 The Ethnic Clarinet
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Author: gregsquared
Date: 2005-04-25 02:02
I really want one of those old mics that attach to your horn through a hole drilled into the barrel. They seem like a good way to mic your instrument and I really like the sound. However, I can't find any on ebay or any mention of them on clarinet sites brought up by a Google search. Where do all those Greek and Macedonian guys get theirs? Anyone have any suggestions, or a spare they'd like to sell? Thanks, gregsquared.
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Author: Simon
Date: 2005-04-27 02:52
I would have thought you would be able to buy them at a music store, however keeping in mind this is old technology and they may no longer be made. There are better mics that you attach on a clip just above the bell, these are much better and the sound quality is superior to what those old barrel mics. Also with the old barrel mics you need to sacrifice one of your barrels, with the new you don't need to drill holes anywhere.
Simon
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Author: gregsquared
Date: 2005-04-27 19:58
Simon,
Thanks for your response. I've taken most of this stuff into consideration. I have a clip-on mic for my saxophone and it doesn't adapt well to clarinet. It adds too much weight to the end of my horn, and stresses my already overstressed thumb muscles (yes, I already use a strap), as well as making the instrument unwieldy. Also, it doesn't get the range of the instrument very evenly.
Further, since I play mostly Greek and Macedonian music, I'm looking for a particular sound. I'm not looking for the sound of an AMT mic, or an SD systems, or even an SM 58 (or 57, I can't remember which is designed for instruments). Actually, what those players usually do is have a barrel mic for all-around mic-ing and use a Shure to really make the sleazy low register jump out. But I'm not so concerned with that here, an SM 57 (or 58, whatever) is easily obtained.
As for sacrificing a barrel, well, I've gotten my mind around that idea. If the mic gives the sound that you're looking for, then you're not really sacrificing a barrel. You're just having you're gear modified to help you achieve the results that you want. Since I know some superb techs that I trust to do right with my instrument, I'm not worried about that aspect (in any case, you can always plug up the hole if you need to). There are millions of barrels in the world and to find one that plays as well as the one I currently use (which, by the way, isn't the one that came with my horn) shouldn't be ridiculously difficult.
I take it you don't know anybody that has one they'd be willing to sell. But thanks for the advice, anyway. Ciao, gregsquared.
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Author: Jim Harper ★2017
Date: 2005-04-28 19:00
The Barcus-Berry trasducer pickup fits the description of what you're looking for. I just checked and there is one on eBay now. Also, try searchs on the Clarinet BBoard and klarinet list. This topic has come up a few times.
-Jim
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-05-03 02:15
Hey Greg...
I have no answers for ya but wanted to say howdy! We met a few years ago at Ramblewood...
Hope all is swanky for ya!
Katrina
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Author: papa0070
Date: 2005-10-03 14:17
Hi,
Have you been able to make any progress with your search for a clarinet pickup? I am in exactly the same situation as you and have been trying to dig up for ages something suitable. I am currently still stuck using a microphone on a stand to play into which isnt too bad but has its limitations in regards to mobility (as you would know, we clarinet players will swing the instrument) and this does not help with wanting to go cordless or avoiding unnecessary feedback. I have tried using a hypercardiod clip on mic (AKG) and find that it is way too sensitive and feeds back too much; and the extra weight is an issue. I have even tried using a lapel mic like the ones newsreaders have and again the sound is just too high endish and doesnt emphasise the bass end that well. As yourself, im not fussed either on sacrificing a barrel, if worse comes to worse can modify an old one. Ive had to cut down my barrels anyway to keep in tune. I adjust by moving the barrel up or down as needed. I have done extensive I/net searches and have not been able to find any information about these pickups whatsoever. If I could unearth a brand name or anything that would be a start. Please let me know how you go, and also if there are any units that you can use to provide some effects, ie. octave pedals etc.
I havent ventured into that realm, but wouldnt mind doing so. Any information rendered would be great. Michael
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2005-10-06 23:52
Barcus-Berry had one a few years ago that was supposed to be mounted in the mouthpiece. I did that, an $250 experiment for the mpce and mike. Results are mixed, and I am sure they will be similar for the barrel mikes.
