Twice now I’ve performed where the provided system was less than stellar: budget PA with neither monitoring nor dedicated sound tech. I don’t necessarily have an issue with this as they are somewhat DIY events/venues and I enjoy them (and shoot I’ll take anything).
Problem is I can’t hear anything properly and basically guess as to what I’m doing (re transitions, fade in/outs and sound ect)
So what do you fine people recommend I do when facing this issue? Is it my problem and need to ensure I pre-mix well? Do I work with headphones to hear what I’m doing better (I like to improvise a lot)?
In theory you have to send your live configuration sheet (Few weeks before the event) and you can request the Event to give you a mixer, proper monitor(s)… I always have my headphones + preamp with me in case i need it… and a pairs of ears filter to protect my ears if the sound is very loud.
They must for the sake of everyone pleased the people with a Good sounding, at least provide you a monitor to return you nicely what you making Live.
Think exactly like a band, except you can be demanding if your music is heavy Bass you need Bass so a proper PA with SUB etc…
Headphones or in ear monitors are definitely a must have for live performance. I don’t wear my headphones the entire time when performing, id feel lost if I didn’t have them at all
Honestly, just keep playing. Every situation is going to be different, with custom solutions for the room, gear, and event. You’ll eventually start to notice similarities in shitty situations, and be able to adapt like you did in prior experiences.
Also, if that’s really that big of an issue, buy a single PA speaker and bring your own monitor.
I have to do this sometimes. (Why wouldn’t you wanna play at house parties etc.??) You really have to be flexible and think on your feet when you realise that certain frequencies just aren’t going to be audible (or will be horrribly distorted!)
Just take headphones, and use them if you need to. Obviously it’s better if you can hear the PA, because then you’re mixing what the audience hears, but if (for example) you’re stuck behind the PA speakers, with no monitoring, you might just have to use headphones and hope for the best.
Monitoring is petty essential in my opinion, I’d borrow a monitor, use headphones, or worst case put one of the mains behind you…
Until it’s the level of gig Williams talking about, you gotta just check in before hand and see what they got, and if possible bring other stuff. Do you know anyone you could borrow maybe one monitor for a night?
Important to do you own soundcheck too if no one else is, play sections of a few of your tracks and go out on the dance floor and see how it sounds and try to get a general mix/eq yourself…
I don’t know what your rig is like or if there is a mixer at the gigs, but I’d try to make it so you can mix from where your performing using a monitor or headphones, and occasionally run out on the floor for a hot second and make sure the mix is good on the mains…
In the past i used to take a keyboard amp with an angled back with me to gigs so a could hear myself (over a band). I don’t do it that often any more because i’m lazy and it’s not as bad when i’m the only person making noise. I often take headphones with me to do a check of my setup before playing (often no chance for sound/line checks for smaller places) and i’ll just put them on when i need to hear something better.
If you are looking for something to use as a monitor, something like a Laney AH80 is pretty flexible. You can use it as a small mixer and send the line out to a PA, or just use a Stereo DI and send the link to the monitor. Weirdly just looking them up again, they’re replaced the on-board reverb with a delay which seems less useful. I’ve heard good things about the Roland KC series, but they seem exxy, and don’t have the neat design which lets you tilt them back (though you could easily get one of those angled amp stands
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i try to always do a propper soundcheck, with me on the dancefloor (or whatever place is in the speaker sweetspot) so i can experience firsthand the sound of the speakers and the club. then i tweak the kits to better match the venue, like finding the frequency of the kick that the room resonates to, addindg or reducing high frequencies, making the kit sharper or duller, generally mixing my sound to fit the place. Love the AR for that. think the drums are essential to fix, they are what drives and defines the groove, and the rest of the elements can be tamed with a simple dj style eq found on almost every mixer.
i live in Ha Noi in Viet Nam and this kind of thing has been challenging at times too.
generally i just pick my battles now, as i feel it’s better to do less shows with better quality sound than to reduce the audience experience just for the opportunity to play.
but having said that i was where you’re at, and i applaud your enthusiasm and willingness to take every opportunity that comes your way!
Learning curve. I found playing on crap systems to be beneficial overall in adapting to situations with sound. Also makes you appreciate a professionally ran event more
Good monitor headphones on your master channel is best option
Don’t know is others share this opinion. But I think it is good to have some kind of multiband mastering unit that the main out goes through, and from there to the PA. The Elektron Heat could be an simple example even though it does not offer multiband compression(?). That way you will at least assure some kind of similar sounding sound image from occasion to occasion.
Use headphones (but mind your eardrums as tinnitus is a nightmare) and think about whether you’re getting paid enough to risk taking your gear out.
Use high pass 12db or notch filters or a basic EQ to control the bass and the band around 800Hz as this is usually the problem with bad PAs and bad venue acoustics…
@jeffe Well I’m not sure I want to bring my own monitor: considering these shows are DIY to begin with, it’s just too much to handle. But will keep on keeping on!
@brisket Headphones now permanent part of luggage!
@Open_Mike Yeah definitely planning on doing a much better job at mixing, punkers be damned.
@polite_society Not a bad idea, that speaker. I wonder if I can find a cheap keyboard amp, route a submix out of my mixer…
@mkdsl Yes, yes. I want to avoid putting the issue on my shoulders, but better mixing on my part is key and something I’ll have to deal with. I did use an AR and even on the PA I dealt with, the owners were afraid of neighbors complaining about the bass.
@tomes I’m in Central Europe. Idk I like the idealism of these kind of DIY, grass-roots events (this past was a fundraiser for an acquaintances immigration problems). I’m more interested in getting these shows right than playing at a venue already reputed for it’s sound.
@muzka For sure; good lessons. It demands I get my ears/mixes right.
@horisonten I’m not really there yet and these events are certainly not. I have an RNC that I’m going to, er, mix in to my equipment. I need to learn how to work it’s sidechain I think for best results.
@Nagualizer Good, solid advice. I’ll do my best with my Mackie 802VLZ4 and keep an ear out for those frequencies. No passable EQ, but not bad anyway.
Thanks ya’ll. Naturally, taking great care to mix right and headphones on the way!
