Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Full Version)

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Miguel de Maria -> Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 21 2015 19:30:58)

I had a quintet last Saturday--two guitars, percussion, flute, and violin. The violin mostly dominated the sound. When I was playing the heads and leads, my guitar sounded horribly tiny and tinny. Any ideas on how to fatten up the tone and claim some more sonic real estate?

I was given this as a recommendation: http://www.fullcompass.com/product/427463.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=Cj0KEQjw6tepBRDLqLnxouaY_pkBEiQAPIOiBmXUv0pZIqp0zHRjzdR7I9XuS_bFxm11Nnr_hbuIbFsaAjpZ8P8HAQ



Ricardo -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 22 2015 1:52:43)

Violin is amplified how? We need to know what is your chain...guitar setttings->effects->mixer type and setting->amp->speaker or monitor? With a Cordoba you SHOULD be able to blow a violin away big time, so we are missing some info here.

Ricardo



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 22 2015 4:26:42)

In that situation I went into an EQ pedal (Source Audio) and then into the mixer. The EQ I pretty much just used as a volume boost, it wasn't really tweaked for lead playing or anything.

I couldn't hear the mains, they were in front of us. Monitors were pointing right at me.



Ricardo -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 22 2015 5:16:06)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria

In that situation I went into an EQ pedal (Source Audio) and then into the mixer. The EQ I pretty much just used as a volume boost, it wasn't really tweaked for lead playing or anything.

I couldn't hear the mains, they were in front of us. Monitors were pointing right at me.


Sometimes the superior speaker is used out front and you and others have to suffer with small tinny horns for monitors. In those cases, it is a compromise and you trust that the mains have you full, loud and warm sound vs what you are foreced to experience while playing. Often you can't do a different mix inside than out interms of EQ...but actually you want to know how you sound outside so you need to say "I want same mix as out front".

In the case that someone in the audience you trust told you that your guitar was tinny, then it is a problem with the mix....the engineer cut low mids too much or scooped out your guitar tone cuz of feedback or maybe you used that notch? That is all the fault of the engineer, and easy fix. just tell them next time to leave you flat and you can eq yourself on stage. Since you have the EQ booster, use that thing to help you out.

As far as guitar tone goes, I have my pet peeves about speaker /monitor brands. The final link in the chain turns out to be THE most important. It is important to keep your EQ flat as you can and only adjust for the weak link in your chain. Too often I see both players and engineers wanting to cut mids from acoustic guitars and that is no good for flamenco...keep the mids in there if you can.



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 22 2015 15:03:04)

The monitors were QSC K10s--my own PA speakers, actually. I usually like them... the violin sounded pretty good in them! (forgot to mention, I believe he was plugging in via a 1/4" using some sort of Line6 effects.

I did scoop my mids out quite a bit and turned off almost all the mic because of weird, low-mid thumpy feedback. This was a large, outdoor courtyard and I didn't have the high C blast in this venue--it appears in this big, hard, glassy room where I'm sitting directly in front of a Bose stick type speaker. I have a feeling the guitar didn't sound too good FOH, either. The flute player said "I like your guitar sound, it sounds like a jazz guitar." Not really what I was going for.



Sr. Martins -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 22 2015 15:06:08)

Maybe you already did this but you could try notching the offending frequency in that room on another octave with your mixer's EQ. This way you'll keep the balance between the instruments instead of burying (or hollowing) your guitar.



Ricardo -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 22 2015 17:08:17)

quote:

I did scoop my mids out quite a bit and turned off almost all the mic because of weird, low-mid thumpy feedback. This was a large, outdoor courtyard and I didn't have the high C blast in this venue--it appears in this big, hard, glassy room where I'm sitting directly in front of a Bose stick type speaker. I have a feeling the guitar didn't sound too good FOH, either. The flute player said "I like your guitar sound, it sounds like a jazz guitar." Not really what I was going for.


Put the mids back in and try that out. It should be ok to have mic off (only piezo) so long as you can deal with no golpes. Otherwise just a tiny tiny bit of mic. AGain if you have a feedback at all after putting mids back in, use phase switch first before notching anything.

Good luck.



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 24 2015 5:25:40)

Thanks. What do you think about using compression for a lead-type, single-line sound?



Blondie#2 -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 24 2015 7:29:48)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria
Thanks. What do you think about using compression for a lead-type, single-line sound?


