Too Much Bass & It's Muddy

[FLZapped]

Originally Posted by gullfo

i'm new here but i will add that a stage could easily be acting as a resonant chamber and depending on the desired characteristics, this could be a bad thing, or a good thing. there are a number of options for getting the surface of the stage massive enough to reduce its resonant frequency lower than the low frequencies in play, and its also possible to use the space under the stage for bass trapping (which as Cory correctly pointed out is important in large rooms as well as small rooms).

one option for the stage is to put additional mass underneath the existing stage floor by bulking up using dense wood products like MDF, or cement boards - before proceeding get the assistance of a structural engineer to review and determine if it can handle the load. secondly, adding a dense viscoelastic layer over top of the stage and then a new floor will generally help. when in doubt, contracting a person with stage building expertise is often the best bet.

In our case, we will be putting additional stiffening ribs (2x4s on edge) to raise the stage panel resonance. Then a mat on top of the entire stage. In this case, our stage isn't enclosed underneath except for a curtain around it, so it isn't a chamber at the frequencies causing the problem.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by FLZapped

You cannot EQ a bass drum head.....

You can if it is being reinforced by the sound system and there's always drum tuning (poorly tuned drums is a common issue).

I believe that instead of throwing random solutions at it the important thing is to first try to identify what is actually causing the problem. No reason to be modifying the stage and adding bass traps if simply moving the bass amp a bit or engaging high pass filters on some channels of the console might provide an acceptable result.

[Tim Padrick]

Originally Posted by FLZapped

You cannot EQ a bass drum head.....


-Bruce

I've never had an un-mic'd kick cause this problem, but I can see the possibility.

Sure you can "EQ" it - you can change the tuning, and you can dampen it.

[FLZapped]

Originally Posted by Brad Weber

You can if it is being reinforced by the sound system and there's always drum tuning (poorly tuned drums is a common issue).

I believe that instead of throwing random solutions at it the important thing is to first try to identify what is actually causing the problem. No reason to be modifying the stage and adding bass traps if simply moving the bass amp a bit or engaging high pass filters on some channels of the console might provide an acceptable result.

Random solution? For Whom? You're addressing me, but also writing about what others talked about doing.

In my case, there is nothing random about what needs to be done to our stage. Really bad assumption on your part. And if you would go back and re-read, I had already suggested the use of the HP filter on their console as well as running the bass guitar through the house system using a DI box.

-Bruce

[FLZapped]

Originally Posted by Tim Padrick

I've never had an un-mic'd kick cause this problem, but I can see the possibility.

Sure you can "EQ" it - you can change the tuning, and you can dampen it.

In that case, I also expect you to next tuna fish . . .