I have a decade-old Barcus Berry epoxied into a mouthpiece, but my experience was not optimal. There was an enormous hum, which my friendly neighborhood electronics wizard fixed with better internal grounding in the pre-amp box, and by changing connectors to ones with better shielding. Their newer products may work better. If you want to go this way, check with the manufacturer first. If they install it, you may have some recourse if it doesn't work.
1) Your instrument has to be in top notch shape or your mike will pick up a lot of key click noise.
2) Full notes (3rd line B or low E) will be noticably louder than the throat tones. The only way around this is with an external boom-let mike like the AMT's.
3) These are really good in windy conditions.
4) For those times you don't want to sound exactly like a clarinet, these can be really good for feeding your sound into an effects processor (tube amp, flanger, fuzz tone, overdrive, chorus, or one of the newer DSP boxes that emulate these.) Compression will minimize effect 2 above, but limit your effective volume control, unless your effects box has a volume pedal.
|-(8^)
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Author: Fanatic
Date: 2005-10-24 15:10
Hi gregsquared,
there´s no specific Barrel mic excluding Barcus Berry but the sound is really bad.
You may laugh now but we ( Macedonian- Turkish & -Greek Gipsys ) use hearing Aid´s or Hear devices.
Here you can see what I meen:
http://www.oticon.dk/eprOtiScripts/Files/encyclopedia/images/Body_worn_hearing_aid.jpg
So we prepare this round thing ( Mic ) on the Barrel by using a special selfmade made Screw with an whole which goes throug this screw. Also I´m preparing this screw with an snapring so that this Mic is fitting perfect.
It´s really hard to explain that to you via e-mail and my english is really not the best.
So I´m really sorry if I cannot explain this to you as you may wish.
The cable that you see is a two pin cable. We cut it in a size we need it and soldering it on a normal Banana Cable. no you can plug you clarinet into a wireless system or directly into the Mixer or whatever.
That´s the way we play on Weddings and the sound is still perfect.
Nobody will get the exact same sound as when you play unplugged but it´s really really close to it and mouch better then a Barcus Berry Mic.
Whe you´re thinking about to buy one of this Hearing aid be shure that you ask for a wide spectrum Mic / Aid. They have the best sound.
You have also a lot of brands of these king of hering aids. buy Philips or Oticon Aids with two pins.
If you stil have any questions please ask.
Kind regards
Fanatic
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Author: dp
Date: 2005-10-26 12:34
Friends who use these "pick-up" mics are keen on the VOX made ones. Unfortunately VOX discontinued production. I came across a Blackring mic made in Germany. I did not have reliable info on it. One appears on eBay every so often for under EURO 200, about US$ 240.00
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Author: spiros housiadas
Date: 2006-05-03 02:04
hey everybody.i just wanted to tell you all that there are clarinet barrel mics for sale at www.greek-turkishclarinet.com.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2006-05-04 00:11
Interesting site.
Their response e-mail addres is at Phedcorp.com, which appears to be in Temecula, CA. Who are these guys?
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2006-05-05 01:37
Hi:
Bass is the owner of the site. Apparently he's an engineer and has designed a good pickup for clarinets. I have tried his pickup, and it works very well. I had thought the upper register would be a bit tinny or harsh, but the overall balance seems to be good. While I prefer the Shure 57 type mike, myself, Bass's clarinet barrel mic is a good product for those that want that type of amplification.
Kalakos
Kalakos Music
http://www.TAdelphia.com
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2006-05-06 12:08
Kalakos,
Thanks for the response!
I have had a Barcus-Berry mouthpiece mike (glued in) for the last decade or more. It is starting to have problems, and I don't think they make it any more. So this barrel mike might be a good alternative. I prefer the SM58, but also have an SM57.
I typically use the pickup when:
- wind is a problem
- feedback is a problem
- I want to process my sound and need to start with a hot signal
How would you compare the sound of the barrel pickup to that of your Shure microphone?
Regards,
Ralph
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2006-05-06 16:41
Hi Ralph:
I haven't tested Bass's pickup through the whole band's sound system, just through my Fender Twin amp with JBL speakers. It sounded good, but beyond that I can't say yet. But it did sound way better than some of the older style barrel pickups I've heard other people playing. Go the Bass's site and read about it. Best regards.
