Bass Processors and Live Sound....how do I setup my bass processor at home ???

[drdog]

Ok, I have a dilemma here....and I need your inputs ASAP
For my bass, I use a Line 6 POD HD500. I get fantastic sounds with it....whether I connect the POD output to my bass amps OR even my home stereo system, both systems sound great (but they each require different patch settings on my POD to sound nice). In other words, the patches have to be setup differently for my bass amps versus my stereo system.

I have a very good stereo system and good bass amps as well.

SOOOO....here is my dilemma...
I am trying to setup patches so that I can get nice sounds running direct into the house PA systems I will be playing on. I am not quite sure what "system" I should use to setup my patches at home. Should I use my bass guitar amps or should I use my home stereo system? Which of the two options would be most close to a true live PA system I will encounter?

I will be playing on various PA systems in the coming weeks. The PA systems will all have subs (multiple 18", with midrange drivers and tweeter horns….line array type PA systems). Probably 8,000 watts - 20,000 watts range.

Here are my two “systems” I have at home:
My stereo system: I plug the output of my POD HD500 XLR into my AKAI EIE PRO audio interface, then out from the AKAI into my stereo system. My stereo system Technics receiver/amp, and my speakers are Cerwin Vega 3-way speakers with 12" woofers.

My bass amps are: I use two bass amps at once….I split the signal to both amps and set all my tone controls flat on the amps flat. Both my bass amps are Eden Nemesis Combo amps. One is 350 watts and has two 10" speakers. The other is 250 watts and has ONE 15" speaker.

SOOOOOOOO.....
Which would/should you use that will give me more accurate reproduction of my expectations when I play on a live PA?

NOTE: My intent of using the processor is to bring more of the control for the front of house sound into my own hands rather than the soundman who typically leaves one setting for the entire night....because some songs demand perhaps a jazz bass growl sound (i.e. funk/slap style), whereas other songs require a flatwound/warm R&B sound and yet others may need a strong midrange/punchy sound. Perfect examples of sound extremes would be Marcus MIller sound (growly jazz bass), Motown 60's sound (R&B type flat sound) and also midrange punch sound (kind of like Red Hot Chili Peppers sound).

Finally: I should add that I do not use any effects like reverb, flangers, etc. The only "effects" I use on my POD are amp modeling and cabinet modeling, and eq controls only (graphic EQ as well as parametric EQ settings in the POD HD500). I use zero other effects (I don't like any fuzz, reverb, echo, chorus, etc etc etc for bass).

Thank you very much in advance for any help you can offer....I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Skybone]

I use a HD500X for the bas(s)is of my sound, so I know where you're coming from.

I've set my patches up so that they sound good in a recording setup. If I use my amp (Hartke HA4000 & 2x10 cab), or the amp in the rehearsal room (old Peavey & 2x 4x10's), I plug my HD500X into the Effects Return or the Power Amp In socket, bypassing the amp's pre-amp. I've heard the argument that most power-amps and speakers for bass are "coloured" but the patches still sound pretty good to me. We recently did some recording, where I used the 2 XLR outs to DI the bass, and the end result sounded really good to me.

I would say that the patches you have set up for use with your HiFi should work well with the PA, so long as the EQ is set flat.

It might be an idea to take one of your amps with you as a "stage monitor", and simply plug your HD500 into the effects return.

 

[Ulf_Hansson]

I'd say you'd get best results using your HiFi settings as a reference.
BUT: Disable anything stereo, avoid any extreme settings and make sure to keep output levels equal between your patches.
AND: When you get to the gig, talk to the FOH engineer and explain what you are about to do and make sure to give samples of all different sounds during soundcheck.