Pirellithecat

OK - Had a look at some of the TC pedals - going to need to work out which might work ...... suggestions welcome. But - having read the "Vocal Mixing" thread, it seems that a digital mixer is essential to enter this particular playground ....... (and the cost of getting a couple of pedals etc. takes me closer to the ££ needed to upgrade to a digital mixer, without giving me any more Aux outs or more flexibility in terms of gates, EQ, or FX). But will my brain adapt ..... 🤔 Stimulating stuff!!

Currently🤭it's my Sandberg VM4 into ABM600 into BF Super Twin via Boss Tuner, Empress Bass Compressor, POG Micro, Big Muff , Freeze Pedal.and sometimes a EHX Chorus Pedal. When funds allow looking to swap POG for OC5 and the Big Muff for something else.

Thanks for the comments - appreciate them. All our Facebook vids are taken from mobile phone clips - just a bit of EQing and cutting down to size. So a bit "limiting" in terms of quality - the timing often sounds "out" due to saturation/clipping of the phone mic - we're probably going to try to use a Zoom recorder in future ..... but the venues don't really lend themselves to having one "out front". I'd never noticed the "off axis" comment re the Mic .... I'll pay more attention!! Hadn't thought of a limiter either - I was kind of gravitating toward dynamic compression. I'll check out the "detuned delay" - I've no real idea what that is - is it "a thing". These are probably reasons to move to a digital mixer too? The drummer also sings, but because of the feedback issues, he's reluctant to do too much and tends to be a bit quiet which is a pity as his voice is very complementary sound to the overall vocals - quite rich/mellow. The overall sound is getting better gig by gig - often informed by comments from this forum (and Mics!!). But we still have a way to go!! So do keep suggesting improvements!! Thinking "gates" and better EQ on monitors/FOH, plus more flexible effects/compression ..... etc etc!

Must be "my" technique! But I can't get a Duff McKagen sound to work next to a James Jamerson sound without a considerable amount of EQ'ing - and I'd rather have some kind of "pre-set" to avoid long gaps between songs. Yeah ..... another toy😂

Starting to use Pick on more songs in our Set - varies from Fleetwood Mac to Guns 'n Roses and everything before and after! Pick use associated with greater use of Drive (currently Big Muff). Suggestions for a pedal to allow quick change between styles ??? (and maybe replace Big Muff?) I'm guessing something like a Sansamp VT Deluxe, but is there something else to consider? (Amp is Ashdown ABM600, bass varies from Sandberg VM4:Sire V5: PBass).

` 2 Gigs in 2 days and best sound ever!! (helped by vocalist's dad's ears in the audience!!). Still work to do on the tendency for "brightness" on female vocals when at "Full Bore". But otherwise ...... no feedback, great sound on stage, much better sound out front, REDUCED stress = better playing by me and much more fun! The secret ....... IGNORE all helpful comments from band members (except can you give me more "x" in monitor), just nod sagely and do what's best!! Organiser came up at end of second set and asked us to play for another 45mins!! so must have been good!

😭 Some ignorant fool snug in and offered them £800! And they sold it ......... I tried offering them my 1200 CD's PLUS £405, but they just wouldn't see reason. Can't trust anyone these days ................

Partly because Lee doesn't really let Cicci get a word in edge-ways! Rather tragic how little self awareness people have!

Steady .......!

Plenty of time ............ In anticipation of this not materializing, I just keep repeating ."The Excellent is the Enemy of The Good - The Excellent is the Enemy of The Good .......... The Excellent is the Enemy of The Good ................. The Excellent is the Enemy of The Good ............. I'll keep you posted.

They are also disposing of an A&H Zed24 and a ZED 10!!

So .... do you think I'll get along without the Auto set Up features like Feedback Suppression, Auto Gain, Auto EQ?

OK .......... Please suggest an alternative thread if this is in the wrong place 😅 My son's office is closing down in 2 weeks time and they are basically getting rid of everything - kind of "fire sale" apparently. They have an A&H Qu16, 2019, barely used, looking for a home. They think they'll get maybe £400 for it, but If no-one wants it ..... well who knows ..... ! Whilst it has much more than I need, eg 10 Aux outs, it doesn't have many of the Auto features and would need a separate wireless router for iPad use. The app looks OK, maybe not as simple-looking as the MixPad5, but OK. Anyone any experience of these and any thoughts as to whether it would be the "right" solution for the need for more/better EQ options with Gates and Compression that could come in handy (drummer/vocal mic/monitor issue). Key question. at >£400, is this a good solution for a digital Novice moving from a 16 Channel Analogue mixer or should I bite the bullet and jump into a CQ 18T or Mackie DL16?

Wrong thread

Good points ....... not sure I can use an ethernet cable on (my) iPad though? Perhaps there's another way? Or am I "misunderstanding"? Basically, there is little adjustment to the FOH once we're past the first couple of numbers. However, the monitor mix often gets changed as either people feel they need a different mix as the gig progresses or we get anomalous feedback. This is primarily due to our singing drummer - and whilst he has moved to Drum triggers, his vocal Mic is problematic particularly as it sits in front of his Drum monitor!! (and no he won't try a headphone Mic or IEM's!!!). A used Mackie 1608 sounds interesting - is the tech still OK - seems like it was launched over 10 years ago?