Kalakos
Kalakos Music
http://www.TAdelphia.com
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Author: josh
Date: 2006-12-23 18:18
you can get them from www.greek-turkish-clarinet.com
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Author: kokonis
Date: 2006-12-31 11:48
On the subject of barrell mikes, the author by the name of fanatic is correct. I have had two so called proffessional barrell mikes and there is very few parts inside them. I have bought about 6 old hearing aids and they are exactly the same. These hearing aids are the old type ie 2 wire and they are very seldom seen today due to advances in technology. Go to hearing aid specialists and you will get them very cheaply or even free. Ask for the wide spectrum type. Another note is that all barrell mikes tend to have a short life of about 5years due to moisture/condensation. After playing your klarino/clarinet wipe the water from inside barrel mike and store in a tiny box with sodium thiosulfate crystals, which will absorb the water, these are the little white paper packets you get in overseas parcels. I believe the barrell mikes that are being sold are ridiculously expensive whether on ebay or the clarinet website. There is literally almost nothing inside them to justify the cost. I believe them to be a ripp off. Give the hearing aids a try. They work well ! I have been playing greek klarino for 15yrs and love the sound of the barrell mike and its also great when played in combination with the shure 58
gianni@vic.australis.com.au
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Author: Bass
Date: 2007-03-19 19:08
Hello Kokanis,
even the $3,000.00 mics have almost nothing in them, it is not what is in them, rather what goes into them from developing to construction. take a computer chip for instance, it probably has few pennies worth of materials in it but they sell for hundreds of dollars. all these product, mics, transducers, hearing aid, etc... are a matter of personal preference, some people like the way they sound some don't. and five years for it to last is actually good considering the environment its used in.
Since i make the PT100 clarinet pickup, i can give you some breakdown of what it takes to make one.
1. Electronic Materials, approximately $10.00
2. Parts Machining and finishing (hard anodized), approximately $80.00
3. Labor for assembly and testing, approximately $15,00
4. Packaging, approximately $1.00
5. overhead cost, we have a full machine shop, engineering department, and over 8000 sf building. you can do the math!!!
6. over $10,000.00 developing, paying pros to test the product for me and marketing, which I’ll never get back.
and i sell it for $135.00 i hardly make any money on this product, but it does give me joy to know that people like Lefteris Bournias, Serkan Cagri, many other pros and all of the people who used the PT100 love it.
Be Well,
Bass
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Author: gregsquared
Date: 2007-03-19 19:41
Funny, I started this thread about two years ago and I forgot all about it after I found the PT 100. I used it on a gig Saturday night with my band, Ansambl Mastika, and it did just fine. I spent a good long time looking for a barrel mic and when I discovered the PT100 I was ecstatic. It hasn't failed me yet and I've been using it for about a year now. I know people that have paid up to $350 on ebay for vintage barrel mics and hearing aids. The PT 100 is a steal, comparatively. You can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a mic that, granted, sounds really good, but it won't give you the same flexibility as a barrel mic. And now you don't need to search high and low for them.
I don't have much experience with barrel mics, but it seems obvious that moisture will get it in the end. If you care for your gear, it will last much longer. Don't leave it attached to the barrel, dry it off, etc. I just hope Bass keeps them in production so I can buy another one when mine, inevitably, kicks the bucket.
As for the sound quality, if you want perfect reproduction of your tone, then you shouldn't be using a barrel mic or a hearing aid. It's just the limitation of the method of micing, not the mic itself.
I use mine with a wireless system that has a two-foot cable with a quarter inch plug on one end and a mini mic plug on the other. I switch back and forth between my sax mic and my clarinet mic by unplugging them at the belt-pack. it works pretty well and I can put a reverb unit or an octaver between the receiver unit and the mixing board or DI using a quarter inch instrument cable.
I am curious about one thing, though. Why does the PT100 have a 1/8" jack wired into it. Isn't the general rule of thumb in electrical engineering to avoid connectors as much as possible? But you almost never encounter 1/8" plugs in the world of live sound, so why make a situation that creates a need for an adaptor? What's it about? I ask because I had a problem on a gig one time with a bad 1/8"-1/4" adaptor.
