bass amp don't stay on the stage, and sometimes the PA isn't much more powerful than the amp you're using on stage.

I run my bass mostly without PA support and my main band has no soundguy. However, doing it as described above would give a potential soundguy an opportunity to adjust the volume to a suitable level. There is of course risks involved with signal levels and such, but if both know what they're doing, there shouldn't be a problem.

Bassists not using an amp on stage need to rely upon the soundman to get enough bass into his monitor/IEM. Same with singers and keyboardists whose own sound isn't loud enough on its own. I don't see why this would be that different.

I had almost forgot about this idea already, but today I read about it on another forum. There was a guy who said he used to run his sound this way, and got nothing but positive feedback. It was on a Finnish "general purpose" music forum in a subcategory "Live music" in a thread titled "Bass through PA or not?". That's why I thought of posting it here as well to check your responses...
 
#8
NO

don't do that. bad things man, bad things..............

and besides, the soundman doesn't want to have to control your amp's volume himself. he wants to use his talkback mike and say to you very sweetly through the monitors......."dude, could you turn down a little?"
 
#9
Hi.

A fellow Finn here would probably go with it ;).

IF the amp in question had a line level input and the aux was at least PF and preferably PEQ too that is. Your amp isn't then really nothing more than an active monitor or a sidefill, but with the actual capability to do the job well.

All the people who play ampless and all of the band relies on monitors to get a decent stage level, are doing it that way already, why wouldn't it be any different with Your own amp???

Most of the people here (who don't run sound) don't seem to understand that every venue is different and has all sorts of acoustical problems. If the whole band can rely on monitors and the monitor mix, that would make the FOH sound much more controllable and the result is beneficial to everyone.

I do understand that we Finns may have the most dedicated non/semi-pro FOH guys there is, so perhaps our view is a bit crocked that way. We do rely on them and 95% of the time they also deliver. A-holes are everywhere and that 5% may just be them ;).

Regards
Sam
 

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