If using mainly a piezo UST pick up, it is already a very compressed signal with virtually no dynamics. I can't see that compression will help at all (nor that stompbox in the title which is really designed for electric guitar). It will probably make it harsher.

Personally if spending money I would look first at a better preamp, designed for acoustic guitar, like the ones mentioned previously in other threads. I am wondering why your sound would be a lot worse than you are used to though (unless you normally play at very low volumes, and can use more internal mic and aren't used to playing at much higher volumes where you have to rely on the UST).



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 24 2015 17:38:37)

I think the piezo does have plenty of dynamics. I can play nearly inaudibly or aggressively by varying my touch just as with an acoustic guitar.

The guitar sounded weak and thin in the context of a quintet, with another guitar, a cajon/conga player, someone playing shakers, and a violin with a very thick tone. Is it unusual for an instrument to sound different as a solo versus a rather busy and loud mix?



Sr. Martins -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 24 2015 17:43:30)

quote:

Is it unusual for an instrument to sound different as a solo versus a rather busy and loud mix?


Depends on what the other instruments are but if by busy you mean "frequencies taken all over the place", then yes, it is desirable or else it will sound very brown.. not in a VH way.



Blondie#2 -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 24 2015 18:19:39)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria
Is it unusual for an instrument to sound different as a solo versus a rather busy and loud mix?


No. Two things:

-First of all my earlier point - have you actually played your guitar solo, through the same rig as with the band *at the same volume you would if they were playing*, (or are you comparing with your normal solo sound which I am guessing is usually at a much lower volume?).

-Secondly, playing with other instruments occupying some of the same (lower mids and mids) frequency range as your guitar means you won't hear the nice thick warm frequencies as well, and the thinner, harsher tones will jump out. Cutting your mids will just thin it out further, you might want to try boosting the volume and when it sounds like you are too loud in the mix, cut your top end.



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 25 2015 1:44:58)

Hmm, I play at a variety of volumes. One big difference in this gig is that we were using monitors. Very often, I am just using a guitar amp and it is on the ground next to me. In that situation, I hear a lot of bass and very little treble. I have a steady using a house Bose stick, and in that one the guitar sounds markedly high-endy.

In the future, I will try to boost the volume and cut the highs. Thanks, Man with No Name!



Blondie#2 -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 25 2015 6:52:36)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria
One big difference in this gig is that we were using monitors. Very often, I am just using a guitar amp and it is on the ground next to me. In that situation, I hear a lot of bass and very little treble.


Aha - yes I play with my speakers on the floor next to me sometimes when i am short of space, big difference in sound especially indoors.



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 26 2015 16:48:25)

Actually, that brings up another issue I have had.

I am sitting right next to my guitar amp (AER compact mobile, if it matters) and the low-mid area is right on the verge of feedback. I have to really back off of those notes, say A3 and a fourth up or so. I will have to manually mute these notes because they inevitably swell and grow if I don't put a finger on them. This is obviously very annoying and makes me avoid those notes if possible!

Last night, I discovered that this is a feature of the piezo pickup! When I put the mic on 100% (which I never do), the problem vanished. Does this sound odd to you?



Ricardo -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 26 2015 22:45:09)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria

Actually, that brings up another issue I have had.

I am sitting right next to my guitar amp (AER compact mobile, if it matters) and the low-mid area is right on the verge of feedback. I have to really back off of those notes, say A3 and a fourth up or so. I will have to manually mute these notes because they inevitably swell and grow if I don't put a finger on them. This is obviously very annoying and makes me avoid those notes if possible!

Last night, I discovered that this is a feature of the piezo pickup! When I put the mic on 100% (which I never do), the problem vanished. Does this sound odd to you?


No, this is normal...use the PHASE Switch.



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 27 2015 15:00:22)

Sometimes I fiddle with all the switches randomly and nothing works!

Last night, I played around with my EQ pedal, ended up cutting just about everything low through high-mid a little. Seemed to tame that rock feedback sustain that Santana would probably love. Also played 50% mic.



Ricardo -> RE: Anyone used a Spark Booster? (Apr. 27 2015 15:07:56)

quote:

Sometimes I fiddle with all the switches randomly and nothing works!


Oh really? REALLY man? [8|]



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