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Amplifying Acoustic Guitars Through A Pa


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Could do with some feddback on this today as we play this evening!

Had a practice yesterday before playing a gig tonight and am getting used to operating the PA I bought.

One thing I would like to improve if possible is the sound coming from the acoustic guitars. I realise that putting them through mics would be the best answer to get a decent 'guitar like' sound but that is not an option - I don't have enough (or suitable) mics and the two of us would probably not stand still enough to get a consistent sound!

I have a Fishman pickup which I take on and off my acoustic (which I believe is supposed to give a good sound) which goes straight into the input on the amp designed for such, Alastair's has a pre-amp on his guitar. The levels that come out are fine.

When we played live I must admit that I didn't think the guitar sound was bad, but listening to it last night on tape (I recorded it directly from the amp as all the instruments and voices are mixed through the amp) the guitar sound that 'amplified twangy acoustic piezo pick up' sound which it would be nice to chop down on if possible.

Questions...

1 Is the sound on tape likely to be different or is it a 'true' representation?

2 Does the mix direct out of the amp to tape sound different than it does live - I think I read something somewhere that it does sound different? I particularly noticed that the bass was very up front whereas it didn't sound like that when we did it?

3 Are there some basic EQ settings that might make the guitar sound more like a guitar! If not such is life. I have a separate LOW MIDDLE HIGH on each channel. I realise every set up is different but any general hints would be handy

Other ones...

4 We are playing outside - anything to bear in mind?

5 We played in a hall yesterday at what we consider a similar volume level to today. As we have no monitor speakers we pointed the speakers towards us so we could hear. There were no feedback problems. Do you think we will get away with putting the speakers to the side and back of us - it's either that or trying to sort out monitoring

Something like:

SPKR .................................................................... SPKR

..................................... US AND MICS

........................................ AUDIENCE

Thanks in advance

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Hey Nick

Sorry, just saw this

Depending on the engineer and desk set up, the tape version could be the same or different, though it is quite common to set up a separate mix from the main pa out.

The biggest difference is where the backline is not miked up, or there is a reliance on acoustic volume for some instruments - this obviously doesn't go through the pa.

EQ? Have a look at the suggestions here:

http://www.songstuff.com/articles.php?selected=53

Outside playing means no natural reverb (although it does depend on where you are playing.) It also means playing at a slightly louder volume. There is nothing to contain or reflect the sound so it disipates.

Lastly, speakers placed behind and off to the side can work, sort of, but be wary of feedback, and it has to be said using monitors is A LOT easier. :)

Cheers

John

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