From mate.stubb@gmail.com Fri Nov 24 09:03:50 2006
Subject:Re: Controlling sound levels between / among patches

You can't set levels between patches if all patches are controlled by volume
pedals - there is no reference point.

What I have done for many years is to use piano as a reference sound, and
balance everything else to it. I set up piano so that it is not controlled
by volume pedal. Set the master volume of the instrument at around three
quarters, so that you have some headroom for piano soloing if necessary.
Then set your volume on your mixer or amp as necessary to get your stage
volume.

I balance other piano type sounds - rhodes, wurli, clav - to the piano.
These are not volume pedal controlled either.

Organ and synth sounds also balance to piano, but organ is controlled by
swell pedal, and synth by volume pedal. I balance the organ such that the
swell is about 3/4 up (for the swell effect to make the tone fat) when it is
balanced with piano for a typical 888000000 setting. The extra headroom on
the organ swell provides headroom for soloing or quiter registrations like
008000000.

After I have all that together, I balance synth sounds. This is hardest
because they vary so widely in perceived volume from patch to patch. And you
can't get it 100% perfect beforehand. You can get it close, but you have to
go back and tweak some volumes during the gig so that things will be better
for the next gig.

Anyway, the idea is that you get used to being able to set your volume pedal
around 3/4 before you play a sound, and it will be balanced enough that you
are in the ball park.

Moe