Dustin Plumb Alto TS212 1100-Watt Bass Rig - Under $400

The Truesonic TS212 is an amazing-sounding powered loudspeaker, designed by an Academy Award-winning loudspeaker engineer. Paired with a bass preamp or amp modeler the TS212 becomes the most affordable, powerful and flexible bass rig out there. For this demo I chose a Zoom MS-60B ($100 street price) and transformed my $299 speaker into a killer bass rig capable of competing with +$1000 bass amps. The MS-60B is cool because it contains amp and cabinet modeling as well as stomp effects. You can store presets within the MS-60B and have a stable of tones available in a single stomp-box sized pedal. It's the ultimate lightweight front end and it's super inexpensive.

With the TS212, you can daisy-chain multiple speakers together to move more air and/or send a line-level DI signal to the front-of-house from the speaker's rear-panel MIX OUT.

The added flexibility of being able to use the speaker as part of a main PA or wedge monitor in a band setting is an added plus and the the whole system comes in at under 30 lbs, so even a 2-speaker 2200-watt system is extremely manageable.

For this demo I used an EV RE27 dynamic mic placed between the HF horn and the LF woofer (angled towards the woofer). I thought I'd need to blend in the camcorder's room mics to balance the sound, but I ended up liking the mic'd tone well enough by itself. The bass tone you're hearing in the clips is 100% from this mic (no room mics and no direct signal). The mic was routed through a Behringer XAir 18 digital mixer (dry with no effects) and recorded and processed in Reaper. I only added mild compression and EQ to try to fit the bass tone in with the kick drum in the different tracks.

The video was recorded on a Zoom Q8 camcorder (no, I'm not sponsored by Zoom, I just love many of their high quality:price offerings) and edited in Adobe's Premiere Pro.

Note: This same approach can also work well with the TS210 @ $249 or the TS215 (even more bass response) @ $349.

Disclaimer, I'm a guitarist, but I love bass and I try/pretend as hard as I can.

Enjoy, like, comment, troll! Thanks!

[basslinephunk]

I just came from rehearsal tonight using the drummers'' speaker(Mackey Thump 15 (sorry for mentioning that)) WHAT A SOUND!! WHAT HEADROOM! That Alto sounds great 👍🏾 I looked into it. It's more affordable. Thanks for the video 👍🏾

[britishpirate]

This is exactly what I'm going to be doing, thanks for the demo, now I'm more excited about it!

[virgilrytaar]

Why didnt I think of this? We used to use these as our main PA speakers when they 1st came out and I did sometimes put bass through them. I'm off to get 1 this weekend to use as my bass rig. Genius!

[djmalarky]

What I think is to the tracks being thumped out. Thank you for the funk of it all. Altos are nice as well. One love man, Dj Malarky out.😎

[djay]

somebody give you a pay raise coz u just won another customer....lol, i really wasnt sure to get those due to the price ....it was just hard to believe that at that price point i can get a quality product ....thank you so much

[phoenixnj]

I have done this many times using my Alto powered speaker and my Sansamp pedal live light weight and small footprint I also run IEM along with this setup works great.

[adamworkman]

I just purchased an Alto TS412 and am returning it. The sound is fantastic. Lots of bass and really moves air. However, the tweeter has a significant amount of hiss (self-generated noise coming from the power amp). It’s very noticeable even from 6 feet away.

[MPBassJam]

Can it handle the low frequency of the low B string on your 5 string? You didn't touch that string in your demo :/

[vibincovers]

Thank you so much for the demo sir love it 🐵👌

[mikkodeluna]

I have the headrush frfr 112 2000watts and torpedo cab M loving it!

[williamfisher]

Loved this video so much that I bought one!!! And use my Sansamp BDDI

[DBRSAstonMartin]

Hey Dustin! Great Video! Wondering what your thoughts are on running a Bass through a TS412 or a HeadRush 12inch 2500W speaker. What do you think would give a better sound if using a bass pre amp or say a Line 6 Express Pod

[dleasman]

Nice, compact setup. Have you looked at the sansamp? That could work well for bass, with an Alto cab. I also see the POD HD 500 in the background. I just traded my POD HD Pro and Shortboard Mk II in against a pair or Alto TS312 cabs to go with my Helix. So, I have a similar setup. I really love the Alto cabs, as they go perfect with the Helix. So much so, that I am selling my Marshall 4x12 cab, and my Mesa-Boogie Simul-Class 295. Modeling technology is changing everything!

[japas]

Do you use a DI after the zoom pedal, or just plug straight into the speaker?

[nebulabass]

I have the Alto Ts415. Is it safe to play a bass guitar through it?

[markharrislondon]

Great playing. For someone just looking to jam in a basement or garage, this would keep up with a drummer and guitarist? I do like the idea of using a pedal to produce the tones.

[antolin]

The TX308 could it be a good option to use together with the zoom MS60B?
Thanks and regards!!!!

[lfm]

Dustin One question, I bought a pair of Alto TS312 ( refurbished by Alto) doesn't arrive yet, I would like to know The Refurbished service from alto is good ? Thsk for the video !!

[greatkevoski]

Ultimate rehearsal punch would be to get a subwoofer to go with it

[granttaskerud]

Exactly what I m looking fir...live stage monitor fir bass d I. In addition to my in ears. Is this the best size or can I go one bigger?