PorchBoard Floor Bass: Difference between revisions

m rewrites for new model, added references
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With very little audible sound by itself, the internal pickup provides both 1/4" and XLR output connections that may be used simultaneously.  
With very little audible sound by itself, the internal pickup provides both 1/4" and XLR output connections that may be used simultaneously.  


See the [http://www.porchboard.com PorchBoard website] for more information about the available models.
* The [http://porchboard.com/RP.html RP PorchBoard] was introduced in January 2010. It replaces all previous models including all the features of all previous models in a smaller package.  
 


== Settings on the L1® for the PorchBoard ==
== Settings on the L1® for the PorchBoard ==
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* The most interesting range of effects is possible when the gain is high enough that you have to tap softly most of the time.  Besides that, it's a lot easier on the leg when you can minimize the effort involved in playing it.  Yeah, it'll often "flash red" at those higher gains if you then '''stomp''' on the PorchBoard, but the associated distortion can ''(judiciously applied)'' have it's own place.  Besides, why should guitarists be the only ones who have fun with deliberate distortion?!?! <br />''(Of course, for those of you who have seen Cliff Henricksen play the keyboard, if one stuck the PorchBoard under *his* foot you'd have to turn the gain waaaayyyy down! -- come to think of it, you'd really need two in order to stick one under each foot!)''
* The most interesting range of effects is possible when the gain is high enough that you have to tap softly most of the time.  Besides that, it's a lot easier on the leg when you can minimize the effort involved in playing it.  Yeah, it'll often "flash red" at those higher gains if you then '''stomp''' on the PorchBoard, but the associated distortion can ''(judiciously applied)'' have it's own place.  Besides, why should guitarists be the only ones who have fun with deliberate distortion?!?! <br />''(Of course, for those of you who have seen Cliff Henricksen play the keyboard, if one stuck the PorchBoard under *his* foot you'd have to turn the gain waaaayyyy down! -- come to think of it, you'd really need two in order to stick one under each foot!)''


* Unlike an acoustic kick drum, or most other large drums, the PorchBoard seems to have few strong higher harmonics; for example, turning the High EQ way down seems to have little effect on the resulting sound.  
* Unlike an acoustic kick drum, or most other large drums, the PorchBoard seems to have few strong higher harmonics; for example, turning the High EQ way down seems to have little effect on the resulting sound. <br />There is a three way switch  
** The [http://porchboard.com/RP.html RP PorchBoard]] was introduced in January 2010. It includes the features of all previous models in a smaller package.  This includes the  3-way frequency response switch designed to match the frequency range of an increased number of amplifiers with higher frequency sound capability. 
** The L (low) setting allows the very low bass. This is appropriate with any model of L1® or bass amp or subwoofer  
*** The L (low) setting allows the very low bass, perfect for subwoofer or quality bass amp usage.  
** The M (mix) setting filters a mix of low and high frequencies, and  
*** The M (mix) setting filters a mix of low and high frequencies, and  
** The H (high) setting provides for high end, stompbox slap.  
*** The H (high) setting provides for high end, stompbox slap.


* Also unlike an acoustic kick drum, the PorchBoard has very little intrinsic sense of "pitch" -- little sense of "playing a note".  What that means is that when you play it by itself, it is rather bland and boring. The '''good''' aspect of that, however, is that it will complement most anything playing along with it -- you never have to "tune it up".
* It is designed to produce a tone in the 33-100 Hz range (very low). The 33 Hz (with a strong 99 Hz harmonic) was selected because it offers a strong supportive bass "thump" in any key- similar to a large marching band bass drum. Often the nature of the sound tends to resemble a note when another instrument (such as a guitar) suggests a note. <ref>Nature of the sound.... [http://porchboard.com/FAQ01.html - excerpt from the PorchBoard FAQs]</ref>


* Since the PorchBoard produces predominately low-end sounds, it really demonstrates some of the curses of bass sound which Hilmar-at-Bose talks about -- such as how the volume of bass sounds can vary radically at different positions in the room. For example, at one point during an acoustic jam, someone came up and turned down the volume a bit on the remote channel for the PorchBoard, whispering to the performer "it was way too loud in the back of the room" -- but from where the performer was sitting the sound seemed to be nicely "underneath" the other folks playing.
* Since the PorchBoard produces predominately low-end sounds it is subject to the same issues that can arise with any instrument that works in the low bass ranges. See: [[Bass Regeneration]] for more information. Because the PorchBoard does not make any audible acoustic sound, and it does not use a resonant surface<ref>the PorchBoard does not use a resonant surface for pickkup [http://porchboard.com/FAQ02.html PorchBoard FAQs] to pickup the sound, it does not contribute to low end feedback in a live music setting.


* The best sound of the PorchBoard seems to come when played through an Extended Bass {{L1}} System (one with 4 {{B1}}'s); four {{B1}}'s provide the broad dynamic low range which can bring out the variety of volumes one has with most percussive instruments. However, it can also sound just fine through single or double {{B1}} Systems, too.  However, it is not recommend for use with an {{L1}} without at least one {{B1}} attached.
* When using the PorchBoard with a {{Classic}} or {{Model I}} use at least one {{B1}} as you would with any instrument that plays bass notes. The sound of the PorchBoard comes through well with the {{Compact}} but sounds deeper with the {{L1 nl}} models that have a {{B1}}.  


* The PorchBoard is uses a proximity sensor originally designed for the automotive industry rather than a musical instrument pickup. The sensor does not require a preamp and can be plugged into the line level inputs of the L1®. On the {{Classic}} and {{Model I}} that would be Channels 3 or 4. On the {{T1}} you can use Channel 4/5.
* The PorchBoard is uses a proximity sensor originally designed for the automotive industry rather than a musical instrument pickup<ref>Proximity Sensor [http://porchboard.com/FAQ01.html PorchBoard FAQs]</ref>. The sensor does not require a preamp and can be plugged into the line level inputs of the L1®. On the {{Classic}} and {{Model I}} that would be Channels 3 or 4. On the {{T1}} you can use Channel 4/5. On the {{Compact}} use Channel 2 &frac14; inch jack or the RCA inputs also work fine.  


* Since it is (usually) sitting on the floor, you might need to be careful about what other pieces of electrical devices are near it.  For example, a "wall-wart" ''(an external power supply or transformer)'' next to it might cause a 60-cycle 'hum' to be amplified. (This has happened, at least with the older "solid" model.)
* The new RP model PorchBoard has metal shielding around the sensor making it less susceptible to RF noise than earlier models.


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[[Image:RP PorchBoardFront.jpg|300px|PorchBoard Bass - new model 2010]]
{{#Click:http://porchboard.com/RP.html|Image:RP PorchBoardFront.jpg|325px|PorchBoard Bass - new model "RP" 2010}}


[[Image:PorchBoardDeanDwyer.jpg|Dean Dwyer holding the Mahogany PorchBoard Floor Bass]]
{{#Click:http://porchboard.com/FAQ03.html|Image:PorchBoardDeanDwyer.jpg|325px|Dean Dwyer holding the original model Mahogany PorchBoard Floor Bass}}


== See / Hear it ==
== See / Hear it ==
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