Anyway, thanks to Bass for seeing the need in the marketplace and filling it with a quality product. G2.
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Author: Bass
Date: 2007-03-19 20:00
Thanks gregsquared, to answer your question regarding the 1/8 connector, the goal was to keep it as light as possible, and believe it or not the connector weighs more than the mic! anyway, the 1/8 plug was suggested by the pros who were doing the testing for me. you are right though about the problem with adapters, i had the same thing, but mine was a real cheap one.
Be Well,
http://www.greek-turkish-clarinet.com
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Author: han
Date: 2007-04-24 21:37
here is what to do :
Get yourself an in ear headphone set ( shure, senheiser) . Drill a hole in to your barrel, exactly the same size as the size of your headphone ( they are not larger than 2 mm!). Cut of one of the headphones and fix an xlr connection to it. Put the headphone in the hole and off you go! The headphones membrane will act as a microphone and is able to support extremely high volumes. Beleave me, the sound is amazing and it will cost you no more than 80 dollars!.
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Author: kokonis
Date: 2007-08-25 12:42
Thanks han , I tried your idea and I was astounded and totally amazed at the quality of the sound, I have since bought another 2 shure's for my other 2 clarinets and a music shop has passed the idea to a couple of jazz players I am told. Once again thanks a million. kokkonis
gianni@vic.australis.com.au
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Author: Mihran
Date: 2007-11-29 12:35
I have two of the barrel pickups from Vox - bought them in 1972 and can't part with them. They were made based on hearing aids in the 70's and you can't beat the sound.
What I noticed with the newer ones is they pick up key sounds, the barrel mics don't. The only bad thing with the barrel mic (mine have this problem) is they crack and they have to be taped up to work.
Good luck
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Author: sam2010
Date: 2008-10-01 02:23
Hi my name is SAM .Im always having problems with the pickups .Can you please help me,you see iv got these hearing aids pickups but after playing my saxaphone for an hour the pickup goes tinny theirs mioster going inside of it.Ive done a hole on the left hand side of the goose neck of my alto saxaphone,i really dont no how to install it and i dont have any of the pickups any more i dont no where to buy them. and im always having problems where my saxaphone is leaking air from the hole that i drilled to put that stupid pickup If its okay with you can i send some pictures of my saxaphone goose neck to see what im doing wrong and try to help me PLEASE and tell me where can i buy these pickups
THANK YOU VERY MUCH PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE or if you want we can contact each other if you want to THANKS
REGARDS SAM
Hi freddy can you please contact me so we can talk about the philips pickups thanks i have sent a few emails can you please let me no soon
Post Edited (2008-10-01 02:58)
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Author: sam2010
Date: 2008-11-07 13:39
hi sam2010 here i recived your email but i couldnt read it can you get back to me as soon as posibble thanks
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Author: merlin
Date: 2010-02-10 20:58
I cannot recommend Bass Poullath's PT barrel mics highly enough.
Here's what I wrote on the GTC forum when I tried his PT110SV for the first time on a gig.
http://www.gtc-music1.com/forum/index.php?topic=1432.msg21024#msg21024
Since then, he has stopped producing the PT110SV and has released a better system, the PT100PV. And here's what I wrote about this one after my first gig.
http://www.gtc-music1.com/forum/index.php?topic=1432.msg68928#msg68928
Bass Poullath also makes the most fantastic barrels from delrin (teflon) that don't change pitch as they warm up and never crack. They are lively and responsive and he can drill and mount a nut to take the pickup.
Admittedly, they don't sound as good as a AKG414, or a Neumann U87, but his system is for live use not recording, and beats anything else I've tried for sound, ease of use, minimum cable stuff etc etc. I use mine with a wireless system and it's given me better sound and more freedom that anything else I've tried.
Highly recommended.
