Getting More Volume Through the Bass Channel Live

[Enrique]

I am a bass player. My band went ampless for studio rehearsals about 8 months ago (with the exception of the drums).

Every thing sounds great, except the bass. I just cant get the volume I need in the headphones without clipping the signal to the mixer. It sounds great in the recording, but live, I can barely hear myself.

I’ve tried a couple different sets of headphones and worked on shielding myself from the drums in case the issue is I am just getting too much sound from the kit. And, I still have not ruled that out. But so far, no luck. I’ve played with the EQ on my pedal board and that has helped a little. So does adding some compression from the CQ, but still… I am looking for ideas to increase the Volume of the bass in the live mix.

The mixer is not mine, but I am in the studio every week and the owner is cool with trying whatever. Also, I realize some terms I used may not be used in their proper technical sense. Please forgive a guy who just wants his bass to sound as good live in his headphones as it does in the recording.

Any ideas? I realize you may want more information on my set up.

Enrique

[Buck]

Have you Check the gain on whatever aux you are on if on an aux. I had the same problem with my inears until I found the knob and turned it up it was set on 0db to start with.

[TIMOT]

I would consider purchasing a good quality headphone amplifier and placing it in-line with your mix out of the CQ.
Drummers are notoriously loud… 😉

[Enrique]

Thanks, we discovered that knob last rehearsal, so I will certainly be monitoring it. Seems like there was something going on with the auto-gain, where my channel was getting turned down to 0 db, I assume after clipping.

[Enrique]

TIMOT said: “I would consider purchasing a good quality headphone amplifier and placing it in-line with your mix out of the CQ.
Drummers are notoriously loud… 😉”

I am using a Behringer P-1. I have no clue if that is good quality or not. I know the studio beater headphones I have been using were not. So I brought my DT 880 pros — and could barley hear a thing. Bought some DT 770 Pros (80 ohm) and the beater cans were louder, so I sent the DT 770 back. I have some KZ S210 IEMs coming, and when they arrive, will put my “time to chain saw” ear muffs over the top of them to resolve the issue in terms of too much drum in the studio.

If I need a higher quality headphone amp, do you have a suggestion?

[Buck]

Take auto gain off the channel.
I think that will help also.

[Author]

Posts