Stage Volume and Monitoring

el_camello

Joined: Jul 04, 2010
Posts: 369
Ottawa
Canada

Posted on Dec 16 2016 12:03 PM

I'm getting ready for a show and am wondering how you guys handle stage volume and monitoring.

The last show I played my stage volume was really low and I just couldn't get enough of my guitar in my monitor to hear myself properly. I was thinking of trying to just set my amp to whatever volume I need it to be to hear myself. Whatever the monitor situation if I can hear myself and the drum I think I'm ok.

What do you guys think? Is this a normal thing to do?

—

-Pierre
The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf)
The Obsidians debut EP

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derekirving

Joined: Nov 03, 2011
Posts: 660

Posted on Dec 16 2016 12:42 PM

Pierre - the key is you shouldn't get into a volume competition with the band, you know (?). You can try to put your amp on a chair so it's elevated closer to your ears. Maybe the drummer or whole band is too loud (?). You should be able to hear yourself if the guitar is coming through the monitors (assuming) you're in the correct location to hear the monitors properly AND you don't have a bunch of other things coming through the same monitor. You want everyone to be about the same volume so it's balanced. A good sound man or experienced band leader will help accomplish this. Additionally, some rooms/venue/clubs are just strange when it comes to sound - some will soak everything up, some will bounce or reflect sound everywhere and some just do strange things to certain frequencies. You didn't mention what type of amp you have so I'm going to guess it's at least a 25 watt guitar amp (heck any amp mic'ed could be good enought) all the best ~Derek p.s. in my band we play a bunch of diff rooms, some gigs everything mic'ed some only vocals mic'ed. I have my band play at a reasonable level, my drummer is not loud and I actually wear ear plugs on stage to protect my hearing. This works for me and my band. My volume goal is to never be told we're too loud.

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psychonaut

Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1304
2 Download Pins

Posted on Dec 16 2016 01:09 PM

Well we're a pretty loud band and I make no excuses for that. We don't play anywhere that can't handle it or has an issue with it tho... that said, I need to be loud enough to at least compete with the drums - which are heavy and aggressive in our band by design. If my drummer played any other way, it would completely change our dynamic. We're not marshall stack loud mind you, but we are 50 watt fender loud. In my experience most club level monitor systems are inadequate and a lot of club sound guys don't have a clue. I'm referring to bars and the like. Also in that type of venue a mic'd guitar amp is usualy a ridiculous idea to begin with, Things are much different in bigger venues with proper sound systems - but those types of venues can handle the volume. It always comes down to being able to hear you self over the drummer, and for the whole band to be balanced with each other. Just set it like you do at rehearsal, most times it's not an issue, and there are loads of ways to deal with it if you're told you are too loud. Believe it or not just pretending to turn down was enough to please the sound guy sometimes!

—

https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Dec 16 2016 01:19 PM

We "practice like we play". We know where our volumes need to be and we don't second guess that live. It is something we discuss as a band and dial in at practice. We don't get asked to turn down and people are able to mic us successfully. Only trumpet gets/needs monitoring.

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el_camello

Joined: Jul 04, 2010
Posts: 369
Ottawa
Canada

Posted on Dec 16 2016 03:37 PM

derek: I have tilt-back legs and the amp was pointing at my head. My amp was simply not loud enough to be heard with the drums but was mic'ed going through the PA loud enough for the crowd. My band plays unapologetically fast and loud, so our goals are probably very different!

psychonaut & jake: I like the "practice like we play" mentality. I will try that next time.

About pretending to turn down for the sound guy... I think it goes both ways. I think the sound guy was pretending to put more of my guitar in the monitor!

—

-Pierre
The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf)
The Obsidians debut EP

Top

derekirving

Joined: Nov 03, 2011
Posts: 660

Posted on Dec 16 2016 03:56 PM

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Dec 17 2016 03:23 AM

el_camello wrote:

My band plays unapologetically fast and loud, so our goals are probably very different!

We play apologetically and uncompromisingly loud!

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revmike

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3854
North Atlantic
Canada

Posted on Dec 17 2016 09:15 AM

Hey Pierre,

I don't rely on the club's monitors when I can help it. Most of the monitors that I've encountered sound really crappy, poorly representing the guitar tone.

Rev

—

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

Last edited: Dec 17, 2016 09:16:09

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stevel

Joined: Oct 12, 2012
Posts: 219
Hampton Roads, Virginia
United States

Posted on Dec 18 2016 04:21 PM

What kind of amplifier do you have?

If you can't hear yourself on stage:

You need a louder amp.

or

You need adequate monitoring.

How old are you?

Volume wars are commonplace with inexperienced players who think that's the way it should be and haven't yet learned how to sound GOOD rather than just loud.

But, if you get louder to match, trust me, you'll go deaf. Not tomorrow, but sometime in the future you're going to wish you had used earplugs from this point onward.

Trust me, I unfortunately know.

Top

el_camello

Joined: Jul 04, 2010
Posts: 369
Ottawa
Canada

Posted on Dec 18 2016 08:27 PM

stevel: This is not a volume war issue; my amp can go plenty loud and I'm old enough to know the difference between good and just plain loud. My amp was simply low volume on stage and near-non-existent in my monitor. In retrospect I should of just turned my amp up. The sound was well mixed for the crowd and the sound guy could have easily lowered me in the PA.

Mike: I think I'm starting to realize the importance of hearing good quality tone while playing on stage. I will follow this advice on monitors.

The lesson I derive from this is that when possible try to avoid leaving important things like hearing yourself on stage to the mercy of chance!

