Re: [Harp-L] Lapel Mics



You can get an idea of what a lapel mic will do for just $25 by using a Radio Shack p/n 33-3013 "Tie-Clip Microphone. It has a flat response from 50 to 10K hz and rolls off 25 db at 20Khz. This mic has a lump in its cable that contains a button battery and an on-off switch. The battery lasts months ~IF~ you remember to turn it off! You will also need a 1/8"-plug-to-1/4"-plug adapter and perhaps a 1/4"-plug-to-XLR transformer adapter for low impedance mic inputs.

I also have a much more expensive Sennheiser lapel mic that doesn't sound any different to me.

Besides small size and low cost, I think that all electret mics share similar characteristics. Unlike large condenser mics that need 40 volts or so to charge their diaphragms, small capacitive electrets require a few soft volts to power the field-effect-transistors necessary to get their impedance down into a practical range. They are non-directional. My impression is that there are only a few manufacturers that mass produce electret elements and a whole bunch of other manufacturers who package them into computer mics, built-in mics of videocams & audio recorders, and lapel mics. Their performance is a terrific deal for the money. You can buy electret elements (in quantity) for $2 or $3 each.

You can find a lot of information on electret mics on the internet. A Google search on "Electret Condenser Microphone" returns 160,000 hits.

You should rely on separate audio-effects processors to give you any "fat sound" or other desired distortion.

I use two of them, one on the rack a fraction of an inch behind my Hands-Free-Chromatic and another above the harp nearer my mouth for vocals.

I also use a Baggs "mixpro" on my rack to provide gain control, power for the electrets, phase reversal and some hi-freq attenuation. I can't find any reason to spend any more money on lapel mics than the Radio-Shack cheapies. (I cut the battery cases out of the cables for use on the Mixpro.) For what it is worth, my advise would be to get the cheapie mic(s) and spend $160 on the little Baggs (two-channels-on-the-belt)) Mixpro for volume and some feedback control. See:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/LR-Baggs-Mixpro-Universal-Belt-Clip-Mixer-307113-i1128125.gc.
With the mic, some adapters, and the Mixpro, you can have my setup for < $200


I'll have it at SPAH in case you want to check it out. I would like to compare it with Slim's mics.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "Slim Heilpern" <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Brendan Power" <bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Harp-L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 7:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Suzuki Overdrive Video; Lapel Mics



Hi Brendan -

Probably not what you're looking for, but....

http://www.countryman.com/store/product.asp?id=5&catid=10

I work with a teeny, tiny countryman B6 lavalier condensor mic (requires phantom power). I special ordered the low sensitivity version because I keep the mic attached directly to the back of my cx12 and these mics are very hot. It set me back about $350. Countryman makes both uni and omni directional versions, but I chose omni since I'm cupping around the mic and it sounded better to me when I tried them back-to-back. I haven't had much in the way of feedback problems.

I'm actually not trying to get any distortion, but this mic will overload easily. I have to change my hand position a bit with respect to the mic to avoid distortion when playing anything but single notes. I basically move my hand so the mic is slightly outside of the cup and that gives me a clean sound for chording. But I especially love the single note sound of this mic inside the cup! It is very warm but with plenty of sweet high end.

As for the volume control, I use a volume pedal.

I'll have it with me at SPAH (with preamp, etc..), would be happy to let you try it if you're interested....

- Slim.

Brendan Power wrote:
LAPEL MICS
I've been experimenting with lapel mics to get a fat distorted sound
with hand effects, and really love them. However, there are a couple of
drawbacks:
1. They are mostly omnidirectional and a bit prone to feedback, and 2. They don't come with volume control (or not the ones I've found)
Is anyone else using lapel mics? I'd be interested to hear of your
comments.


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