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Author: freddy
Date: 2010-06-19 12:41
I just converted 2 barrel mikes after finding 2 old hearing aids Phillips wide spectrum type and was absolutely amazed at the lovely sound quality. I couldnt believe the realistic sound they made. The prices of the commercial barrel mikes appear to be far too expensive for what they are. I am even thinking of making them to sell but there probably isnt a great demand.
aston777@goggo.com.au
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2011-07-30 21:01
Attachment: fskclarinet1.jpg (123k)
Hey folks, I've made up several barrel mics using Shure SE110's and Marine Goop, and I'm super happy recording at home into Sonar 6. Have a listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED86OPDXTp4. Any tone limitations are strictly my playing, I'm sure...
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: Flakster
Date: 2011-08-08 16:23
I play Macedonian music. I've seen so many players having these barrel mics. Is there anywhere that I can buy one?
Cheers.
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Author: Bass
Date: 2011-08-08 16:26
sold at gtcmusic!
http://www.greek-turkish-clarinet.com
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2011-09-05 17:13
Stan: the Shure SE110 shows as an earphone, not a mike. How does this work?
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2011-09-05 18:17
Hi Ralph,
Many speakers will double as mics and vice versa depending on the technology. I remember an old 1960's Radio Shack plan for build it yourself walkie talkies that used cheapo speakers that way, and I think a lot of factory units pull that trick also. But it never sounded as good as an actual mic.
So when I read somewhere about using the Shure SE110 as a mic I was skeptical but figured it was worth a shot. And the sound quality just blew me away. You do have to EQ to make it sound right, but that's true of any mic. I also wondered whether articulation would be captured well, so I compared to recording from an external mic. The barrel mic was better. I caught a couple pair of 110's on eBay at about $20 each, but even at $50+ it's a great deal.
I'm sure other earphones would work also, perhaps even better. But I wasn't in the mood to experiment. Give me something that works and I can move on to creating and capturing music.
Eventually I guess I'll show the whole process on some YouTube videos. If anybody reading this wants to encourage that process, go comment and plead your case on my YouTube channel. :-)
Let me know how it works out.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2011-09-06 00:33
Stan,
Yes that makes sense. I once used a speaker as microphones, many decades ago. Not sure why I didn't remember that.
Thanks,
Ralph
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Author: Bass
Date: 2011-09-06 03:09
save yourself the trouble, get professionally made barrel pickups that comes with one year warranty. these mics have been designed and tested by professionals around the world.
http://gtc-music1.com/store/
http://www.greek-turkish-clarinet.com
Post Edited (2011-09-06 03:10)
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Author: Andrey
Date: 2012-02-28 18:45
Seems the price has doubled on the gtc-music1.com/store. It's now $260 instead of $135 as was mentioned before.
Does anyone have any experience with the Pasoana pickups?
http://gypsyclarinet.com/clarinet_pickup
The MK2.0 is $162 with delivery, though it doesn't have a volume control, which I'm fine with.
Thanks!
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2012-02-28 21:41
I have had a Pasoana for about a year and a half. Its main function is to provide a clean signal for extensive processing through a guitar effects box, and it does well at that. I would call it an OK acoustic mike; there are better choices, but not at this price. My favorite repair shop fixed me up with a free plastic barrel to test the pickup, and it has worked amazingly well. I like that the cable is easily replaceable - this is what killed my last mike.
TAP Electronics, a Greek maker of barrel mikes, has posted audio of a professional ethnic clarinetist playing the same lick on their entire product line, which really shows you a definite relationship between cost and gratifying reproduction.
http://www.tap.com.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=31&lang=en
Post Edited (2012-02-28 21:44)
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Author: Bass
Date: 2012-02-29 19:30
let me just say, you will get what you pay for. the price you mentioned is years ago, since we have improved the mic and still have one year warranty on all our mics, no one does that! its up to you, but go to our website and read the reviews at gtcmusic.com.Andrey wrote:
> Seems the price has doubled on the gtc-music1.com/store. It's
> now $260 instead of $135 as was mentioned before.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with the Pasoana pickups?
> http://gypsyclarinet.com/clarinet_pickup
>
> The MK2.0 is $162 with delivery, though it doesn't have a
> volume control, which I'm fine with.
