I play bass in an Italian band, and tonight we played a dinner dance for 200 people of Italian descent. I had made the mistake of showing the bandleader my handmade PVC flute, and he insisted that I bring it along.
Halfway into the gig, he announced to all that I would now play "Danny Boy" and all eyes were upon me, much to my surprise. I thought it might be fun...stepped up to the mike...and all you could hear was the earsplitting whoooooosh of my breath through the overhead speakers
We finally got it figured out, and I got through the number, but now it looks like I will be expected to play this each time we play. I'm pushing to replace Danny with some ITM to
compliment the Italian tunes we do.
So, for next time, how would you amplify one of these things? (We finally used an omni mike off to one side.) Any advice from my flautist compadres would be greatly appreciated.
I once saw a flautist amplify her flute by were a head set microphone thing. It looked like a an earphone but it had no ear bits, just a piece of metal that came round to her mouth, except that they had bent it so it was at the side of the mouthpiece.
The Mic on mine is called an electret condenser mic (ECM) - it's out of an old computer headset. They need a pre-amp, and a battery to run them. The whole shebang cost about 5 pounds to make.
The mic is mounted on the end of a bit of thick bendy copper wire, so I can adjust its position, and the other end of the wire (which still has the insulation on to prevent scratching) just gets trapped under the rubber band wrapped round the end of the flute.
Sure, it doesn't look the nicest, but it's the sound that counts.
Seriously now...In all my performance work a mic directly in front of the embouchere picks up best.
Some engineers use uni- , others omni-directional, the difference being that for a uni you can't move round too much or your sound will be "lost". Also an omni- picks up all sorts of sundry noises, whereas the uni- is designed to pick up that which is directed to it.
The position of the mic, directly in line, slightly above or below depends on how well you produce your sound. This is crucial, otherwise you will just produce a sound that would be good in a movie about storms etc.
Remember, when you play, your lips against the mouth hole actually split a column of air, and half goes down the flute and the other half away from you (in theory that is!)
If you have good control of your lips, you're not likely to produce as much of a roar.
A piece of advice - DON'T try to eat the mic! So many play right up against the mic and it cripples the sound. It might have some benefits in a rock band, but it's a no-no for trad.
If you play about 4 -5 inches away you'll be amazed how much better the quality is. ALSO by moving in and out at special notes and phrases you can add a lot of colour to your playing just by being in control of your own self manipulated fade/swell system. IT IS THAT SIMPLE! No need for fancy electronics.
In some recordings I've done, another mic has been placed towards the foot of the flute, but this is mainly to enhance the tonal quality.
REMEMBER the sound comes out opposite the mouth hole.
The whoooosh you heard was from blowing the stream of air directly into the mic. If you're using a spot mic (the small, tightly focused type), you can position it to point toward the blow hole from above (at a slant) or from a side angle. It needs to point toward your lips, but out of the air stream.
The larger mics you've seen are very probably not omni-directional. They're probably large-diaphragm condenser mics. Still directional, but not as tightly focused and not requiring such close proximity. An omni mic is used almost exclusively in the studio, because it would feed back like crazy on a stage.
When they make me play into a mic I've never had any problem with the wind sounds - you must simply have been too close. I use a very directional mic, and play so that the distance from the embouchure to the head of the microphone is about 5 inches. Works a treat (- but only when its turned on).
I have a Shure contraption that is probably the one described earlier as looking like an earphone with a mouthpiece that comes down from the ear and curves in front of the mouth. It is cordless, which makes it very handy when stage space is limited and also for doing sound checks from where the audience will sit. I wouldn't record with it, but the sound quality is quite good and it is far less likely to feed back than a standard mic will. It was about $300 when I bought it, but that was years ago. They are probably better and cheaper now.
How do you amplify an Irish flute?
How do you amplify an Irish flute?
I play bass in an Italian band, and tonight we played a dinner dance for 200 people of Italian descent. I had made the mistake of showing the bandleader my handmade PVC flute, and he insisted that I bring it along.
Halfway into the gig, he announced to all that I would now play "Danny Boy" and all eyes were upon me, much to my surprise. I thought it might be fun...stepped up to the mike...and all you could hear was the earsplitting whoooooosh of my breath through the overhead speakers
We finally got it figured out, and I got through the number, but now it looks like I will be expected to play this each time we play. I'm pushing to replace Danny with some ITM to
compliment the Italian tunes we do.
So, for next time, how would you amplify one of these things? (We finally used an omni mike off to one side.) Any advice from my flautist compadres would be greatly appreciated.
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
I have usually had the mic in front of the embochure hole but not too close other wise you get too much air.
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Why Bother?
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
The mic needs to be off to the side, as you have found out!
