Kick sound in live performance

[2112.snowdog]

Played live in a bar band for many years with accoustics. Went to the TD10 after the band "retired", so I could play to MP3's, ipod, etc.

I recently upgraded my TD10/TDW1 to a TD20 to play live again. I notice that the kicks in the TD20 are all quite dry compared to the ones I usually used on the TD10.

My question is: Should I play a cleaner kick for the FOH guy to mess with, or get the kick sounding the way I want it to so FOH dude doesn't mangle the sound I want?

Follow up question: If I get it sounding the way I want in the headphones, how do I best send that to FOH?

I had been using the Rocker kick (Room 4, I believe) and a variation on the TD1 kick sound for most of the kits I was playing on the TD10. I just can't seem to recreate that Room 4 kick sound on the TD20.

[Hercules]

Hey 2112.snowdog,

If you can get your sound guy to leave the mix alone then setting up the sound you want is fine....... but as soon as you both play with EQ you'll start getting phase cancellation and no-one will get the sound they like......
If you've got someone in the band who can drum a bit get them to slowly sound out all your kit instruments and stand with the sound guy to work together on what the audience will hear (then break the knobs off the mixer so he can't adjust it when you've gone.....)

[2112.snowdog]

Any opinions on which outputs to use? I've read (on this forum) some posts about using the master out vs. the direct outs. Does the same output go to each? Are the DO's controlled by the volume on the module, or does that only change the level on the master out?

I am thinking that I should split the kick, snare, toms, and cymbals into 4 different DO's and then run the master out to my monitors. Is that a decent approach to give FOH enough flexibility with the kit?

[evil1rox]

I did this with my td10...not sure if it will work with the 20.

Start the demo. Walk out 10 ft..20 ft etc...

See how it sounds flat and let the sound guy tweak it. He's ultimately going to during the active mix anyway...so get a flat drum you like to start with.. and use taht as the basis to start from.

I've played a few shows where the sound guy sucked...i tired to correct it on my side...then he would try to correct again... it got ugly.

E

[SPISHAK]

I am thinking that I should split the kick, snare, toms, and cymbals into 4 different DO's and then run the master out to my monitors. Is that a decent approach to give FOH enough flexibility with the kit?

Yep... but depending on the sound-guy/club, they may not have enough DI boxes, so maybe pick up a few just in case.

DO!! record a 2-4 measure pattern into the sequencer with the WHOLE kit and play it so you and the sound-guy can agree on the kit sound at soundcheck.

[lopan]

Playing live with my TD-20, I send direct outs 1-4 as labeled, but I group the crash cymbals and aux on 5 and put the toms on 6. I use 7 and 8 for the effects. I use the master outs for my stage monitors. ASAP, you need to get V Expressions add on kits for your TD-20. I use vex kits and I get a lot of compliments (from musicians mostly) on my kick sound. The stock drum kits on the TD-20 are lame. Do a search on this forum for vex or vexpressions if you want additional opinions. Using the TD-20, I recorded myself playing and I use that during sound check. It allows me to hear the mix from our sound board. We have a good sound guy, but I like to hear the mix out front when I can.

[2112.snowdog]

I'm sure I can figure out if I RTFM, but how do I record a sample of me playing that I can loop for soundcheck?

[lopan]

On the TD-20, There is a row of buttons just below the heading "SEQUENCER". press "PATTERN" press F5 button to get a new user pattern, press record button , then press play button to start recording. Press stop button when your done recording. Press play to hear the recorded pattern. There's more you can do in between, but you really have to RTF... Anyway, hope that helps.