—

-Pierre
The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf)
The Obsidians debut EP

Top

el_camello Joined: Jul 04, 2010 Posts: 369 Ottawa	Posted on Dec 16 2016 12:03 PM I'm getting ready for a show and am wondering how you guys handle stage volume and monitoring. The last show I played my stage volume was really low and I just couldn't get enough of my guitar in my monitor to hear myself properly. I was thinking of trying to just set my amp to whatever volume I need it to be to hear myself. Whatever the monitor situation if I can hear myself and the drum I think I'm ok. What do you guys think? Is this a normal thing to do? — -Pierre The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf) The Obsidians debut EP Top
derekirving Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660	Posted on Dec 16 2016 12:42 PM Pierre - the key is you shouldn't get into a volume competition with the band, you know (?). You can try to put your amp on a chair so it's elevated closer to your ears. Maybe the drummer or whole band is too loud (?). You should be able to hear yourself if the guitar is coming through the monitors (assuming) you're in the correct location to hear the monitors properly AND you don't have a bunch of other things coming through the same monitor. You want everyone to be about the same volume so it's balanced. A good sound man or experienced band leader will help accomplish this. Additionally, some rooms/venue/clubs are just strange when it comes to sound - some will soak everything up, some will bounce or reflect sound everywhere and some just do strange things to certain frequencies. You didn't mention what type of amp you have so I'm going to guess it's at least a 25 watt guitar amp (heck any amp mic'ed could be good enought) all the best ~Derek p.s. in my band we play a bunch of diff rooms, some gigs everything mic'ed some only vocals mic'ed. I have my band play at a reasonable level, my drummer is not loud and I actually wear ear plugs on stage to protect my hearing. This works for me and my band. My volume goal is to never be told we're too loud. Top
psychonaut Joined: Dec 08, 2007 Posts: 1304	Posted on Dec 16 2016 01:09 PM Well we're a pretty loud band and I make no excuses for that. We don't play anywhere that can't handle it or has an issue with it tho... that said, I need to be loud enough to at least compete with the drums - which are heavy and aggressive in our band by design. If my drummer played any other way, it would completely change our dynamic. We're not marshall stack loud mind you, but we are 50 watt fender loud. In my experience most club level monitor systems are inadequate and a lot of club sound guys don't have a clue. I'm referring to bars and the like. Also in that type of venue a mic'd guitar amp is usualy a ridiculous idea to begin with, Things are much different in bigger venues with proper sound systems - but those types of venues can handle the volume. It always comes down to being able to hear you self over the drummer, and for the whole band to be balanced with each other. Just set it like you do at rehearsal, most times it's not an issue, and there are loads of ways to deal with it if you're told you are too loud. Believe it or not just pretending to turn down was enough to please the sound guy sometimes! — https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger http://coffindaggers.com/ http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Dec 16 2016 01:19 PM We "practice like we play". We know where our volumes need to be and we don't second guess that live. It is something we discuss as a band and dial in at practice. We don't get asked to turn down and people are able to mic us successfully. Only trumpet gets/needs monitoring. Top
el_camello Joined: Jul 04, 2010 Posts: 369 Ottawa	Posted on Dec 16 2016 03:37 PM derek: I have tilt-back legs and the amp was pointing at my head. My amp was simply not loud enough to be heard with the drums but was mic'ed going through the PA loud enough for the crowd. My band plays unapologetically fast and loud, so our goals are probably very different! psychonaut & jake: I like the "practice like we play" mentality. I will try that next time. About pretending to turn down for the sound guy... I think it goes both ways. I think the sound guy was pretending to put more of my guitar in the monitor! — -Pierre The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf) The Obsidians debut EP Top
derekirving Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660	Posted on Dec 16 2016 03:56 PM Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Dec 17 2016 03:23 AM el_camello wrote: My band plays unapologetically fast and loud, so our goals are probably very different! We play apologetically and uncompromisingly loud! Top
revmike Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3854 North Atlantic	Posted on Dec 17 2016 09:15 AM Hey Pierre, I don't rely on the club's monitors when I can help it. Most of the monitors that I've encountered sound really crappy, poorly representing the guitar tone. Rev — Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Last edited: Dec 17, 2016 09:16:09 Top
stevel Joined: Oct 12, 2012 Posts: 219 Hampton Roads, Virginia	Posted on Dec 18 2016 04:21 PM What kind of amplifier do you have? If you can't hear yourself on stage: You need a louder amp. or You need adequate monitoring. How old are you? Volume wars are commonplace with inexperienced players who think that's the way it should be and haven't yet learned how to sound GOOD rather than just loud. But, if you get louder to match, trust me, you'll go deaf. Not tomorrow, but sometime in the future you're going to wish you had used earplugs from this point onward. Trust me, I unfortunately know. Top
el_camello Joined: Jul 04, 2010 Posts: 369 Ottawa	Posted on Dec 18 2016 08:27 PM stevel: This is not a volume war issue; my amp can go plenty loud and I'm old enough to know the difference between good and just plain loud. My amp was simply low volume on stage and near-non-existent in my monitor. In retrospect I should of just turned my amp up. The sound was well mixed for the crowd and the sound guy could have easily lowered me in the PA. Mike: I think I'm starting to realize the importance of hearing good quality tone while playing on stage. I will follow this advice on monitors. The lesson I derive from this is that when possible try to avoid leaving important things like hearing yourself on stage to the mercy of chance! — -Pierre The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf) The Obsidians debut EP Top

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Stage Volume and Monitoring