SD Systems make a couple of nice flute mikes:
http://www.sdsystems.com/frame.html?frame=1&url=/70/70.htm
(I looked at their page, then made my own. It attaches to the flute with a good old fashioned rubber band)
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Wurzel
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
Those look really handy. Wonder if the clamp can be fitted to a wooden flute.. What mic are you using with your rubber band, wurzel?
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Q
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
I once saw a flautist amplify her flute by were a head set microphone thing. It looked like a an earphone but it had no ear bits, just a piece of metal that came round to her mouth, except that they had bent it so it was at the side of the mouthpiece.
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Folkie Junkie
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
As you can probably tell I'm REALLY technical.
Now where's that fluffy ice-cream cone thingiemajig that pics up sound......
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Folkie Junkie
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
That is intresting Flutie.
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Why Bother?
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
yeah, I like it too Flutietoots. Sounds like a job for my orthodontist
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Q
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
The Mic on mine is called an electret condenser mic (ECM) - it's out of an old computer headset. They need a pre-amp, and a battery to run them. The whole shebang cost about 5 pounds to make.
The mic is mounted on the end of a bit of thick bendy copper wire, so I can adjust its position, and the other end of the wire (which still has the insulation on to prevent scratching) just gets trapped under the rubber band wrapped round the end of the flute.
Sure, it doesn't look the nicest, but it's the sound that counts.
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Wurzel
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
Never, under any circumstances, should one amplify Danny Boy
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by yonder
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
It's bad enough admitting you know it!
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Wurzel
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
PLAY LOUDLY!
Seriously now...In all my performance work a mic directly in front of the embouchere picks up best.
Some engineers use uni- , others omni-directional, the difference being that for a uni you can't move round too much or your sound will be "lost". Also an omni- picks up all sorts of sundry noises, whereas the uni- is designed to pick up that which is directed to it.
The position of the mic, directly in line, slightly above or below depends on how well you produce your sound. This is crucial, otherwise you will just produce a sound that would be good in a movie about storms etc.
Remember, when you play, your lips against the mouth hole actually split a column of air, and half goes down the flute and the other half away from you (in theory that is!)
If you have good control of your lips, you're not likely to produce as much of a roar.
A piece of advice - DON'T try to eat the mic! So many play right up against the mic and it cripples the sound. It might have some benefits in a rock band, but it's a no-no for trad.
If you play about 4 -5 inches away you'll be amazed how much better the quality is. ALSO by moving in and out at special notes and phrases you can add a lot of colour to your playing just by being in control of your own self manipulated fade/swell system. IT IS THAT SIMPLE! No need for fancy electronics.
In some recordings I've done, another mic has been placed towards the foot of the flute, but this is mainly to enhance the tonal quality.
REMEMBER the sound comes out opposite the mouth hole.
Hope this is of some help,
Good luck,
Brianx
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by briantheflute
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
What or who is this "Danny Boy" you're talking about? It's not our good Danny in London, is it?
I shouldn't have thought he needed much amplification
Trevor
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
The whoooosh you heard was from blowing the stream of air directly into the mic. If you're using a spot mic (the small, tightly focused type), you can position it to point toward the blow hole from above (at a slant) or from a side angle. It needs to point toward your lips, but out of the air stream.
The larger mics you've seen are very probably not omni-directional. They're probably large-diaphragm condenser mics. Still directional, but not as tightly focused and not requiring such close proximity. An omni mic is used almost exclusively in the studio, because it would feed back like crazy on a stage.
# Posted on October 10th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
Perhaps if you suck, instead of blow?
When they make me play into a mic I've never had any problem with the wind sounds - you must simply have been too close. I use a very directional mic, and play so that the distance from the embouchure to the head of the microphone is about 5 inches. Works a treat (- but only when its turned on).
# Posted on October 10th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
I regularly use a flute in a live band and as indicated above I have the mic looking down at an angle on the mouth hole.
I use an SM57, which is Hypercardioid.
http://www.sweetwiter.com/shop/live-sound/microphones/buying-guide.php
PP
# Posted on October 10th 2005 by Pied Piper
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
Radio Shack offers an inexpensive tie-clip mic which works very well.
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F002%5F007%5F001&product%5Fid=33%2D3013
# Posted on October 10th 2005 by mcswiss
Re: How do you amplify an Irish flute?
I have a Shure contraption that is probably the one described earlier as looking like an earphone with a mouthpiece that comes down from the ear and curves in front of the mouth. It is cordless, which makes it very handy when stage space is limited and also for doing sound checks from where the audience will sit. I wouldn't record with it, but the sound quality is quite good and it is far less likely to feed back than a standard mic will. It was about $300 when I bought it, but that was years ago. They are probably better and cheaper now.
# Posted on October 10th 2005 by Ailin