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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

Amplified Non Blues

4 replies [Last post]
Tue, 03/23/2010 - 07:11
slucey
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Joined: 12/19/2009

Hi David,
In the case of non blues songs...Lovely May....would you use a bullet mic and loosen the cup or is it better to hold a condenser mic in hand or mount it on a stand?
Thank you...
Steve

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Tue, 03/23/2010 - 07:30
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Answer

To loosen your cup is a great idea to get a cleaner, more natural tone through an amp. An even better idea is to play the PA mic... not cupping it, but playing in front of it. Watch my video in the cupping section on how to play with a vocal mic. Also watch Joe Filisko's and Madcat's video footage regarding how they play in front of a vocal mic. PS, harmonica players tend to prefer a ribbon mic, dynamic mic or condenser mic, in that order (yes, condenser is commonly the last choice). Playing the vocal mic from time to time is a great way to change things up on the bandstand.

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Wed, 03/24/2010 - 19:59
#2
hank stefaniak
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Teacher 6Level 9
Joined: 12/20/2009
What is a "ribbon mic"??

What is a "ribbon mic"?? Sorry if this is obvious but for me it's an unknown.

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Wed, 03/24/2010 - 21:42
#3
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Answer

It's the type of "element" or "cartridge" a microphone uses... how it "collects" sound. Carbon (oldest mics, pre-1940's), crystal (commonly 1940's tech) or ceramic, magnetic (late 1940's tech), dynamic (commonly found since the 1960's and very common today... think Shure SM57, Shure SM58, Shure 520DX [new green bullet] and Blues Blaster [new Astatic JT30], ribbon (I believe early 50's and still used today in the studio... very warm sound... great for retro recordings), and condenser (needs phantom power [commonly 48v]... became very common about 20 years ago and is a studio standard).

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Thu, 03/25/2010 - 11:57
#4
jjudson
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Joined: 12/23/2009
Hank, here's a bit more info to add to Dave's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribbon_microphone

http://coutant.org/ribbons.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ribbon_microphones

http://www.recording-microphones.co.uk/ribbon-microphones.shtml

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