Before playing own tracks, mastering? Help taming sounds

[caly88]

Hi,
I am about to have a couple of gigs this summer, I'd love to play my own tracks. They are all mixed very well, but I am worried that the sub will be a bit overwhelming on a big system... Should I put a basic mastering-rack on the master channel just to compress/limit and tame the bass?

To be clear, I don't want to "change" the sound in my tracks. I just want the sounds to be a bit more tight and don't destroy peoples ears! I don't mind having the tracks at a lower volume, can always adjust that with the gain on the mixer.

Any thoughts? Any "not-to-destroying-matser-racks"?

[re:dream]

Have you checked to see if this is really a problem?

You could probably do it, but you would also be affecting the sound of all the other tracks too...

[Harmonic Progression]

Congratulations on the gigs!

First off...indoor gig, or outdoor gig? Big space or small? Lots of people or just a few? These things will matter.

Is it possible to do a "dress rehearsal" at the venue? Would be difficult if your gig makes you you rely on other people's amp and speaker equipment. But if there's any way you can, I'd say do it so that you can make adjustments before the big day.

Even if you CAN do a dry run, be flexible on gig-day. Things change. There might be a tent where you didn't expect. They might put the cash bar in the worst possible spot. Even the sound will change some when you get a bunch of human bodies in the venue.

I'm a Live newbie, so I can't offer you any advice about what settings you should do, but I would suggest that you set up your session so that it will be a happy combination of flexibility and simplicity. Flexible so you can adjust to conditions, yet reasonably simple so that you don't stress yourself out with too many levers and pulleys on game-day.

[yur2die4]

Have you compared it with other professionally produces music? Of the balance of miss, gigs, and lows is good, the sound guy should be able to sort things out.

Also, have you already listened to these tracks on various systems? Ideally if they sound good on a boom box, your dad's stereo, off a phone, in a car with a killer system, in a car with an average system, from down the hall, in the bedroom, outside at the park, etc, it should be balanced enough to be manageable with a simple EQ.

[Harmonic Progression]

Another question for the OP: will there BE a sound guy, or is it all on you?

[re:dream]

And send pictures