Live Performance - stereo fx worth it?

[andyhix]

I have a Fender "ultimate chorus" amp that I play guitar thru for live shows. It's got a stereo fx loop, that I could use with a delay effect (Boss dd-5). However, I never bother becuase (a) I don't wanna bother with the (at least) 2 xtra cables running between amp and pedal board, and (b) I don't know that the stereo effect would be at all noticable unless the sound man were to run 2 mics off my amp and mix in stereo.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't know if sound guys ever mix in stereo - do they? I guess I don't know. I never notice anything in stereo from other bands playing with us at the same venue on any given night. It all sounds mono.

I guess the question boils down to: I really like the sound of the stereo delay when I'm sitting right front of my amp, but is it worth bothering with on stage?

 

[Outlaws]

This might be out of the question since it will cost money......

But I always liked the stereo delay in front of the amps.
Ya, amp(s). One on the far left and one on the far right.

Let the sound guy figure that one out.

 

[andyhix]

This might be out of the question since it will cost money......

But I always liked the stereo delay in front of the amps.
Ya, amp(s). One on the far left and one on the far right.

Let the sound guy figure that one out.

Yeah, I've done that too...at practice, and it is definately cool. Even if I went that way though, is it likely to be mixed in that fashion through the house system? We usually play smallish bars, that cater to original local and indie bands. (< a few hundred capacity). Well, I won't be buying another amp anytime soon anyway...

 

[Outlaws]

Yeah, I've done that too...at practice, and it is definately cool. Even if I went that way though, is it likely to be mixed in that fashion through the house system? We usually play smallish bars, that cater to original local and indie bands. (< a few hundred capacity). Well, I won't be buying another amp anytime soon anyway...

I can't see how hard it would be to go up the sound guy and say, "would you do me a favor? Pan that mic left and that mic right. Cool man, thanks."

 

[prestomation]

I can't see how hard it would be to go up the sound guy and say, "would you do me a favor? Pan that mic left and that mic right. Cool man, thanks."

Alot of smaller venues(and venues that don't care) run their entire PA in mono. I think it's very hard to heard stereo in a loud rock concert setting. Who cares where it comes from They can use less amps and less EQs and all that jazz by skipping stereo.

 

[Codmate]

It can make a big difference.

Obviously you need a compliant PA, good sound guy and plenty of time to set it up and soundcheck it.

Getting all three is pretty tough - but it can be done.

 

[andyhix]

I guess that's sort of what I was wondering - if it was worth the trouble and if the sound guy would wanna be bothered by mixing in stereo. I know it's just a matter of asking, but at the same time if you folks advise me that it's not gonna matter too much, sound-wise, or that most sound guys will just roll their eyes at the notion, then I would probably just forget about it. Still, I'm intrigued by the idea - we play a sort of psychedelic rock, and anything to add to that might be worth further consideration.

 

[ermghoti]

If you are close to the stage, you can't hear stereo effects, you mainly hear the speaker you are closest to. If you are far from the stage (in a big club) you can't hear stereo effects, the image is washed away by reflections, and diminished by the normal spread of the speakers. If you are, by luckky coincidence, in the exact area where the image is formed, you can tell your friends about it, and they will think you were high, because they didn't hear anything.

That's not entirely true, most of the crowd will be able to pick up on the occasional phase cancellation...

Stereo effects: great on recordings, fun in practice, not worth it live. IMHO.