A new project

[Mike Fleming]

Someone I vaguely knew from an open mic or two many years ago was
looking for a bassist a couple of weeks ago to join him and a drummer. I
had a listen to the music and was interested. Two and a half rehearsals
later, we played a short showcase at The Arches in Coventry. Mrs Zero
recorded the three songs that we did.

Past Lives

Paradise is Burning

This Town

[Tease'n'Seize]

we played a short showcase at The Arches in Coventry. Mrs Zero recorded
the three songs that we did.

Admittedly I listened on scratchy flatpot speakers, but was your bass
meant to be louder in the mix?

[Mike Fleming]

Post by Tease'n'Seize

Post by Mike Fleming
we played a short showcase at The Arches in Coventry. Mrs Zero
recorded the three songs that we did.

Admittedly I listened on scratchy flatpot speakers, but was your bass
meant to be louder in the mix?

Ideally, yes. The bass ran through the PA and through a bass amp on
stage. The band of young things that soundchecked before us had some
issue with getting the bass loud enough in the PA and the master volume
on the bass amp was turned up to the max, and I had to back it off
because it was so loud and distorted. I backed it off a bit more after
the soundcheck which is probably why the bass is rather low initially,
as the sound out front was a mix of PA and bass amp.

[Abandoned Trolley]

Post by Mike Fleming

Post by Tease'n'Seize

Post by Mike Fleming
we played a short showcase at The Arches in Coventry. Mrs Zero
recorded the three songs that we did.

Admittedly I listened on scratchy flatpot speakers, but was your bass
meant to be louder in the mix?

Ideally, yes. The bass ran through the PA and through a bass amp on
stage. The band of young things that soundchecked before us had some
issue with getting the bass loud enough in the PA and the master volume
on the bass amp was turned up to the max, and I had to back it off
because it was so loud and distorted. I backed it off a bit more after
the soundcheck which is probably why the bass is rather low initially,
as the sound out front was a mix of PA and bass amp.

Possible lack of bass bins on the main PA system ? - or if it was miked
up from the bass amp speakers then a "standard" vocal mike might not be
the best choice ?

[Mike Fleming]

Post by Abandoned Trolley

Post by Mike Fleming

Post by Tease'n'Seize

Post by Mike Fleming
we played a short showcase at The Arches in Coventry. Mrs Zero
recorded the three songs that we did.

Admittedly I listened on scratchy flatpot speakers, but was your bass
meant to be louder in the mix?

Ideally, yes. The bass ran through the PA and through a bass amp on
stage. The band of young things that soundchecked before us had some
issue with getting the bass loud enough in the PA and the master
volume on the bass amp was turned up to the max, and I had to back it
off because it was so loud and distorted. I backed it off a bit more
after the soundcheck which is probably why the bass is rather low
initially, as the sound out front was a mix of PA and bass amp.

Possible lack of bass bins on the main PA system ? - or if it was miked
up from the bass amp speakers then a "standard" vocal mike might not be
the best choice ?

No, bass bins were fine, bass amp was DIed to the PA.

I'd only listened to it on laptop speakers so I've just had a listen
with headphones and the mix is quite reasonable, bass is definitely audible.

[Hymermut]

Post by Mike Fleming

Post by Abandoned Trolley

Post by Mike Fleming

Post by Tease'n'Seize

Post by Mike Fleming
we played a short showcase at The Arches in Coventry. Mrs Zero
recorded the three songs that we did.

Admittedly I listened on scratchy flatpot speakers, but was your
bass meant to be louder in the mix?

Ideally, yes. The bass ran through the PA and through a bass amp on
stage. The band of young things that soundchecked before us had some
issue with getting the bass loud enough in the PA and the master
volume on the bass amp was turned up to the max, and I had to back it
off because it was so loud and distorted. I backed it off a bit more
after the soundcheck which is probably why the bass is rather low
initially, as the sound out front was a mix of PA and bass amp.

Possible lack of bass bins on the main PA system ? - or if it was
miked up from the bass amp speakers then a "standard" vocal mike might
not be the best choice ?

No, bass bins were fine, bass amp was DIed to the PA.
I'd only listened to it on laptop speakers so I've just had a listen
with headphones and the mix is quite reasonable, bass is definitely audible.

How do you go about setting up a band live sound system?

I always started with the vocals. Get them right for the venue then,
reduce about 75%. Set up the rest of the instruments to back the vocals.
(That's what they are for). Then you have 25% you can increase if you
need it.

The nightmare was working with a bass player who insisted on going back
line, which meant I had to adjust everything else to his levels, and he
increased it throughout the show, to the point where the vocals either
distorted or were lost.

Refused to work with that idiot again. He wasn't even a very good bass
player. Bu had a massive ego.

Tone

[Mike Fleming]

Post by Hymermut

Post by Mike Fleming

Post by Abandoned Trolley

Post by Mike Fleming

Post by Tease'n'Seize

Post by Mike Fleming
we played a short showcase at The Arches in Coventry. Mrs Zero
recorded the three songs that we did.

Admittedly I listened on scratchy flatpot speakers, but was your
bass meant to be louder in the mix?

Ideally, yes. The bass ran through the PA and through a bass amp on
stage. The band of young things that soundchecked before us had some
issue with getting the bass loud enough in the PA and the master
volume on the bass amp was turned up to the max, and I had to back
it off because it was so loud and distorted. I backed it off a bit
more after the soundcheck which is probably why the bass is rather
low initially, as the sound out front was a mix of PA and bass amp.

Possible lack of bass bins on the main PA system ? - or if it was
miked up from the bass amp speakers then a "standard" vocal mike
might not be the best choice ?

No, bass bins were fine, bass amp was DIed to the PA.
I'd only listened to it on laptop speakers so I've just had a listen
with headphones and the mix is quite reasonable, bass is definitely audible.

How do you go about setting up a band live sound system?

As I'm the bassist, obviously I do it for my covers band. The PA is
vocals only plus a touch of kick drum, so I set them up and then we
adjust instrument levels to match. I go walkabout with a wireless so I
can check the balance.

In the case of the RJG band at the start of this thread, it was the
venue's own sound engineer. Our drummer used to be the venue sound
engineer, as it happens.

Post by Hymermut
I always started with the vocals. Get them right for the venue then,
reduce about 75%. Set up the rest of the instruments to back the vocals.
(That's what they are for). Then you have 25% you can increase if you
need it.
The nightmare was working with a bass player who insisted on going back
line, which meant I had to adjust everything else to his levels, and he
increased it throughout the show, to the point where the vocals either
distorted or were lost.
Refused to work with that idiot again. He wasn't even a very good bass
player. Bu had a massive ego.

If I have PA support (which is very very rare), I'll set stage volume so
I'm balanced with the drummer and the PA can do the heavy lifting,
unless the engineer wants more or less volume from me. I do leave a
little in reserve - I never turn the volume on the bass full up so I've
got a little to play with.

[Dave W]

Post by Mike Fleming
Someone I vaguely knew from an open mic or two many years ago was
looking for a bassist a couple of weeks ago to join him and a drummer. I
had a listen to the music and was interested. Two and a half rehearsals
later, we played a short showcase at The Arches in Coventry. Mrs Zero
recorded the three songs that we did.
Past Lives
http://youtu.be/tzFKZcgQ0yA

I listened on headphones - nice tune. I couldn't make out the words,
and the automated transcripts made a hash of them.>

Post by Mike Fleming
Paradise is Burning
http://youtu.be/xKdM7vhyJUs

Boring.>

Post by Mike Fleming
This Town