so i looked for a similar discussion and couldnt find it, so i apologize if this is a repeat!
to make a long story short, the old guitarist in my band is back from college for the summer, now armed with a banjo and a cello to add to our sound. only problem is, we play a folk-punk style that can get pretty loud and we've had a lot of trouble hearing both these instruments amidst all the rest. now of course the simple solution would be for him to go out and buy pickups for both, but he doesnt want to throw down for it when he may only use them for the summer. so does anyone have any suggestions for micing these two in this situation? thanks.
If you play *loud* music, I think you would be best advised to use transducers attached to the instruments. The problem with using a mic is, even a unidirectional one will pick up ambient noise. So, when you turn up the volume, you turn up everything else as well as the instrument you want to turn up - and there is the risk of screaming feedback (perhaps not altogether undesirable - it depends just how 'punk' you want it to be).
There are a various high quality transducers on the market for banjo - Schatten, McIntyre, Fischman, to name a few. But they all cost money. If you are on a tight budget, there are other, less specialised devices (e.g. a a 'bug' or twin-spot piezo type) that will give you a feedback-free high output, with at least reasonable sound quality.
I don't know much about amplifying cellos. There is, no doubt, a range of bridge-mounted transducers available, as for the fiddle - but these usually necessitate either modifying or (for an 'electric bridge') completely replacing the bridge. A small, instrument-mounted gooseneck mic (e.g Microvox) could be another option. You might consider the Headway 'Band', which is available for all the standard violin family instruments. I have used it on fiddle. It gives very good sound quality and has the wonderful advantage of being completely removable.
Whatever you use, it is probably best used in conjunction with a preamp of some kind.
Don't really know about the banjo, but if cello is anything like double bass, the usual way is to stick a piezo element into pr under the bridge. Downside is that these systems (+ the preamp) aren't cheap. A mic with a good bass responce aimed at the bridge (roughly) might do it, something along the line of the type of mic you'd stick in a bass drum might work (and if you've got a drummer he should have one) and it'd be more feedback resistant (though not very clear). Failing that, just play around with different mics (at performance sound levels) and move the cello, moniters and amps around (see if you can find the cellist a spot away from the noise making stuff) till you keep the feedback down. A good quality noise suppressor would help with this.
In my neck of the woods, we spell the word for these things as 'mikes', which helps prevent confusion (about rodents, for example), unless your name is Mike.
micing banjo and cello
micing banjo and cello
so i looked for a similar discussion and couldnt find it, so i apologize if this is a repeat!
to make a long story short, the old guitarist in my band is back from college for the summer, now armed with a banjo and a cello to add to our sound. only problem is, we play a folk-punk style that can get pretty loud and we've had a lot of trouble hearing both these instruments amidst all the rest. now of course the simple solution would be for him to go out and buy pickups for both, but he doesnt want to throw down for it when he may only use them for the summer. so does anyone have any suggestions for micing these two in this situation? thanks.
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by Bard
Re: micing banjo and cello
At the same time? No. But, if you just use a good mic (like a Shure SM57) you can use it to mike both the instruments. Good luck
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by Dark Raven
Re: micing banjo and cello
Why did I read this as "mincing banjo and cello"?
# Posted on June 26th 2006 by LastToFinish
Re: micing banjo and cello
I've never had mice in my banjo, but I'm sure if a cello were left alone for a while in a suitable place, mice may eventually move in.
# Posted on June 26th 2006 by tag
Re: micing banjo and cello
If you play *loud* music, I think you would be best advised to use transducers attached to the instruments. The problem with using a mic is, even a unidirectional one will pick up ambient noise. So, when you turn up the volume, you turn up everything else as well as the instrument you want to turn up - and there is the risk of screaming feedback (perhaps not altogether undesirable - it depends just how 'punk' you want it to be).
There are a various high quality transducers on the market for banjo - Schatten, McIntyre, Fischman, to name a few. But they all cost money. If you are on a tight budget, there are other, less specialised devices (e.g. a a 'bug' or twin-spot piezo type) that will give you a feedback-free high output, with at least reasonable sound quality.
I don't know much about amplifying cellos. There is, no doubt, a range of bridge-mounted transducers available, as for the fiddle - but these usually necessitate either modifying or (for an 'electric bridge') completely replacing the bridge. A small, instrument-mounted gooseneck mic (e.g Microvox) could be another option. You might consider the Headway 'Band', which is available for all the standard violin family instruments. I have used it on fiddle. It gives very good sound quality and has the wonderful advantage of being completely removable.
Whatever you use, it is probably best used in conjunction with a preamp of some kind.
Good luck.
# Posted on June 26th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: micing banjo and cello
Don't really know about the banjo, but if cello is anything like double bass, the usual way is to stick a piezo element into pr under the bridge. Downside is that these systems (+ the preamp) aren't cheap. A mic with a good bass responce aimed at the bridge (roughly) might do it, something along the line of the type of mic you'd stick in a bass drum might work (and if you've got a drummer he should have one) and it'd be more feedback resistant (though not very clear). Failing that, just play around with different mics (at performance sound levels) and move the cello, moniters and amps around (see if you can find the cellist a spot away from the noise making stuff) till you keep the feedback down. A good quality noise suppressor would help with this.
For pickups try:
http://www.barberatransducers.com/cello
http://www.fishman.com/acoustic-instrument-pickups.asp
http://www.lrbaggs.com
# Posted on June 26th 2006 by Andy V
Re: micing banjo and cello
In my neck of the woods, we spell the word for these things as 'mikes', which helps prevent confusion (about rodents, for example), unless your name is Mike.
# Posted on June 26th 2006 by AlBrown