Re: Some thoughts on "mixing"
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the reply.
We turn the guitar amps to the back of the stage and mic them. The Bass is DI, and the drums are vDrums. We all use IEM's. While I agree that there is still a portion of our sound from the guitar amps that is unaccounted for in the FOH virtual mix, I am hoping that it is small enough that it doesn't sound that different. When I go out front to hear the mix at practice, it appears that the vast majority of the guitar sound is emanating from the FOH AFAIK.
I am hoping to learn to use this new tool to make our gigs sound more polished. While I would agree that having a good soundman to mix out front for every gig would be the very best possible solution (with many advantages over the process that I am proposing), I am simply hoping to improve from where we are (mixing from stage on an analog desk).
@Per Søvik
I agree. He knows he has volume consistency issues, but doesn't want to invest in a quality preamp unit (something like a Axe Fx or Eleven Rack). He is a good kid and is trying to get it right 
@Jay,
Hmm. I appreciate your high opinion of me but don't quite understand your abrasive tone in your first paragraph or how I have justified your character attack (ie my lack of ability to listen to what others are saying). Lets try to keep it civil professor.
... and as they used to say in my Navy days ..... "The head is that way if you feel the need to drop off more shit".
I do agree with much of what you are saying and am attempting to find a way to make my own gigs better by learning about what you are saying. I have simply stated that there are difficulties for someone who mixes from stage while in the band to implement what you are talking about.
As for pedal boards, they are not going away any time soon. Many pro guitarist I know use them. They are not as convenient as an all-in-one preamp with efx, nor are they as flexible/usable. Doing covers frequently require the guitar tone to change fast and completely. It is impossible in many situations to accomplish this with a pedal board full of stomp boxes. Furthermore, the pedal boards have a much higher rate of something going wrong since there are many more things there to go wrong.
As an aside, using a presonus and an iPad is a very good way to do most bar gigs. I am going to enjoy selling my snake knowing that I will never need such a setup again once I move to a digital mixer You can sit at the bar, have a drink, and mix. What more is there to life?