>
> Thanks!
http://www.greek-turkish-clarinet.com
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Author: Andrey
Date: 2012-03-12 17:17
Ralph, thanks for your reply. I might just get the Pasoana. I want to use it for my DJ gigs where I play on top of pre-recorded tracks with the main speakers facing me from the other side of the room (can't use a regular mic because of feedback). The clarinet sounds so loud when I'm playing it at home, but it completely disappears on the dance floor.
I think I'll get this barrel for the drilling, I've been reading good things about it: http://www.amazon.com/Ridenour-Ivorolon-Clarinet-Barrels-Bore/dp/B003CUD9JY
TAP electronics looks like they've done a good deal of research and experimentation. The selection is very impressive. I couldn't find a place to buy them online though (I live in US/California).
I might drop by my local clarinet shop and ask what the guy thinks about barrel mics. He seems extremely experienced.
Thanks!
P.S.
Bass, it seems just too much to pay nearly $400 for what in materials is nowhere near that. If you would sell it for $160, I (and I imagine many others) would buy it and you would still make a considerable profit. Also, the forums are littered with your posts to your store (in this thread alone it appears 7 times). That's a big turn-off for me. If something is quality, it doesn't need to be promoted in a spam-like fashion.
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Author: Bass
Date: 2012-03-12 21:10
spam! its my forum and my store what do you expect? besides no one is forcing you to buy anything, you can do whatever makes you happy but no need to be insulting, you don't know a thing about how i run my business and you have no clue how i take care of my customers. there are used mikes out there that sells for up to $2000, and you are complaining about $395 for a top of the line brand new mic?! do you have any idea how much money and time it takes to develop a product? obviously you are ignorant of how business runs! good luck, and remember, you get what you pay for.
http://www.greek-turkish-clarinet.com
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Author: Mark Charette ★2017
Date: 2012-03-12 22:27
Funny. I allow no "spam" in these forums; however, I encourage manufacturers to answer questions or make suggestions when the thread is relevant - and they have to disclose their interest in the product. Whether or not you think the mic is worth what is charged is a topic for a different discussion, but to charge that an accurate answer from someone who might know a thing or two is "spam" begs the question of how your understanding of spam (unwanted messages and/ or information) differs from mine.
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Author: Andrey
Date: 2012-03-16 14:16
Woah, people are upset, had no idea this was such an emotional topic :-)
@Mark,
I registered a music copyright to the library of congress once and suddenly I kept getting junk mail offers for CD-making services, recording, marketing and promotion companies. I never asked for any CD-making services, recording or music marketing, but I kept getting this sort of mail in my box. To me that is junk, or spam.
How Bass is replying with always trying to promote his store if anyone asks any question even closely related to a barrel mic seemed to feel a little like that. Spam-like. Perhaps not to other people, so sorry if it seemed insulting. I was just trying to get clarity on some other alternatives.
P.S.
> you have no clue how i take care of my customers
By getting upset, yelling and calling them ignorant? Seems hardly an appropriate response. I get the idea of kind of service I would receive if I buy from you. No thanks.
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Author: bobsax
Date: 2012-03-27 07:08
I've enjoyed reading this thread from top to bottom. It's the most informative one I've found so far but I'm bit disappointed that no one has brought up the lower clarinets.
I play upright bass in several jazz and folk groups and I would like to incorporate my contrabass clarinet into these groups, ideally using my same bass amp.
I have heard bass clarinets solo with what looks like these same pickups but attached to the neck instead of the barrel but I have never heard a contrabass with one of these mics. Can anyone shed some light or share anything on mics and contrabass clarinet.?
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2012-03-28 03:58
You will need a piece of threaded tube silver-soldered to your neck to accept a pickup, which can be replaced with a small bolt when not in use. Poster "clarnibass" here has done that.
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Author: Ed Cetera
Date: 2012-05-10 13:14
Hello there! I came across this forum when looking for a clarinet pick up recently and get the impression you guys know what you're talking about. I hope someone can help me with this query.
