On Stage Volume

Mark Dershaw · From: Arizona and Ohio

So there have been some volume issues with the band I am currently playing with. Our bass player tried to play on the side of the stage with our lead player... didn't work. Major volume war. So he moved to my side of the stage. Bass player constantly complaining about my volume. So I put my little Evans amp directly in front of my steel and played that way with a direct input to the PA. I heard my steel perfectly and felt like I had total control over my sound (on stage). But what did it sound like out front? The traditional stage set up is to have your amp behind you, facing the crowd. When all of the instruments are coming through the PA, does that configuration make sense? I'm just curious If any other players out there have done what I've done... and how it's working out for them.

Steve Collins · From: Alaska, USA

I play in two bands (drums in one, guitars in the other) and we are trying some different things to dial down volume. One is turning amps inward, like side fills, as well as getting them either off of the floor and/or slanted back. Getting the amp's sound closer to the player's ears is way more important than getting it to the audience's ears, that's the job of the PA. I have found even the front two rows (or the dance floor) doesn't miss having your amps blasting right at them, they get enough from the mains and monitors even if they are out of the speaker's focus. I find the side fill arrangement gives the drummer plenty of what he needs, and lets the guitars turn down, plus I find my vocal mic picks up enough of my guitar that I no longer need to mix any guitar into the monitor mix, helping to keep it cleaner. Also as a drummer, I like the bass amp to treated like part of my kit, usually slightly behind it. think front line/back line, keep the bass and guitars from competing. Last, the hardest thing to teach a band, is if you can't hear, ya'll need to turn down, not up.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

Hi Mark-
It's grossly unprofessional for one sideman to tell another how or at what level to play.Since the bass player has already gotten booted from his customary side to your side of the stage due to a volume war,chances are he and not you is the guilty party.I think this is more likely a personality and professionalism issue than an actual volume issue-assuming,of course,you're not the guy referred to in the "Is he talking about you" thread. Winking

I mostly agree that amps should be in the backline-that's why they call it the backline(duuuuh!).Since you"re miking everything,your amp is really your personal instrument monitor and it technically isn't required to be anyplace in particular.I like my amp behind me and have always placed it there,but if where you have your amp is OK with you and keeps Mister Unprofessional happy,it's all good. Smile

EDIT:how it sounds out front is certainly a concern,but it's under the soundman's control more than it is the player's.Hopefully your sound guy is getting the right balance.Pointing your amp back at you helps him do that,because most of your signal can't get out front.In an everything's-miked situation,the audience ideally should hear only the PA,not the amps.

Mark Dershaw · From: Arizona and Ohio

I will say that I tend to play loud during my leads. I quit bringing out my Peavey Session 500 because I was blowing the rest of the band out of the water Embarassed

(but only on my leads). I feel that while playing fills and backup, I'm not lout at all. Anyway, my result in making this adjustment seems to be a success. I could tell the bass wasn't as loud and I could hear my vocals through the monitor better.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

One solution that I often use is to set my desired tone with the amp pointed at the back of my head. Then, after I'm satisfied with my sound, I return the amp to a "flat on the floor" position. This takes some getting used to, but it ensures that most of my sound is going out to the audience, and not into the players' ears on stage. (Combo amps are normally terribly directional.)

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: