 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Remus
Date: 2011-08-26 19:15
My friend recently purchased a new clarinet that has a voicing pin on the register key. When I asked her what it was for, she had no clue.
Can anyone enlighten us as to what the actual purpose of the voicing pin is?
Many thanks.
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Author: sbrodt54
Date: 2011-08-26 19:24
I have not yet played one with the pin but here's the scoop.
The octave vent uses a "Voicing Pin" that changes the direction in which the air escapes the octave vent. This pin (made from hard delrin) allows for the air to escape without hitting the pad. This translates into a cleaner and clearer tone in the upper register of the clarinet. Combined with the Voicing Grove in the bell (this grove causes a little air to flow back into the air stream of the clarinet, making more air come out of the tone holes and the register key), this system really improves tone over the break as well as upper register performance.
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Author: Remus
Date: 2011-08-26 19:49
Thank you so much! That's an ingenious way of improving tone quality; my friend said that she has noticed quite a difference since she made the switch.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2011-08-26 22:23
The clarinet is unique in woodwind instruments in that is doesn't have an octave vent. It overblows in 12ths.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-08-26 23:11
Oboes and saxes will overblow a 12th if the upper 8ve key is used for the right hand notes (on saxes you'll have to wedge the crook key open), but that's where the similarity ends.
A clarinet's speaker tube works in the same way as an 8ve vent on an oboe or sax, but due to the cylindrical bore stopped pipe principle it misses out the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, etc. harmonic series whereas oboes and saxes (and flutes and bassoons) play all of the harmonic series (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,etc.) with no gaps.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2011-08-27 10:28)
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Author: donald
Date: 2011-08-27 11:36
It's a common mistake to describe the register vent on the clarinet as an "octave vent" (or octave key), so common that i no longer correct people, especially when the mistake is made by people on this board (who most likely DO realise that the registers are not an octave apart...).
As for the Hasty pad (originally referred to as the "Hasty insert" i believe). It doesn't alter the tone of the notes in the upper register per se, but stabilises them slightly- which may enable the player to voice them more efficiently. It may also result in a slightly more fuzzy throat B flat (when using the standard fingering).
There's a fairly good chance that your friend notices her upper register is improved because, well, she now has a better clarinet.
If you have a cork pad on your register key it's fairly easy to make one, it won't instantly solve any of your tone production issues but will make a difference. Like most things to do with pimping your clarinet, people could argue forever about exactly how much difference...
dn
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Author: Remus
Date: 2011-08-27 16:30
Everyone, thank you so much for your input and knowledge! I have learned more than I ever expected to from this board and it's all due to you guys!!
I've always found the mechanics of the clarinet to be really intriguing, and so getting to read all of your responses has been interesting and I've learned a lot.
Thanks again!
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