I recently got the pasoana mk 2.1 pick up. Seems to work fine but I've only been able to test it out by connecting it to a minidisc recorder using a 1/8 " minijack to phono cable. It's a pretty decent (monster) cable and there didn't appear to be any distortion on the signal. However, I plan to use the pick up in a 'live' situation and won't be using this cable. The band consists of me on clarinet together with amplified vocals, guitar, bass and drums. Microphones have never really worked well enough for me in our set up so a pick up is the best solution. (i should add that this will be my second pick up; I used to have one 20 odd years ago that was inserted into the mouthpiece. Unfortunately it's no longer working ...)
Anyway my query is this: what sort of lead should I be using to connect the pick up to the amp/PA mixing desk - a 'microphone' cable? a guitar (instrument) cable? or 'speaker' cable? maybe I'm being overly perfectionist here but I'm looking for something which will do the best job.
Looking forward to hearing any advice you might have on this one.
Cheers!
peterh24@gmail.com
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2012-05-14 02:01
Hi Peter,
The Pasoana takes a standard 1/8" cable. Adapt it to 1/4" to hook it up like a guitar, either direct to an effects box, or a to belt-pack instrument wireless setup.
Cheers,
Ralph
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Author: Flakster
Date: 2012-08-14 21:38
Where do I find the 2 pin pickup wires? I'm looking for i nice thick black one but have not been able to find one.
Thanks
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Author: Flakster
Date: 2012-08-22 02:04
Where do you find the Philips pickups? I cant seem to find them anymore
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Author: manuh
Date: 2013-01-12 01:42
hi,
I just didn't saw any TAP resellers on their own website, http://www.tap.com.gr except the one in athen (I live in belgium)
I also would like to know the specificity of each model, and of course the prices...
did someone do a comparison with other products, like pasoana (http://www.gypsyclarinet.com/clarinet_pickup) or the PT110SV from gtc (https://www.gtc-music1.com/store/)
well, I mean, I need a neutral advice, not advertising
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2013-01-16 01:43
Clarnibass has a TAP but he will have to tell you the model. Look at their website: they used to post audio of a Greek player doing the same lick on each model, which wonderfully showed differences in sound quality.
The Pasoana MK2 meets my needs, in that it provides a clean signal for processing.
I am not an employee of, nor do I have a fiduciary interst in TAP, Pasoana, or Clarnibass.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2013-02-23 15:56
Hi- I'm just following up on my earlier post.
I've been using my Shure SE110's hand mounted to drilled barrels for over 2 years now. My daily hour of practice is mic'd into my laptop (Sonar 5) for some wonderful reverb through my speakers- just like playing in a nice auditorium, AND I record (and video) almost every "take" of all my active arrangements. That way when I get a good take it's already in the can! And when I do perform "live" I plug the mic into the sound system and the guys on the board are happy.
I do have periodic issues with the mics. Much of my early troubles were with getting good connections on the back end (where I plug into system), and avoiding shorts and such from the constant flexing of the cables. Several times that I thought the mic (earphone) had gone bad it turned out to be a cable or plug issue. Now that's the first place I look.
But I do have occasional problems with the mics themselves. Sometimes the volume level will drop considerably, and stay that way for days or weeks (I switch to another one and let the flaky one rest), then come back good as new. I think that may be moisture (spit) that got down in there and took a while to dry- that can't be good for it- how many times could it survive that? I've tried to blast with canned air to clear it- no change.
SO... I always want to have 2 barrels ready with working mics. I can go months (hundreds of hours of play!) on 1 barrel/mic with no problems. At the moment one has the "low volume" issue, so I'm probably going to see if I can assemble a 3rd one from my spare parts. I'd rather not have to spend another $80 for a new SE110 (which does give me 2 mics), I try to catch the occasional $30 SE110's on eBay, no such luck today.
Here's my newest posting on YouTube recorded this way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9PkAAGOSjU&feature=youtu.be.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-08-27 21:16
Time for a bit more followup.
As I noted above and in other threads, I have done years of recording and live performances using my Shure SE110-based barrel mics. In testing years ago I found this method equal or better in sound quality to open room miking. Hard for me to remember now much detail of those tests, but I still have a pretty decent AT MB3000L dynamic mic I hadn't touched in years.
Any barrel mic is so well isolated from the outside world that feedback, or even unwanted outside sound, is just not a problem. Really, you might as well be working with the electronic output of a keyboard or guitar, it's that clean. Stand in front of a monitor?- no problem. Your full mix playing loudly in the room?- no problem. So I was happy to keep things this way for a long time.
