Hooking up Bass amp with PA?

[thevisionseeker]

Alright so I'm posting this in Bass and Guitar...
My dad's band has a good PA Yamaha powered mixer and I did sound for them this past weekend and they loved it. I had a few ideas for them and now its up to be to hook up all their stuff. They usually never have the bassist in the PA mix but I want to throw him in there for the drummer.

DI Box?
If he has a linout of his amp do I just run a DI Box between his amp and the PA? If so what kind of DI Box should I get? I dont want to hurt the mixer.

Also the guitar player is never in the mix either but that just takes a good Mic right?
I've got a few good ones lying around.

[NoFroBro]

The line out on the Bass amp should mean you don't need the DI. Just run a suitable lead staight to the desk.

Miking bass cabinets gives better results than many people think AND means that the Bass player can't overdrive the PA input as easily by turning up unexpectedly (Because of the energy involved in low end this is a much bigger issue than when a guitarist does it and due to speaker inefficiency in the low frequencies can remain unnoticed far longer).

If you want to use a DI you plug the bass guitar directly into the DI and then into the desk (Via the balanced line level line) and into the amp from the DI.

DI of course standing for Direct Injection.

[Toneseeker77]

over the last few years i've worked FOH with a production company. i always do both. bass into a DI and then i also put a D112 in front of the cab. this way you have 3 choices.
1. Direct
2. Cab
3. Both
that way, you never have to be screwin around, can't get a good sound outta one, mute it, other you can, let it fly. like both? try blending them. i usually end up taking a bit more cab, than di, but it sounds amazing using both when you can. also try making one sound totally different for the other, one really bottem heavy, the other bright, fool with it. espically if its someone you know, then don't usually mind you screwin around. as for lineouts, i never use them, most are dirty. plus, you also gain a certin comfort with your DIs. i recommend Radial. there tanks! and deadly!

[Toneseeker77]

oh, as for the guitar, i like to stick with the classics, sm57 or a Beta57 are both my favs. but, im stuckin in my ways haha

[asatbluesboy]

Originally posted by Toneseeker77
oh, as for the guitar, i like to stick with the classics, sm57 or a Beta57 are both my favs. but, im stuckin in my ways haha Try the Sennheiser e609 silver as well. More low and high end than the 57. The both work really well together, as the 609 sounds more natural and the 57 gives that extra punch. At least that's what happens with guitar, I'd think with a bass amp it should work more or less the same.

[thevisionseeker]

Well for guitar I'm actually running either the SM57 or Audix i5 OR sometimes both depending on the sound the guitarist plays.

Ok so you're saying use a DI (I dont know much about DIs but I can figure it out) and then get a mic that will handle bass?

Any recommendations on mics for bass?

Thanks guys you all have been a great help.

[NoFroBro]

Any decent mic will do fine. I use an SM58 if I have to.

If you are doing live sound you should get at least one passive DI, but I generally don't use them.

[Toneseeker77]

any mic will do.. i've used sm58 and 57s when in a bind.. but, you'll work a bit harder to get a good sound going.. my fav to use on a bass is an AKG D112. when i started with the whole sound gig, i thought it was just a kick mic, a local guru got me to try it on a bass, and i loved it. used it ever since.

but what i was saying about the DI and mic. you have to choices then. kinda just making life easier.

check out the Radial DIs.. they're really nice! but can get pricey.

[thevisionseeker]

Originally posted by Toneseeker77
any mic will do.. i've used sm58 and 57s when in a bind.. but, you'll work a bit harder to get a good sound going.. my fav to use on a bass is an AKG D112. when i started with the whole sound gig, i thought it was just a kick mic, a local guru got me to try it on a bass, and i loved it. used it ever since.

but what i was saying about the DI and mic. you have to choices then. kinda just making life easier.

check out the Radial DIs.. they're really nice! but can get pricey.

Awesome ya I was looking at the AKG D112 for bass. Heard good things about it for drums and bass.

I was thinking about the Radial DI just for a 2nd option and also for band practice anyways so I'll probably just pick up both.

Thanks guys!