Problem with small cabs on small stages

#81
agedhorse said:
It’s a tuned radiator, similar to a port in operation yet different at the same time.
Click to expand...
Mastermold said:
The Mesa WA Scout cabinet solved this with a port on the bottom so you hear everything even standing right next to it. If you can find one, get it.

Yes. The port on a cab can be thought of as a kind of "release valve" opening, where the cabinet design can have a very small and extremely limited lower frequency range "tuned out" of the equation to bring the cabinet to it's peak performance and not blow out the driver.

The port isn't for hearing lows better, it's part of the design to tune that cab's frequency response. Any perception of it sounding better in the low end, is just that...perception but not reality.

A cab with a downward facing "radiator" speaker on the bottom, is using that speaker as a very limited low end driver, that isn't even powered. It receives its energy via the cab design.
 
Last edited:
#82
M-Mittlesteadt said:
Yes. The port on a cab can be thought of as a kind of "release valve" opening, where the cabinet design can have a very small and extremely limited lower frequency range "tuned out" of the equation to bring the cabinet to it's peak performance and not blow out the driver.

The port isn't for hearing lows better, it's part of the design to tune that cab's frequency response. Any perception of it sounding better in the low end, is just that...perception but not reality.

A cab with a downward facing "radiator" speaker on the bottom, is using that speaker as a very limited low end driver, that isn't even powered. It receives its energy via the cab design.
Click to expand...
I am fairly certain Agedhorse knows exactly what ports and passive radiators on cabinets do and how they behave, he designs them for one of the top tier manufacturers of bass gear.
 
  • Like
Reactions: -Asdfgh- and Jeff Scott
#85
M-Mittlesteadt said:
Yes. The port on a cab can be thought of as a kind of "release valve" opening, where the cabinet design can have a very small and extremely limited lower frequency range "tuned out" of the equation to bring the cabinet to it's peak performance and not blow out the driver.

The port isn't for hearing lows better, it's part of the design to tune that cab's frequency response. Any perception of it sounding better in the low end, is just that...perception but not reality.

A cab with a downward facing "radiator" speaker on the bottom, is using that speaker as a very limited low end driver, that isn't even powered. It receives its energy via the cab design.
Click to expand...
Except that this is completely incorrect. It also sounds like another AI response gone wrong.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: RColie, -Asdfgh-, FRoss6788 and 1 other person
#87
Never understand these 'can't hear myself' threads.
My cabs on the floor, its loud enough for me at the level I want and need to play.
The drummer will play to my level. The gtr and others do the same.
The only reason that hearing everything would be a problem is if someone was overbearingly loud...
But guys that can't hear and play to an appropriate volume don't get the gig..

How loud is this gig, not to be able to hear yourself???
 
  • Like
Reactions: Passinwind
#88
M-Mittlesteadt said:
How so? Maybe I just worded it wrongly. The port isn't for hearing the low end through a cab better, it's for tuning the cab properly, isn't it? . Or are you talking about the passive radiator?
Click to expand...
Both are part of the tuned spring-mass system.

Around the tuning frequency of the system, the port or passive radiator contributes over 50% of sound energy. Yes, it’s very significant.
 
  • Like
Reactions: /\/\3phist0 and M-Mittlesteadt
#89
pepj said:
Never understand these 'can't hear myself' threads.
My cabs on the floor, its loud enough for me at the level I want and need to play.
The drummer will play to my level. The gtr and others do the same.
The only reason that hearing everything would be a problem is if someone was overbearingly loud...
But guys that can't hear and play to an appropriate volume don't get the gig..

How loud is this gig, not to be able to hear yourself???
Click to expand...
Your situation is not what I would call all that typical. I prefer it myself, but usually it is what it is.
 
  • Like
Reactions: anderbass, FRoss6788 and Zbysek
#90
agedhorse said:
Both are part of the tuned spring-mass system.

Around the tuning frequency of the system, the port or passive radiator contributes over 50% of sound energy. Yes, it’s very significant.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:

I think we're just misunderstanding each other. Of course the port is significant in contributing to how well the low end is heard overall (as designed). I used to design and build bass cabs myself for about 25 years.