But... I had begun to suspect I was losing clarinet tone quality this way. 1- because as much as I liked my recordings, they seemed to lack something compared to recordings posted by others. And 2- occasionally I would hear my own playing recorded by video camera or phone and think- hey, that sounds good.
So a couple of days ago I actually sat down with Sonar and did an A/B comparison between an audio clip from my usual method, and the audio from the corresponding video recorded from my DSLR, full of ambient noise (camera autofocus, computers, fan). And it was night and day, no question I have been missing a lot. I examined one particular D4 ![[D4]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/d4.gif) - from the outside mic it had that wonderful "woody" overtone clarinet sound (funny because no wood in my clarinet) but from the barrel mic it was nothing special. Other notes maybe not so dramatic a difference, but overall a pretty big deal. And I don't think my A57's mic is anything to brag about.
So... my barrel mics are already disassembled and barrel holes plugged. I'm now recording with the MP3000L, wow does that sound better. I'm back to monitoring in headphones, dealing with ambient noise, and all that. Soon I'll be posting new samples and full recordings, all my old stuff is now obsolete. Fun, fun.
And I think an Apex565 clip-on condenser mic is in my future, I expect will cost about $115.
Perhaps the commercial varieties of barrel mic might do better than my converted earpieces. But I suspect the actual harmonic content from inside the barrel vs out in the room is what is at fault, rather than the performance of the transducer. In Sonar, I was unable to EQ even that single D4 from the barrel to sound anything like the D4 from the open room position.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2015-08-28 11:34
Stan, IME no matter how good a pickup is, it doesn't sound the same as a good microphone in a good position (at least with what's available now). For "regular" recordings and some live concerts I use microphones (whatever the sound engineer bring). Sometimes two microphones. For recordings usually condensers and for live usually dynamics. I have a few clip on clarinet mics (AMT double mic and a couple of single mics) but most of the time prefer not to use them.
I use the pickup whenever I use effect pedals, when the sound doesn't matter in that way (e.g. really loud rock/electronic) or when nothing else would work (feedback, volume, etc.). I don't use it for recordings unless I use effects or it's a live recording of something that requires the pickup anyway.
I have a TAP and re choosing by trying the different models... unless you're there it's not really posssible. I just chose/gambled based on the short samples on their website, all of which sound significantly different from when I use mine BTW.
On a soprano clarinet I don't have the problem that Ralph mentioned of some notes being louder, at least not enoguh to cause an issue at all. On bass clarinet some notes are a litte different, mostly in the lower range below the soprano clarinet range. It still works fine and I use it mostly on a bass clarinet.
Any pickup would have more key noise but sometimes this is an advantage and I use it on purpose for the music.
>> You will need a piece of threaded tube silver-soldered to your neck to accept a pickup, which can be replaced with a small bolt when not in use. Poster "clarnibass" here has done that. <<
I wouldn't silver solder it. I actually made a plastic tube and epoxied it to the neck, but if soldering I would use regular soft solder or silver/tin (leadless) soft solder.
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Author: HUNTER
Date: 2019-07-25 16:04
Decent, need to accomplish something like this with mine.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2019-09-07 14:39
This looks good, and is very moderately priced. But unless you can talk with someone who has one, you should look at this as a $150USD experiment.
Some issues:
- Throat tones will be relatively soft.
- Notes with all fingers down (low E, 3rd line B) will be relatively louder.
- The detachable cable is a feature you want - it will pull out rather than break when (not if) somebody steps on it.
- How good it sounds will depend on how good a mike it is (no surprise.)
- Even if clarinet mechanism is in top shape to avoid key-click, there will be some incidental noise.
My <other brand> mike meets my needs well. It was a little more expensive, and produces and adequate, but not great sound. My local, competent technician installed it in a no-name plastic barrel, which actually tunes and responds very well. But, the main goal was to get a clean signal for processing, not necessarily the best live sound possible. This setup is also handy for outdoor events, when masking out wind noise from an external microphone is difficult. But without a damper pedal under your control, you cannot play "off mike".
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