First gigs with C2D

[jonas]

I'll probably be doing my first gigs as a keyboard player later this summer (I've done 2 gigs with keyboard before, but that was in high school about 12-13 years ago so it doesn't really count).

First of all I wonder about the leslie simulator in C2D in a live situation. Is it passable to use it through the PA? I have access to a real leslie but we can't transport it with any of our cars so we'd have to rent one or something. I understand that this is highly subjective, but is the leslie sim good enough in a live context or should I try to convince my band mates that we need to bring the leslie?

Secondly, if we don't bring the leslie, should I bring some kind of monitor amp to hear myself better? We will be playing at pretty small venues, but still, perhaps hearing myself will be difficult when the PA speakers are directed at the audience? What are your experiences and thoughts on this matter?

[David7685]

Hi Jonas
Using the sim instead of a real Leslie will solve a lot of issues for you. If the venue is large enough you would have to mic it. If it is small, hten there is the space issue. I use the sim all the time, bringing my Leslie is usually a luxury, and I find the sim is passable if not preferable. And yes you should have your own keyboard monitor system. Cheers Mike

[jonas]

Thank you for your helpful comment!

I'm afraid I don't have a keyboard amp and neither can I afford it at the moment so I suppose a small transistor guitar amp will have to do.

[Michael Wright]

Well I might be tempted to set everything up and trouble shoot it. I have used my 3300 in small venues not going through to pa at all. Very satisfying sound in that situation. Not sure you would be happy using a small guitar amp. Playing live without the Leslie, I use two powered Yamaha cabinets, and the keys are also going through the pa. Cheers Mike

[Mooser]

If the sim was ever going to sound good, I think it would sound good through a stereo PA. Remember to use both outputs L and R into the left and right sides of the PA.

And you could use the "headphone" outlet to drive your monitor or will a line come from the board to your monitor? A monitor line from the board can include other instruments/vocals too.

[The Franchise]

I've been playing Hammonds thru Leslies for years, and will tell you - The NORD SIM is not only acceptable, it's incredibly rockin'. If you're gonna go to the well by asking your band mates for anything, don't waste the opportunity on lugging a Leslie to and from a gig. Totally agree with Mooser - running L & R outputs to a stereo PA will sound fantastic. When I play live, I've been using a 1000W powered speaker, and it screams. At home, I have a couple old (separate) keyboard amps set up on either side of the room. Wow! talk about a round, washing, separated Leslie sound! Sure, grab any small amp for your monitor. Or, if the PA is sophisticated enough, you may be able to send the keyboard channel (only) to a speaker.
G

[Mooser]

As Mr. Mastodon said: 'The Nord organ is mono, but the sim effect is stereo.' Through a single amp, I'm not a big fan of sim. But when two amps are used, the effect can really work.

You know, for the price of a Leslie, you could upgrade the heck out of your PA system.

[mhorspool]

Wherever you go, always make sure you've got some way of monitoring yourself! For me, it's a set of cheap headphones that I can wear if the going gets tough. that's not always going to work for you, but there's nothing worse than not being able to hear yourself.

I mainly play small gigs too, usually with just an acoustic guitar player/singer. The guitar player has never once complained about not being able to hear himself, I guess in part because the guitar makes noise. You don't get any instant audible feedback like that from a keyboard.

[Quai34]

Hi,
I'm like you, I don't have any PA for my self when I gig with friends with my Stage II and the D50 roland, so, i use my little genelec monitor on stands coming from my studio...they do the job quite well even if they are 50 W only and as the two keyboards run through a 1U 19' rack mounted Tascam mixer, I use the Aux out to feed the main PA...at least I can hear myself playing....

[smedegaard]

Hi Again Jonas

You do not need to bring/buy a Leslie. The build-in Leslie simulator is excellent, and you can take it through/into the PA without any problem. If your PA is a stereo system it is really perfect.