 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-09-25 02:01
Or perhaps a better way to phrase the question - what causes a sound that is way too edgy, and how do I get rid of that? I'm guessing at least a little depends on mouthpiece/ligature/reed combos, but what else is there, embouchure etc? Particularly on Bass Clarinet, if that makes a difference.
I ask because as was mentioned in an earlier thread, All-State in Alaska requires a tape submission, and I did my recording yesterday (our usual due dates are a month from now, but for some reason it's been pushed back for both all-state and all-northwest). When listening over the recordings to make sure I was fine with everything, my first thought was "Dear God, is that how I sound?" I suspect that the tape recorder was not the best - I played with huge dynamic contrast on the slower exercises, and those simply did not show up when playing the recordings back. So perhaps the recording quality has something to do with the dissatisfying sound I heard. I'm sure I could be playing on a better mouthpiece (I was using a school-owned Brilhart that's been played on for at least a decade, and the teethmarks on the mouthpiece show that), but I've always been told that 95% of a player's sound is made by the player himself, not his equipment - and certainly, recordings of myself in the past have shown what I consider to be a much more pleasant sound.
So what are things I can do to remove the edge from the sound, besides buying a new tape recorder and getting a "decent" mouthpiece? I've always had a slight overbite, but it has gotten much worse over the two years, perhaps that might have something to do with it? Sorry for the rather general question - I'm not quite sure what the problem is (it could just be a bad recording, I've heard players with a beautiful tone sound like they were playing underwater on bad recordings), and so I can't quite specify how I'd like to change things, other than the general "removing edge" question. Thanks for any replies in advance.
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Author: mkybrain
Date: 2004-09-25 03:15
I have the same problem, but when i play softly, its sounds much much better.
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-09-25 03:22
don't worry about removing the "edge" from your sound
worry about increasing the "volume", "size", "centre", "thickness" of your sound, then the edge (if it's still there) will be what makes your sound ring and project and essential stuff like that.
donald
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Author: mkybrain
Date: 2004-09-25 03:38
but what if its just his recorder that is generating that edgy sound, and merely by playing louder on it, the edginess gets worse.
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Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2004-09-25 04:52
I don't play bass clarinet, but I have recorded myself before... Let me tell you right now, EVERYTHING SOUNDS DIFFERENT ON THE RECORDING! Even a piano sounds different, the recorder is just kinda messed up... oh well, that has been my experience with recording myself...
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Author: Burt
Date: 2004-09-25 13:29
I wonder if the edge is cause by the reed vibrating and hitting the tip of the mouthpiece. (I don't know how to check directly for this possibility, but something must be interfering with the vibration.) If that's the case:
Playing softer,
Biting less on the reed,
Putting more mouthpiece into your mouth,
Using a harder reed, or
Getting a more open mouthpiece may help.
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-09-25 14:28
Played properly (from what I've heard in person and recordings), the bass clarinet is a pretty edgy instrument. Many players believe that one's sound must be somewhat edgy in order to project (as Donald said above). Many professional clarinetists I've heard sound edgy up close, but when there sound is cutting through an orchestra, filling up a concert hall, it's absolutely beautiful.
I don't play bass clarinet, but here is something that has helped on Bb clarinet... Make sure you are focusing on using "fast" air to make a full, focused sound. Many students tend to blow really hard (which can cause an overly-edgy sound, lack of focus, and an inability to play with a good sound at quiet dynamics). Make sure that instead of just blowing hard, you are using a fast, concentrated air stream. Try some decrescendoing long-tones, trying to keep the tone and tuning the same all the way from ff to pp. That's a good exercise for testing air stream speed. Good luck.
DH
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2004-09-25 15:11
If you believe the recorded sound differs from your actual sound, the problem may not be your "set-up", but in the recording process. Microphone placement makes a tremendous difference in the tone quality captured by the recorder. Placing the mike near the bell of a clarinet, (both bass and soprano) will produce an edgy, nasal tone quality as the higher harmonics exit at the bell, whereas the fundamental tones exit through the open tone holes. It is best to place the microphone some distance from the top of the instrument to capture the entire sound- some experimentation here is worth the effort. Concerning loss of dynamics, most tape recorders have an "automatic gain control" or "limiting" function built in---this helps to prevent overload distortion, but also reduces dynamic contrast. Try recording at a lower volume setting and don't drive the volume needle or bar graph display so far towards the top. Recording in a small, highly reflective room will brighten the sound- go for a large room with lots of damping (rugs, soft furniture...). Lastly, low cost microphones tend to have higher response in the mid-range, making bass clarinets sound brighter than the actual tone. So, try these simple suggestions before changing your set-up, you'll be surprised at the difference. But after trying all the above- if you are not satified, you might consider going to a recording studio where the engineer will handle all of these problems and you can focus on the playing! An hour of time at a local studio will not cost all that much.
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-09-26 05:21
I found that one of the best ways to worry yourself that you are nothing but edge is to take the microphone from a computer and drop it into your bell and start recording. It's nothing but edge. I don't know if that's possible, but that's what it feels like.
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