This is why I'd prefer a unit which has the control interface built into it i.e. a Touchscreen. If the remote (WiFi) access goes down for any reason I would still have access to the mixer via the built in screen - so an inconvenience but not a disaster! This would make me lean into the A&H CQ 18T or something similar.

Bit of a thread migration this ..... but ... High Pressure gig last night - Music Bar/Venue. Awful Acoustics. We've played there three times previously, with "in house" sound people. In House PA (Old RCF Tops above 18inch subs) in a kind of cupboard either side of stage. We've always hated playing there as we can't hear anything on the stage and we feel it sounds awful out front. So we always perform badly. Last night we asked a young local band to support us (they're really good and we want to encourage them) - I did the sound for both bands and they used our equipment. Bad start as the in-house PA was dead on one side - but I'd taken our tops ... just in case". Phew! Took along a "borrowed" 2x2Channel GEQ unit, and a new mic (Sontronics Solo - thanks Chienmortbb!!), rolled off virtually everything below 150 Hz to compensate for two subs in relatively small space with no access to their controls! and dipped the upper-mids. Controlled Feedback with cuts at around 8kHz +/_ . Bass for the first time predominantly via front of house, along with 3x Vocals and 4x Drums (triggers). Support band sounded really good (comedy value in me running up and down between FOH and back stage, tweaking stuff as they played) with lots of comment on how good they sounded. And then us. Hadn't had time to sound check so added a "Start Number" to make sure all was well - vocalist's Dad in the audience being our "ears" . Changeover time >10mins! And it sounded great - we could hear ourselves (2 Monitors front of stage and 1 drum monitor), the audience loved it and we were invited to come back ASAP by the "Management" . Still a struggle to tame our (but not the Support act's) female vocals but I now realise its a feature of her VERY strong voice! So - great night, had a blast! Stressful .... oh yes! Useful, definitely! Using a rack of GEQ's at live small venue gigs is a non starter - too big, additional complexity, and just not time to adjust once things "kick off". Trying to deal with very strong vocals, plus feedback, plus everyone's requests for different things via monitors etc, is very hard with a mixer with only 1 mid control and 3 Aux outs. And then, as we left our Guitarist said to the group - thanks for the Great Sound!! So, all in all, major motivation to go for a small "does it all Digital Mixer" !!!!

PS. First time I've actually put the Bass through the PA in any meaningful way (usually just into monitor mix). Revelation!

Thanks everyone for all the practical and informative help on this thread - really helpful. Took 2x2channel Graphic Equalisers to my Gig Last night along with A Sontronics Solo Mic, which Chienmortbb kindly supplied. Set up and did sound for our band and our support band. They used all our gear. Both bands Guitar/Bass/Drums/Female Vocals. Key findings. Got the Support sounding great - including female vocals, Drums (Triggers on Kick/Snare/FloorTom/Rack Tom), 3 Vocals, Guitar and Bass ALL included in PA mix. Spoke to someone who saw them last week who said their sound was transformed ..... in a good way. No issues with female vocal. My band .......... pretty good, but female vocal still on the "bright side". Phil's vid demonstrates the issue exactly. So, take away is ..... The Mic helped - I think it's noticeably "smoother" than the Shure SM58 and our vocalist likes it!! At live gigs, a rack of GEQ's just isn't an option due to space, time to set up, and ability to tweak 124 faders during a live performance whilst playing bass! I can get some (benign) female vocals to sound good, but with challenging, full on, vocals I struggle with our current gear/time available mid gig. So, the inescapable conclusion is that I just put up with life as it is, or get a mixer with more functionality so that I can build a basic profile for our vocalist which can be "tweaked" if needed at gigs! I'll continue on the How Did Last Night's Gig Go thread, and the Digital Mixer Thread.

Great vid!

Any thoughts on the A&H MixPad compared to the Mackie Master Fader? I've downloaded the MixPad and it looks pretty good in terms of layout and Fader "size" - I'm still lacking a bit of confidence in moving to a Magic Black box without a incorporated screen etc .... but .........

The Mackie control app does look good! I've downloaded the CQ18T Control app (CQ MixPad) and that seems pretty straightforward and clear too for "on the fly" use. I'm probably more likely to feel comfortable with the A&H CQ 18t mixer as it has a built in screen and some rotary controls etc. This means that I'm not dependent on any Network connectivity when playing live, i.e. if the wireless didn't work I have a base unit which (I guess?) will be fine. Last thing I need is a glitchy connection whilst trying to play bass, sort our stage sound , sort out FOH sound and stand up whilst still breathing!! This is why Yamaha DM3 and A&H CQ 18T are more "attractive" too me. Does rely on Magic, but looks as though it doesn't!