Need opinions on getting sound levels in check

[junchieve]

Hi everyone,

So here's the problem. I'm in a 4 piece band. I play guitar our of a 120wt ss combo amp. The bass player has a bass but not an amp . The other guitar player is running his guitar through a boss mt-2 and vox AD15VT amp. I also have a tascam us-144 interface. So for the time being we are running the bass player straight into the microphone jack of the computer, unmuting the mic in volume properties and having him play through the speakers/subwoofer from the computer. The problem is the bassist and other guitar player are not loud enough to compete with me and the drummer. Actually I can't even hear them. If I turn my guitar down I'm drowned out by the dummer (I'm right next to him and he pretty much uses my amp as a floor monitor). I've tried hooking up the computer speakers/sub to the monitor output of my interface and having the bass and guitar plugged into the two instrument inputs, but the arnt loud enough still. So I'm considering buying a mixer and monitor so they can plug in and hopefully be loud enough. Now my question is should I buy a PA setup or buy powered monitors?. Now granted I know very little about PA's and types of monitors. We play rock/metal music. Budget is 300-400 dollars. Any input is appreciated.

 

[snatchman]

Hummm...I'd say get a Bass amp so that all of you can have a " monitor" of each instrument..( guitar amps, bass amp, and the... DRUMS....)..Now, all of you can get a sense of how loud everyone is playing and get a good balance without deafening everyone.....Good luck..

 

[grimtraveller]

I'm deathly tired so maybe I'm not so alert

I can't understand why your bass player doesn't just get an amp ! Then get balance to your sound.
Then I'll buy the album !

 

[junchieve]

The problem is the bass player doesn't have a job and also if I turned down my amp to match the level of the other guitar players amp then we'd get drowned out by the drummer. Now I know you are thinking why doesn't the drummer just ease up a bit. We'll that's not really his style. I'm sure at first he could maintain that, but after we start getting into it he starts getting louder. So using a monitor system is a good idea? Would it have enough bass for the bass player. Also it would be nice if I could use the monitors for recording also. I have another question. I tried hooking up some "monitors" (2 computer speakers with a sub) to the monitor output of my interface and everything work fine, except for I couldn't raise or lower the volume. The interface has a mon mix control knob, left side is input and left is computer, but that just controls what source you are hearing. The other knob is Line out which doesn't really do much, and the other is phones. So do I need to use a mixer to raise the volume (I tried raising the volumes on the speakers themselves, but it didn't work.) or am I overlooking something simple? There are also two sig/ol knobs which do raise the volume but not much since it's already pretty maxed as it is.

Now the only reason I wanna go the PA/monitor route is because I need monitors/mixer already for recording, plus it would probably be cheaper then buying a bass amp and guitar amp which I don't really wanna buy because it's not even for me! So if anyone has any suggestions on a setup it would be very appreciated.

 

[grimtraveller]

The problem is the bass player doesn't have a job and also if I turned down my amp to match the level of the other guitar players amp then we'd get drowned out by the drummer. Now I know you are thinking why doesn't the drummer just ease up a bit. We'll that's not really his style. I'm sure at first he could maintain that, but after we start getting into it he starts getting louder.

If easing up a bit isn't the drummer's style, what will you do if you have a song that requires, I don't know, say, some deft touches mixed with really heavy sections ? Or a quiet sensitive song ? The best heavy bands always were diverse and versatile. They could and did mix it. The drummers in particular. There's little point in being a drum band with guitars.......
If the bassist has no job, could you not all club together and lend him the moola to buy an amp ? He can pay you back when he gets a job. You are, after all, a band.

 

[Paulie Jay]

Really, the money would be best spent on a bass amp. Do you trust his ability to pay you back at a later date?

The thing is, any bassist who is playing in the same room as an energetic drummer is going to need a certain amount of oomph behind him in order to be heard, and in order to compete with your 120 watts of guitar. Deep bass notes chew up watts fast, and even if he had a small amp he would be running it flat-stick and probably still not be able to be heard properly. 120 watts for a bassist is not equitable to 120 watts for a guitarist - you can cruise with it while he would be blowing a gasket

You can source a second hand bass amp of 200-300 watts (maybe even more if you are lucky) for your budget. That's what I would be doing.

 

[dreib]

Wow, a bass player without a job..its almost like a requirement to be a bass player it seems.

Yes i would like to be in a band but i have no job and am habitually late all the time. = Bass player

Sorry, just kidding.

You should have your drummer try using smaller size sticks. Like at least 2 sizes. It doesnt make a huge difference but i found it does force you to be a little more aware of dynamics. I mean when you need to get after it you will have to work alittle more to get there and then laying back becomes much easier because you actually feel the difference....IMO. Sometimes dynamics are nothing more than just a little awareness of whats going on.

Hit some pawn shops and find a bass amp. I wouldnt loan any money just buy one and sell it to him when has the cash. That is ALL the cash....payments never seem to work in bands.

 

[Farview]

The easiest way to do work this without making the bass player and the other guitar player get the proper equipment for the job is to mic the guitars, run the bass direct and have everyone use headphones. If you keep the volume of the headphones down, you will be able to hear the drums through them.

Of course, if you ever decide to play a show, the other two guys are going to have to get some equipment.