Help with subwoofers.

fbchurch2009 · 12-20-2009, 01:16 AM

I am playing for my church this week and I want to mic the bass drum. My church has two subs that are doing nothing but acting as really expensive stands for the two mains (at least I don't think they use them)... everytime I have tried to mic the bass drum, it doesn't work. so I am guessing that they aren't even in use... Could you guys tell me why they might not be working besides the simple fact that it's not on. maybe give me a simple schematic of the proper set-up because I can't seem to get that low sound. Thanks!

SATCHMO · 12-20-2009, 10:22 AM

Well, armed simply with the knowledge that your church's sound system has subwoofers and they're not in use, there's really not enough information to address the problem on a signal chain level, i.e. why the subs arent working), but There's a pretty good likelihood that your church's sound system doesn't have sufficient power amps to drive the subwoofers (A pa system sub set up requires serious power amps to drive them safely without clipping the power amp and possibly damaging the speaker and wattage like that don't come cheap). Despite this there's no reason why if you're mic'ing the bass drum correctly with the right microphone that you shouldn't get adequate result from your main speakers.
Make sure you have whatever mic your using on a floor stand with an adjustable boom. If possible, make sure the mic is inside the shell of the bass drum about 3-4 inches away from and aimed just askew of the beater. This will pic up enough of the beater attack to cut through the mix. The bass, with a little EQing from the console should be adequate enough for your purposes despite the lack of a subwoofer.

12-20-2009, 01:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
fbchurch2009 Groupie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 2	Help with subwoofers. I am playing for my church this week and I want to mic the bass drum. My church has two subs that are doing nothing but acting as really expensive stands for the two mains (at least I don't think they use them)... everytime I have tried to mic the bass drum, it doesn't work. so I am guessing that they aren't even in use... Could you guys tell me why they might not be working besides the simple fact that it's not on. maybe give me a simple schematic of the proper set-up because I can't seem to get that low sound. Thanks!

12-20-2009, 10:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	Well, armed simply with the knowledge that your church's sound system has subwoofers and they're not in use, there's really not enough information to address the problem on a signal chain level, i.e. why the subs arent working), but There's a pretty good likelihood that your church's sound system doesn't have sufficient power amps to drive the subwoofers (A pa system sub set up requires serious power amps to drive them safely without clipping the power amp and possibly damaging the speaker and wattage like that don't come cheap). Despite this there's no reason why if you're mic'ing the bass drum correctly with the right microphone that you shouldn't get adequate result from your main speakers. Make sure you have whatever mic your using on a floor stand with an adjustable boom. If possible, make sure the mic is inside the shell of the bass drum about 3-4 inches away from and aimed just askew of the beater. This will pic up enough of the beater attack to cut through the mix. The bass, with a little EQing from the console should be adequate enough for your purposes despite the lack of a subwoofer.