[Harp-L] New Product Announcement

[Greg Heumann <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, all -

I'm the guy who makes the volume controls. My first product was for  
hi-impedance mics with the vintage switchcraft connectors. But I have  
received a number of requests from list members for an XLR control  
for lo-impedance mics. I spent a good deal of time developing one I'm  
happy with, and I'm happy to announce that they are finally ready. To  
cut to the chase, you can go straight to the website at http:// 
www.blowsmeaway.com

For a little more info right here....


In the last month I've had units out for testing among some members  
of this list who had inquired previously. They have been tested with  
a range of mics including Shure SM-11,-57 and -58, Audix fireball,  
Beyer M69 and more. They have been used directly into PA, into  
effects boxes like Vocal400, and into impedance-matching transformers  
for people who connect directly to harp/guitar amps. The comments  
have been very positive.

When I play acoustically, I sing and play through an SM58. When I  
sing, I want my lips very close or touching the mic for "proximity  
effect" which improves bass response (and my voice needs all the help  
it can get.) However when I play acoustically, I don't want to get  
too close to the mic - in fact I want to be able to get my hands in  
between my face and the mic so that I can get a full cup hand-wah  
sound. But, set up for my singing level, the volume isn't loud  
enough. Now, with the control in place, I can set the PA up for the  
level I need for the harp, and when I sing I simply back the on-mic  
control down a bit. Works great.

We discovered another benefit - we host a few jams locally, and  
volume control is an issue. A mic set up for my singing is way too  
hot for another guy who really belts it out. It is much easier for us  
to walk right up to the mic and turn it down, rather than climb over  
people's gear cases and stuff to get to the PA. So now when we set up  
we put one of these controls on every mic up front.

Please note that there are harmonica mics out there that use XLR  
cables, but are high impedance mics. Examples are the Hohner Blues  
Blaster and the high-z Shaker mics. These come with cables that have  
XLR at one end and 1/4" phone plugs at the other. They are wired  
"unbalanced" - the signal is on either pin 2 or pin 3, with the  
return on the shield/ground. These mics and cables will not work  
properly with my control. But it works great with any mic that is  
"like the Shure SM57 or SM58" - use a standard, "balanced" lo-noise,  
lo-impedance XLR-to-XLR cable.

(If you need a high impedance, XLR-connector control, I can build one  
for you- it just isn't what I'm talking about here.)

All the info is at http://www.blowsmeaway.com