AW: [Harp-L] Recommended PA Settings

["Tom Deimbacher" <bluesmaster@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi!
I'm a soundengineer and the gain regulates only one thing; how much signal
is coming from the input (instrument) to the preamp in the mixing
desk...this incoming signal must not clip at all times. The "internal
working range", as you call it, is for all mixing desks always the
same...from unity to 0dB. Anything above 0dB will not only distort the
output but can harm everything in the signalflow from the preamp in the
mixing desk to the speakers...we are talking PA-systems, not
instrument-amplifiers or HIFI-systems...the differences are substantial.


Tom Deimbacher
sound engineer


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] Im Auftrag
von Rick Davis
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 17. September 2008 03:47
An: John F. Potts; Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
Betreff: Re: [Harp-L] Recommended PA Settings

The ONLY purpose of a trim pot (gain knob) on a mixer is to match the input
signal to the internal working range of the mixer.  Too much gain and the
signal will clip, which is a very obnoxious sound in a PA system.  To little
gain and you amplify the noise floor.  The rules are the same for your harp
as they are for any other mic'ed instrument.

If the gain is set properly, the channel fader will have a useful sweep of
your signal, from low to high.  If not, it will be impossible to get your
signal to "sit" in the mix.

Set your channel and master faders to unity gain (minus zero).  Set your EQ
knobs to zero.  Have the band (including you) play a loud passage.  The
sound guy should advance your channel gain until it clips (an LED will
flicker) and then back it off about 10 percent.  After that don't touch the
channel gain because changing it can foul up any downstream processing,
causing a real mess.

EQ settings on PA for harp are a lot like the settings on your amp:  Roll
off the highs a bit and maybe boost the mid bass.  Or, use a preamp or pedal
chain before the PA mixer, and then properly set the gain on your processed
signal.  Remember, clipping distortion sounds great in your tube amp but it
sounds terrible in a PA.  The only place to control it is the trim pot.
That is what it is for.

-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
http://www.bluesharpamps.blogspot.com/


On Tue, Sep 16, 2008 at 6:27 PM, John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>        I'm not a sound tech, but this is what I've learned from my own
> experience playing harp through PA boards with low impedance non-bullet
> style mics: The most important controls are volume, gain (sometimes called
> pad or trim) and midrange.  Typically a harp player will roll,off some
> treble and pump the bass up a bit.  But the most interesting and helpful
> variations over tone control for harp are a product of  where you set the
> gain relative to the volume and how much or little you pump the midrange.
> Paying attention to the bass and treble settings, is, of course,
important,
> but that's not where the action is--real control comes from the
relationship
> between the gain setting and volume setting and where you put the
midrange,
>  Btw, don't assume all feedback problems are treble related--too high a
bass
> setting can cause feedback, too. Also, too much bass can make your tone
> muddy, and too little treble may take away "cut"  and also result in a
> muddled tone. Much of this depends on the particular mic that is being
used.
> Considerations for bullet mics are different, but I'm not a bullet mic
guy.
>   BE CAREFUL when you turn up the gain, it can cause immediate feedback
and
> keep in mind that a little increase in gain goes a long way. When you turn
> up the gain,  you must lower the volume control to compensate because
> increasing the gain gives you a "hotter" and also louder signal.  The mic
> will be more sensitive with the gain turned up and therefore more
responsive
> to hand and breath technique, which may or may not be a good thing
depending
> upon whether  the player knows what he is doing.
>        I hope this made sense
>        JP
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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