HarpNinja
687 posts
Oct 12, 2010
7:47 AM
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Buddha did this at SPAH and I am considering it...
If I want to run my pedal board right into the PA, how complicated is that going to be? The "clean" sound of a PA is what I am after. Will I need a 1/4" out to go to a typical PA or something that will let me go from 1/4" to an XLR cable (DI box)?
Since I am after a clean sound for this, would I want any sort of tone shaping device on the board? Something like a preamp, compressor, or something I am unaware of?
I am starting to like the idea of keeping my amped rig and effects rig separate. To use both, I would need an amp switcher and access to a stage with monitors.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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MrVerylongusername
1292 posts
Oct 12, 2010
8:05 AM
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If you are running long cables i.e. multicore snake & stagebox, then you have to go through a DI box.
ie. Pedal Board -> DI box -> balanced XLR-XLR -> stagebox/multicore -> desk
Unbalanced line level signals do not work well over long cable runs. You will lose tone (cable capacitance) and increase noise interference.
A preamp isn't vital, your signal should be strong enough, but as you say it might be good for tone and colour. Compression might help lift you in the same way it lifts a vocal above the mix. A good PA should have one in the rack and it should go as an insert across your channel on the desk. Or you could get a channel strip style setup to go inline between pedal board and desk. For instance something like the Joe Meek optical compressors, the VC3Q is nice: Preamp, Eq and optocompressor. Sounds nice with vocals, guitar and harp and has 1/4" in and XLR out so you could skip the DI box.
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hvyj
701 posts
Oct 12, 2010
10:16 AM
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If I'm using effects direct into the PA, I prefer a multi-effects unit over pedals. Any decent PA board has enough tone controls, (as well as gain and volume settings) for any necessary tone shaping. Compression is helpful, but most multi-effects units have a compressor built in.
That being said, if you go into a 1/4" input rather than an XLR input on the PA board you bypass the mic preamp that is in the PA board. You don't need a DI box for a run shorter than 15 or 20 feet (taking into account the cabling in the pedalboard). Actually, you are probably ok up to 30 feet. Longer than that, you should use a DI box. Rolls makes a small inexpensive one called the "Matchbox" which is pretty decent.
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hvyj
704 posts
Oct 13, 2010
4:56 AM
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Another thought: dbx makes a channel strip that has a tube preamp, a 3 band EQ with sweepable mids, and a compressor in it. Also has an effects loop. Very harmonica friendly rack mount unit. Has 1/4" and XLR inputs, but the XLR input for some reason does not sound as good for harp as the 1/4" input. But otherwise, this unit is really useful for harp and gives you A LOT of control over the sound/tone. The compressor is especially nice and extremely harp friendly.
The dbx also has a lot of features for A/D conversion that I don't really understand, like "dither" "wordclock" etc.
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boris_plotnikov
276 posts
Oct 13, 2010
5:46 AM
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I dislike how my pedalboard sounds to PA. I wanna buy some Multi FX unit for PA playing.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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HarpNinja
696 posts
Oct 13, 2010
8:02 AM
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Here is my tentative plan...I should have powered monitors by the end of the year. I already have a pair of QSC K10s I am using as mains (but they will soon be used as monitors), and typically don't need a monitor when we run our own sound.
What would be really easy for me to do is setup my M9 to run through a K10. Then, when I have the opportunity to run the effects into my monitor and lined out to the mains. I can also mic my amp and run that into the monitor first and then to the mains.
So for most my small/medium club dates, I'll be using the VHT/K10 setup.
On larger stages, I'll use the HG50/K10 setup.
For now, I'll use the VHT/K10 where I don't run sound - which is all but one of my current gigs for the rest of the year. :)
I do need to get an A/B box. I am looking at the Radial Tone Bones.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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HarpNinja
697 posts
Oct 13, 2010
11:27 AM
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Crap, I just realized it will be a pain to mic the VHT and get that third signal into the K10. It only has two inputs, so I'd need my amp for stage volume.
I'll figure something out, lol!
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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hvyj
707 posts
Oct 13, 2010
11:34 AM
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Mike, If John Popper is not touring, maybe you can arrange to borrow his rig.
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HarpNinja
698 posts
Oct 13, 2010
12:13 PM
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He's always touring. Bastard!
I just really like the idea of two channesl - effects clean through PA, and my amped sound.
I can pull it off, but I am shooting for minimal gear. What might happens is I get a passive monitor, use my powered mixer and run that to my active mains.
It involves one more piece of gear, the monitor, which I really need to be getting for vocals anyways.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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MakaInOz
21 posts
Oct 14, 2010
6:55 PM
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I've got an RP350 and use Richard Hunter's patches. Its got two XLR outs as well as the 1/4". I usually use it into my 'baby' 35W mono PA via a 20', 1/4" cable.
Longer cable runs would probably need to use the XLR out and balanced XLR - XLR cables.
Maka
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