Micking Stereo amp??
Question:
I have a stereo amp and am going to start playing live. I need to add my amp to the mix but don’t want to use the line out. For those of you playing live with a stereo amp – what is your setup into the mix?
Response:
> I have a stereo amp and am going to start playing live. I need to add my > amp to the mix but don’t want to use the line out. For those of you playing > live with a stereo amp – what is your setup into the mix?
Does your PA mains function in "Stereo?" That would be very unusual. What is the amp, what kind of PA rig? So many unanswered questions… In the unlikely event that I set up a stereo mains PA system, and used a stereo guitar amp, and then insisted on not using the line-out (all very puzzling choices to me) I’d most likely use a stereo microphone centered directly in front of the cabinet. If you’re ok with being "mono" in the mains, just use an omni mike with a big enough pattern to catch the sound off of both speakers in the amp. Maybe a Shure SM-58 instead of the classic SM-57 I would normally use to close mike an amp cabinet. Regards, John
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I like John’s idea; much easier to implement and you still get the flavor of stereo, though without the actual stereo effect. greg
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I opened the back of my 2X12 closed back cabinet to cut down on the directional sound. Now I mic the front and back of the cab (SM-57’s). Nice stereo effect. Two different sounds. Pt
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> Does your PA mains function in "Stereo?" That would be very unusual. > What is the amp, what kind of PA rig? So many unanswered questions…
I think there is a mutltichannel peavey mixing board and it goes to a large power amp. I would assume the power amp is stereo – or at least each big main is coming from its own channel. Why would it be unusual for a PA to be in stereo? Just curious – 2 big speakers and your mixer has pan knobs on it – yes? > In the unlikely event that I set up a stereo mains PA system, and used > a stereo guitar amp, and then insisted on not using the line-out (all > very puzzling choices to me)
The line out is a headphone out (stereo) unfortunately I think it doesn’t capture the "ampness" coming out of the front speaks like a mic would. Also, it doesn’t have its own volume so if I turn up the amp – the send to the mixer gets louder and clips. I’d most likely use a stereo microphone > centered directly in front of the cabinet.
This would really I think just present a mono type sound anyway… If you’re ok with being – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "mono" in the mains, just use an omni mike with a big enough pattern > to catch the sound off of both speakers in the amp. Maybe a Shure SM-58 > instead of the classic SM-57 I would normally use to close mike an amp > cabinet. > Regards, > John
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Thanks for your tips though – the SM57 looks good and perhas simply for sending some of my amp aound to the outboard speakers perhaps a single mic will do…
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Does your PA mains function in "Stereo?" That would be very unusual. > What is the amp, what kind of PA rig? So many unanswered questions… > I think there is a mutltichannel peavey mixing board and it goes to a large > power amp. I would assume the power amp is stereo – or at least each big > main is coming from its own channel. Why would it be unusual for a PA to be > in stereo? Just curious – 2 big speakers and your mixer has pan knobs on > it – yes? > In the unlikely event that I set up a stereo mains PA system, and used > a stereo guitar amp, and then insisted on not using the line-out (all > very puzzling choices to me) > The line out is a headphone out (stereo) unfortunately I think it doesn’t > capture the "ampness" coming out of the front speaks like a mic would. > Also, it doesn’t have its own volume so if I turn up the amp – the send to > the mixer gets louder and clips. > I’d most likely use a stereo microphone > centered directly in front of the cabinet. > This would really I think just present a mono type sound anyway… > If you’re ok with being > "mono" in the mains, just use an omni mike with a big enough pattern > to catch the sound off of both speakers in the amp. Maybe a Shure SM-58 > instead of the classic SM-57 I would normally use to close mike an amp > cabinet. > Regards, > John
Response:
> In the unlikely event that I set up a stereo mains PA system, and used > a stereo guitar amp, and then insisted on not using the line-out (all > very puzzling choices to me) I’d most likely use a stereo microphone
You obviously are a sound man. You would actually use the line out? I would always insist on being mic’d. Though I never t hought of having a stereo guitar amp. This is an interesting problem 
— – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> centered directly in front of the cabinet. If you’re ok with being > "mono" in the mains, just use an omni mike with a big enough pattern > to catch the sound off of both speakers in the amp. Maybe a Shure SM-58 > instead of the classic SM-57 I would normally use to close mike an amp > cabinet. > Regards, > John
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> Thanks for your tips though – the SM57 looks good and perhas simply for > sending some of my amp aound to the outboard speakers perhaps a single mic > will do…
I think you are right. BTW, I always thought a stereo guitar amp was good for recording stuff not nessissarily live. —
Response:
>I think there is a mutltichannel peavey mixing board and it goes to a large >power amp. I would assume the power amp is stereo – or at least each big >main is coming from its own channel.
The power amp likely is stereo or in other owrds has two channels. Typically in a PA application the same input signal is fed into both channels and then the outputs (now identical) would be terminated with cabinets on either side of the stage. >Why would it be unusual for a PA to be in stereo?
It is very rare to run a PA in stereo. Particularly in an odd shaped room where getting enough coverage and a good mix in mono is tough enough. Too many soundmen struggle to get a decent mix in mono let alone having to do it in stereo. It’s just not that common. I never saw a PA system run in stereo in the twenty years I played gigs. I doubt many others here have, either. >Just curious – 2 big speakers and your mixer has pan knobs on it – yes?
You certainly could run it in stereo… and hope all the folks on the right side of the house don’t mind missing all the stuff that is only coming out of the left side of the PA. Home stereo systems are designed for this. You typically set up a home stereo with that in mind. PA systems for live music simply aren’t configured like that often, if at all. Peter
Response:
Thank you – that advise is pro. I never considered the big picture if you will… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You certainly could run it in stereo… and hope all the folks on the > right side of the house don’t mind missing all the stuff that is only > coming out of the left side of the PA. Home stereo systems are > designed for this. You typically set up a home stereo with that in > mind. PA systems for live music simply aren’t configured like that > often, if at all. > Peter
Response:
> …I’d most likely use a stereo microphone >centered directly in front of the cabinet. If you’re ok with being >"mono" in the mains, just use an omni mike with a big enough pattern >to catch the sound off of both speakers in the amp…
A stereo mic centered between the speakers might work, but with a mono mic IMO you run the risk of phase cancellation, particularly if you use a stereo effect such as a genuine stereo chorus. Since the pa is in all likelyhood mono anyway, I would run my ‘57 close-miced to just one speaker as per usual. Texas Pete
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