Do you use the POST option of your DI?

#41
I do post always. I actually ask every sound engineer and they all have said go post. I am sure if my tone sucked or was offensive they'd tell me to change. Really though, they don't want to have a 10-minute discussion over your tone when you probably cannot possibly explain frequency ranges beyond "I like lots of upper mids, but not too high." (That's me, by the way.)
 
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#42
javi_bassist said:
In the case that you use the DI out of your amp, which one do you use, PRE or POST?
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Generally pre is best from the audio tech's perspective. Gravedigger cited most of the reasons for this. An exception would be if your sound relies on a bit of grit from the preamp or if you are using effects. IMHO micing the speaker is a better solution to capture the sound of the amp than going post through a DI.

IMHO the best solution if the bassists is using distortion or other effects would be to use both pre DI and a mic. In the event a post signal or mic is fed to the monitors, the bassist can really jack everyone's mix by fiddling with volume and EQ changes throughout the night. Using pre DI for everyone's monitor mix except the bass player gives the bassist freedom to make adjustments. The audio tech will probably find it a bit irritating to have to constantly adjust the affected channel strip, but it is far more manageable if the bassist's changes only impact the main mix.
 
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#43
rwkeating said:
This is why I am a fan of flat frequency response cabinets. I know this isn't perfect, but in general, if your cabinet is flat and the house system is flat then what you hear coming out of your cabinet will be what comes out of the house system. At that point you would send a POST signal.
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Yep. It's important for a fairly flat cabinet if you're sending a post EQ DI to the mixer.
 
#44
I always ask the soundman running the venue. I run a MXR M87 at 4:1 for compression before my amp and inform him of it. If he wants to use his own compression, I shut if off and ask for a few moments to set levels on my end and make sure that I won't clip my pre. I keep my EQ flat unless the room sounds weird. I prefer post, just because I have a GK 1001RB-II and I like the little bit of grit the boost G.I.V.E circuit adds.
 
#45
javi_bassist said:
Hello everyone!

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this topic or if it would be better in the Live sound subforum, but I'm writing it here.
In the case that you use the DI out of your amp, which one do you use, PRE or POST?

I think it would be better PRE for the sound guy (I think it's easier to handle and make a better a sound). However, I also think that it will not get exactly the tone in your head.
In my case, I used to set it PRE with my Ashdown head, but now it's not working and I will have to use my Line6 Lowdown which doesn't have that option. It's just POST. So I was just wondering guys which one do you use?

PS I was using the Line6 before I bought the Ashdown and never had any complains. Actually, people always said good things about it. I was not aware about the PRE/POST option though xD
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I like PRE because if I want to change something on my amp for MY monitoring purposes it is less likely to screw things up for FOH. Still possible, for instance if I were to blast the volume, but it leaves me with a lot more options to better serve myself. Best way to get your desired tone to the audience is to talk to whoever is running FOH. An engineer otherwise probably will just EQ your post back to whatever he wants it to be.
 
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#46
I used to run Pre, could never hear myself through the floor monitors. Pretty much had to be stationed in front of my cab. Now that I run Post with a decent mid boost, I can move around the stage just fine. The sound guy we use doesn't seem to mind.
 
#47
Usually pre. I want the option to turn up or adjust something without screwing up everyone's IEM or wedge mix as well as FOH. If I'm using an effect on my bass I'll either try to get it in before the pre-amp or go post and sound check it so that I can leave it alone and ensure that I've got balanced levels with and without the effects.
 
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#48
I vote post. I need to get my basic tone out to FOH as dictated by my choice of preamp and/or pedals. From there the FOH guy can do some EQ tweaking without destroying my basic sound. I guess what I truly wish for is to have the best of both....my tone on stage and sent through FOH except for level changes. The guy running the board should be doing his job, though. Level changes are one of those duties.
 
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#49
I always use "post."
I did some A/B testing a while back in a studio and used three of my amps in "pre" and "post" mode while going directly into the board.
To me, all three sounded considerably better in "post." If that sound difference plays a significant role live, I don't know.
However, since we all know that most sound guys want a "pre" (more neutral) signal, I normally leave the EQ on my amps pretty much flat.
If it's a sound guy that I don't know, I usually tell him what kind of pedals I'll be using on the gig (especially comp pedals). Communication is king.
Has always worked very well for me.
I really hate a neutral "bass only" signal, sounds awful most of the time.
 
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#50
I'm playing in a weekly praise group currently, and for about three rehearsals the BL and the sound mixer worked with me to get it consistently the way the BL wants it. I've ended up with contour on full, EQ flat, and DI is always post. Both have listened by walking around the room and are happy. I just play for those of us on the stage - I don't have my gear so loud it gets into the room, but on stage I'm loud enough for us. It's a win-win deal with us. Just takes a little communication and time.
 
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#51
FWIW the BL and mixer also moved me around the stage for about 5 weeks. I began in the middle, then all the way over to the left stage edge, and I'm almost to the far right stage edge now. They've also changed the direction my cab is facing. Lots of work for them - I'm just playing and they do all the thinking. Last week several said the sound was the best it had been in years so their work is paying off. Playing post is just a part of a larger equation.
 
#52
I've done both and see the merits of both but more often than not, I really prefer to use a mic. Ive had the unfortune of having a few numbnutz equipment/pa owners set my di signal too hot and then tell me i have a bad cable as my signal is saturating the channel, ug.... When is it acceptable to tell someone how to use their own equipment?hehe
 
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#53
Gravedigger Dav said:
Most sound engineers will want Pre. What you hear in your head or on stage will be nothing like it sounds out front.
You EQ may not work for the FOH and it will make the engineer's job harder to dial in a good sound and he wont have to dink with your volume when you change it for what you hear.
The best way to get the tone you want out front is to talk to the engineer and describe what you want. If you have a wireless, go out front with the engineer where you can hear what he hears and help dial in your tone. If you don't, see if you can get another band member to play your bass while you go out front.
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This.. for the same reason..
 
#56
All the pre's actually surprise the hell out of me. (I haven't used my di to a soundboard so it's interesting to see what you all think).
I assume the pre always means 'direct from bass sound'

There is so much talk about TONE TONE TONE, I gotta have MY TONE. How to make my TONE better. What amp do I need for TONE...

Then you get on stage with a di and just run it pre?
 
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#58
Always post. My amp, and how it set it, is an integral part of my tone. Only once did I have a sound guy try to feed me some BS about how it had to be pre or else it would throw everything off and send an unworkable signal, blah blah blah. So he set it to pre, and walked back to his board. Of course, while his back was turned I set it back to post, we sound checked, and the guy had no problems at all, plus the bass sounded great. :)
 
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#59
Post on my regular gig, that's what my sound man wants, he knows what I'll be sending, I ask, at other gigs, I play passive Fenders, if there's enough setup time, it's usually post, if not pre is the safer bet, (they get the BDDI if it's pre anyway)
 
#60
Murdoc_420 said:
All the pre's actually surprise the hell out of me. (I haven't used my di to a soundboard so it's interesting to see what you all think).
I assume the pre always means 'direct from bass sound'

There is so much talk about TONE TONE TONE, I gotta have MY TONE. How to make my TONE better. What amp do I need for TONE...

Then you get on stage with a di and just run it pre?
Click to expand...

In a lot of club type gigs I think most amps are actually filling the room more then you'd think as well as being augmented by the pa. Come to think of it, when ever I do a gig in a larger then your average club size venue or out door festival type gig there is usually as di plus mic. So same deal I guess
 
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