cheddatom Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Suggestion first - I was thinking last night about how you have all of this modelling software etc so you probably know the exact frequency response of your cabs at the optimum listening point. You could use that data to create a speaker emulator. A Barefaced cab with one of those new little poweramps and a DI with 100% accurrate speaker emulation on would be perfect for loads of people! Question - I'm lacking low end in a big way on my mixing rig. I have a pair of studio spares NS10s and they are OK but the low end is almost entirely missing. I have no master EQ, and I think that might be a bad idea? So i'm wondering if it would be easy enough to add a passive sub to my system? If so can you recommend one? Can I plug it into both speaker outputs on my amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I don't quite see why you'd want speaker emulation when you could just mic the cab?! Part of the design behind the Barefaced models is that they're relatively even sounding and therefore if have a clean DI through a good PA it won't sound all that far removed from your cab. Passive subs don't work very well at all - you need steep lowpass filtering and the cost of doing that well passively is as much as an entire plate amp with active filters built in. BK Electronics do very good subwoofers at low prices but whether they'll sell you one is a different matter. I orderd two from them last year and apart from an email telling me there would be a wait of a few weeks I never heard anything again, despite chasing quite a few times. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted July 3, 2009 Author Share Posted July 3, 2009 (edited) OK i'll try and find a way to use an active one. Speaker emulation would mean you don't have to rely on the soundman having good mics and good technique, that was where the idea came from. EDIT: Thanks for the info! Edited July 3, 2009 by cheddatom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 If you're into the POD thing then the Big One could pretty well simulate any rig out there. I have some ideas for a similar cab for guitarists, something much better than the Line6 cabs. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 The idea of bypassing the soundman is generally a goodone when possible. Mic'ing basscabs live can also be a devils art in itself. Especially in a small stage big room situation. If you can avoid mics live why not, The pod is a good bet but alot of people really dont like all that fiddling, I do like the fiddling and still passed it on as when I listened I noticed digital artifacts in the mix. However the DI out on the LINE6 lowdown series is fantastic, as is the DI on the Guitar amps. Also a good point made about the optimum listening point, if able to pass through the PA = more of a spread (and we all know bass is meant to be felt deep down in your guts!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Personally I find the great joy when gigging with the Big One is that the dispersion is amazing and the tone very similar to that from a big high-quality PA system, so you can either go sans PA and let the cab carry the house (it's plenty loud enough for any pub and dispersion is good enough to get the true tone out to everyone) or you can DI into the PA and get the same sound outfront as onstage. I have never ever bothered micing bass cabs when playing live, it's bad enough getting the drums, guitar, sax and three vocal mics sorted! Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escholl Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 [quote name='cheddatom' post='531460' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:30 AM']Question - I'm lacking low end in a big way on my mixing rig. I have a pair of studio spares NS10s and they are OK but the low end is almost entirely missing. I have no master EQ, and I think that might be a bad idea? So i'm wondering if it would be easy enough to add a passive sub to my system? If so can you recommend one? Can I plug it into both speaker outputs on my amp?[/quote] In line with what Alex has said, I would say don't bother with a passive sub. And no, you can't bridge the amp output like that unless it's designed to be bridged, and is dedicated just to powering a sub. What sort of amount were you looking to spend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 [quote name='escholl' post='532247' date='Jul 4 2009, 08:39 AM']In line with what Alex has said, I would say don't bother with a passive sub. And no, you can't bridge the amp output like that unless it's designed to be bridged, and is dedicated just to powering a sub. What sort of amount were you looking to spend?[/quote] Ta but i've found an active sub from a 5.1 set, and I should be able to run my amp and the sub off a little mixer I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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