Re: [Harp-L] Suzuki Overdrive Video; Lapel Mics

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Brendan - 

Lapel mics are usually (though not always) omnidirectional , but there are several clip-on instrument mics that are highly directional. These are the small mics you clipped on to saxophone bells, accordions, bodhrans, etc. For awhile I was using one strapped to my wrist and aimed at my hand cup from about two inches away, in order to get a totally acoustic sound while being able to move freely onstage. You can see it in action here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfxIDPqb00s

In the clip I'm deliberately low in the mix because I'm part of the ensemble and not a soloist
Some people don't even notice that there's a mic and wonder how they can hear me.

You could cup a similar mic between your fingers for a more compressed sound. Distortion would more likely come from post processing as instrument mics are designed to withstand a lot of sound pressure.

Volume control on a mic that small is unlikely, but you could use a belt pack with volume control.

Some small instrument mics that might serve:

Audix ADX20-i (the one I have)

AKG 416, 516, 517, 520 series

Shure MX184 and 185, and Beta 98H/C

Winslow

--- On Fri, 8/8/08, Brendan Power <bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Brendan Power <bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Suzuki Overdrive Video; Lapel Mics
To: "Harp-L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Friday, August 8, 2008, 1:15 AM


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.