Carry on. Now I remember why I quit TB 7 years ago. :laugh:
 
#91
pepj said:
Never understand these 'can't hear myself' threads.
My cabs on the floor, its loud enough for me at the level I want and need to play.
The drummer will play to my level. The gtr and others do the same.
The only reason that hearing everything would be a problem is if someone was overbearingly loud...
But guys that can't hear and play to an appropriate volume don't get the gig..

How loud is this gig, not to be able to hear yourself???
Click to expand...
I also don't understand people who play loud, and never have any problem hearing myself even with a 50w head, that's not the issue.

I started this thread because sometimes when the stage is so tiny that I have to play only 2 meters away from my cab, it projects the sound into my legs, so if I set the volume to my liking I'm too loud for the audience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zbysek, /\/\3phist0 and M-Mittlesteadt
#92
M-Mittlesteadt said:
:thumbsup:

I think we're just misunderstanding each other. Of course the port is significant in contributing to how well the low end is heard overall (as designed). I used to design and build bass cabs myself for about 25 years.

Carry on. Now I remember why I quit TB 7 years ago. :laugh:
Click to expand...
So you are saying you quit TB before because you objected to being corrected for perpetuating incorrect information?

C’mon, re-read your post because your follow-up contradicts what you said before.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: John D Harris, Jeff Scott, FRoss6788 and 2 others
#93
gtirard said:
I also don't understand people who play loud, and never have any problem hearing myself even with a 50w head, that's not the issue.

I started this thread because sometimes when the stage is so tiny that I have to play only 2 meters away from my cab, it projects the sound into my legs, so if I set the volume to my liking I'm too loud for the audience.
Click to expand...
But...the stage is plenty large enough if you move that table out of the way, right? :laugh:

I know what you mean. Sometimes there is barely room for the bass player to even sit on the cab. I generally prefer to raise my cab a bit, or tilt it. And I no longer will even consider playing in a band that is too loud onstage. If my little Rumble 100 combo can't be heard, I'm in the wrong band.
 
#94
gtirard said:
I also don't understand people who play loud, and never have any problem hearing myself even with a 50w head, that's not the issue.

I started this thread because sometimes when the stage is so tiny that I have to play only 2 meters away from my cab, it projects the sound into my legs, so if I set the volume to my liking I'm too loud for the audience.
Click to expand...
I’ve played in situations where my rig is 3 ft behind me, and I’m 6ft tall, hence the solutions I provided were, and are employed currently as needed. With success i emphasize.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gtirard and M-Mittlesteadt
#95
agedhorse said:
So you are saying you quit TB before because you objected to being corrected for perpetuating incorrect information? :laugh: No. I stopped playing for about 7 years. That's why I left TB. It just became irrelevant at the time.

C’mon, re-read your post because your follow-up contradicts what you said before. That's why I said I probably worded my reply so to not be understood as I intended it. That's what I get for replying while at work. ;)
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: agedhorse
#96
2saddleslab said:
Recently used a foldable stool to de-couple and it worked pretty well.

View attachment 7040602
Click to expand...
I have one of those stools somewhere, although in purple. My wife's not very tall and likes purple but she doesn't use it very often...

I have an amp stand with tilt back but I've never found a good solution for the amp that keeps it on the cab at a convenient height and allows access to all parts of the amp and isn't a pain to attach/detach. It looked a bit weird using the amp stand and then an X-type keyboard stand set to the tallest possible setting to actually fit under a 19 inch rack sized amp and it didn't feel very stable on a stage with people and with a cord / toppling device in the input jack. So the tilt back has mostly gone unused so far.
 
Last edited:
#97
I use the PJB Ear Box in order to deal with the issue discussed in this thread.

Sometimes I am forced to play in tiny places where I stand right in front of my cab (or above my cab actually). Ear Box placed on a mic stand next to my ear allows me to hear my Bass well without playing too loud.
 
  • Like
Reactions: /\/\3phist0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back