Balanced level on stage???

Gord Cole · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I play with as a duo with a couple of different singer/songwriters. It's disatrous for me when I'm the only amp on stage and the singer and his guitar are going through the PA system directly.
What I hear of him is from speakers way out front of me. With my amp beside me (even 5 feet in front of me), when I try to get enough volume to reach the back of the room all I hear on stage is steel way way too loud. My worst gigs are always this scenario!!! From the second note on I'm pulling away from the guitar to be quiet rather that diving in and driving it

Please! Which of the following might be the best solution or is there a better way?

1. I need a second monitor (not always available in-house)) from the PA by my ear with my partner's voice and guitar on it loud enough to make me play louder rather than quiter???

2. Place my amp a long way from me and mike it at low volume and let the sound man adjust my volume level through the PA ????

3. Go directly to the PA like the singer and his guitar? I don't think most of you like this idea???

4. or....

Thanks for any suggestions.
Cheers.-- Gord

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

Gord, most guitar players use their amp and also connect to the PA to accomplish a balance.
You didn't say what kind of amp you have. You can connect to the PA from the amps "preamp out" or "line out". You can also use a mic very close to the guitar amp speaker.
When connected this way, your guitar amp serves as your monitor. Adjust your guitar amp for what you want to hear, and adjust the PA for what the audience hears.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

If you can get a good stage level,
then either direct out or mic the amp.

Should work just fine in almost any case,
once you get the basic level of voice and steel in the PA.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 06 February 2005 at 09:36 AM.]

Gord Cole · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Thank you gents!

I'm using an Evans RE200 amp. It does indeed have "Direct Out." I was hesitant to use it ,because in my ignorance I'm not sure if it would include my reverb and digital delay (which I have plugged into the "Effects" on the back of the amp). !!!??? If not let the sound guy put it on?

Gees! I wish I was more technically minded! Thanks again for your help.

Techno dolt--Gord

Billy McCoy · From: Ft. Worth, Texas, USA

Gord,

If you go direct from your Evans...it will not include your effects.

Your problem from the way you discribed it is: you can't hear the other instruments or vocals very well....thus hampers your ability to mix your own volume on stage.

YOU NEED A MONITOR, brother.

Most ALL P.A....whether large or small have at least two monitor mixes out....buy a small hotspot monitor with a volume control and connect it to the Monitor out of the PA or connect it to another monitor for the same feed...if you have a HOTSPOT with a volume control, your problems are solved!!

Well....not solved until you get a mic on your amp....then your problems are solved.
Good luck,

b

------------------
MSA Millennium D10, Walker Stereo Steel, Stone Tree Custom Tele, LINE 6 Vetta II and POD XT PRO

[This message was edited by Billy McCoy on 07 February 2005 at 07:57 PM.]

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

1) You need a stage monitor. And 2) Your amp needs to either go direct out or miked through the P.A. This is a prime example of why steel guitar needs to be miked through the P.A. Steel guitar amps have a tendency to die fifteen to twenty feet off stage unles you're really pushing your amp in which case you will get complaints from your stage mates about stage volume as you already do. As Billy said above, a small HOTSPOT monitor with a volume control would be perfect for your situation.

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 07 February 2005 at 09:51 PM.]

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

If you really want your effects out you have two routes.

Either mic the speaker,

or get a direct box and tap the output of your effects unit before it before back into the Evans.

Actually it's pretty surprising that the direct out is NOT post effects loop. A major design faux pas IMHO.

James Lutz · From: Wisconsin

I thought the stage is balanced when the drool comes out of both sides of the drummers mouth...

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Hi Gord,
When I use my Evans AE100 I set it up for me to hear. I also use the line out to run an XLR mike cable to the PA. I set that channel of the PA flat-no effects, and tell the singer to adjust it to their taste.

That way I hear all I want from the amp, and the front man gets all he wants in the main mix.

Monitors are important too, so you can hear what the singer is doing.

(I'll be using that setup this Friday at the Caddy Lounge in Toronto if you want to have a look-see.)

Joey

David Doggett · Posted 8 Feb 2005 7:05 am

Gord, you say you are playing "with as" a duo. I'm thinking there may be no drums or even bass, and the guitar(s) may be an acoustic with a mike or acoustic pickup. I play with a small group like that (it has a quiet bass player, but no drums). I put my amp behind me at the back of the stage. This helps me match my sound to the stage volume, which is part the natural acoustic sound, and part monitors. For small venues I use no mike on my amp. For large venues I mike my amp. My effects and amp/speaker combination are part of my sound, and I would not want to go direct.

Gord Cole · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Wow! Thanks to you all !!!
This really is a big help! I'm gonna rush out for a Hot Spot VC Monitor tomorrow and I'll mike the amp rather than going directly.
Cheers.
--Gord Cole

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