Klarinet Archive - Posting 000067.txt from 2010/06

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] pickup for clarinet
Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:17:27 -0400

>
> Ben,
> Wow! Good things to try! Thanks a bunch. A few questions, tho:
> 1. I have a nice Peavey SM-98 that I use with a goose neck to put it
> in the middle, above the joint where the bridge key is. Do you think
> that is usable?

The SM 98 is a rather bright mic- not a favorite of mine, but it comes
across lots of stages I work on- especially for rock groups as mics for toms
on the drum kit, sax, trumpet and other things. If you own it, though, it
is certainly worth a try.

> 2. The mic needs phantom power. Will that be a problem when feeding
> into the effects pedal? Will I have to use a dedicated preamp between
> the mic and the pedal?

Yes you will have issues- with a condenser mic, you must provide phantom
either through a phamtom power supply or by using a preamp. Chances are
your pedals will work better at line level (see my earlier email) so a
preamp of some sort would be good to have. An M-Audio Audio buddy is not a
fantastic fidelity pre, but it is inexpensive and would do what you need
(lists for a bit over $100). You'll then take the output of the pre and run
that through the box.

> 3. Also, with the SM-98 I have the problem of thudding finger noise.
> I have largely licked it by putting the mic in very thick foam.
> However, will that thudding also be magnified? I had a problem with
> it when I tried that peizo contact mic.
>
> Fred Jacobowitz

The thumps will be a bit harder to deal with... The issue with your fingers
is that the vibrations are traveling up the gooseneck to the mic where it is
being picked up.

At a console, I usually engage the highpass filter to deal with this. It is
basically an EQ that I can set which will allow frequencies above a certain
point through. For a clarinet, I usually set it at about 150 Hz (about an
octave below middle C). A microphone where the mic is in some sort of
suspension will help. Even a mic on a stand or mounted on you (as a lav mic
like I mentioned earlier) will also obviously fix that issue. Otherwise
lighter fingering is what is needed... :-)

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Fifth Circle Audio
Long Beach, CA

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