Different Venue every week .... is EQing the FOH "Mains" rather than the individual inputs a shortcut ..... or heresy?

[Pirellithecat]

Been tinkering with this ...... 
Have a fairly good mix sorted out where the Kick and Bass complement each other, the Vocals aren't too harsh, and guitars pretty much work with the rest. 
And then we play another busy pub, with its unique boomy resonance or shrill upper frequency peaks. 
So why not use the "Baseline" mix and EQ the Main PA speakers to take account of the room's "specialness"? 
Particularly important where time is tight and a sound check is a one song opportunity....... 
Using GEQ rather than PEQ on the mains, and adjusting sub volume  as necessary. 

Is this Heresay or potentially a good idea? 
 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Since the room affects everything in the PA you want to adjust the GEQ. 

[Downunderwonder]

If more PA was ever eq'd for the room we would have less rubbish sound.

[Pirellithecat]

Before I bought the CQ18T,  I borrowed a pair of Peavey Graphic Equalisers, for a big gig, in a notoriously difficult venue.  Worked a treat, as I could tweak the settings whilst the first band were on.  By the time we were on everything sounded good.   But far too much hassle for routine gigs where I'm playing and trying to do the sound.  With the CQ18T, it's easier to do, but as few people seem to do it I thought there might be a good reason not too .   I'll percevere!!

[Phil Starr]

16 hours ago, Pirellithecat said:

Been tinkering with this ...... 
Have a fairly good mix sorted out where the Kick and Bass complement each other, the Vocals aren't too harsh, and guitars pretty much work with the rest. 
And then we play another busy pub, with its unique boomy resonance or shrill upper frequency peaks. 
So why not use the "Baseline" mix and EQ the Main PA speakers to take account of the room's "specialness"? 
Particularly important where time is tight and a sound check is a one song opportunity....... 
Using GEQ rather than PEQ on the mains, and adjusting sub volume  as necessary. 

Is this Heresay or potentially a good idea? 
 

It's standard practice and you shouldn't really be doing anything else. the only problem is when a substantial part of your sound is coming from backline. Obviously if you have set up your bass amp on an open stage and you are forced into a corner at the next gig then cutting the boom on the PA won't alter the boom from your amp. If you are operating without back line then you lose that problem.

[Pirellithecat]

Sadly a fair bit of "noise" comes from loud drums and backline.

But it's a journey ...... Bass now quieter on stage, as is 2nd guitar, as these are " augmented" via the PA.  We now use triggers on the drums so there are fewer mics on stage which helps a little too.  But, there are things you can affect and things you can't ..... Reports from fellow musicians suggest we sound great, so perhaps I'm stressing unnecessarily 🤣

[JPJ]

I do this all the time. Our channel settings have been dialled in on the XR18 for a few years now, so I use the six band semi-parametric eq on the mains to eq to the room. I also save scenes for each venue so I have the last gig at that venue as a starting point. My only other comment is subtractive eq is much more preferable to additive. 

[Pirellithecat]

Excellent - thanks all! 
I'll up my "Mains" EQing from now on! 
Cheers!

[Chienmortbb]

If you use a huge rig, you will likely use either SMART or Open Sound Meter before the gig to set up your baseline  sound d. This is effectively tuning to the venue. 
 

As working musicians we do not have that luxury but in my opinion you still have all your channels, EQ, Dynamics and effects set up in advance, tweaking slightly the main output for conditions at the venue. Of course if you set up in an empty venue you will need to tweak once full of mobile acoustic absorbers,  (people) arrive en masse. 

[Owen]

4 hours ago, Pirellithecat said:

Sadly a fair bit of "noise" comes from loud drums and backline.

But it's a journey ...... 

A euphemism if I heard one

[Pirellithecat]

10 minutes ago, Owen said:

A euphemism if I heard one

You may say that, I couldn't possibly comment 🫢🤣🤣