Klarinet Archive - Posting 000071.txt from 1994/11

From: Douglas Sears <dsears@-----.ORG>
Subj: Re: Greetin's
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 17:26:03 -0500

On Thu, 3 Nov 1994, Jeff Kruys wrote:

> Okay, now that I've *finally* figured out how to mail to a bitnet address, I
> can post something to this list!

Welcome! I agree, mailing to bitnet isn't the simplest thing around.

> Anyway time has come for us to do some serious recording. For on-stage
> performance I have been using a small flat mic (courtesy of IVL Technologies
> here in Victoria, BC, Canada, they've saved my life with this product) which
> glues onto the reed, and wire this into my Roland keyboard amp (via my
> digital effects box) and am satisfied with this, especially when the amp can
> be mic'd and run through the PA as well, as I have to "compete" with some
> pretty loud noises from other band members.
>
> But last time we recorded I bypassed the amp and went direct, into our
> singer's six-track cassette recorder, and we tweaked the knobs to death
> but couldn't get rid of bagpipe-y sound I was getting. And the same sound
> resulted from playing through the amp and micing that. If anyone has any
> recording experience, especially while wanting to use effects... we tend
> to shun overdubbing and do everything live, too, so I'd like to use the
> effects while I'm playing, not apply them during the mix down. Any advice
> concerning mic configuration?

I use a Barcus-Berry mic bored into the side of my mouthpiece for stage
sound reinforcement of folk-dance music. I love the freedom of movement
and freedom from feedback, compared to using an ordinary mic on a stand. I
expect your mic-on-reed thing is similar. I wouldn't use either one for
recording, because the tone color isn't really very much like a real
clarinet sound, in spite of the manufacturer's claims. The best advice
I've heard is that you need an appropriate mix from two mics, one aimed up
the bell, and one aimed at the holes, for realistic sound with close
miking. Maybe that would allow you to use your effects without getting
feedback, if you kept your keyboard amp away from the mics.

What sort of effects do you use with clarinet? I hope the legit
musicians on this list aren't too completely horrified by
this discussion.

-----------------
Doug Sears dsears@-----.org (503)343-8943