Re: [Harp-L] Harp and Sax

[Ken Deifik <kenneth.d@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Amped harp puts out a lot of energy in the 500 Hz-3 kHz range, and organ 
> can really saturate that space (or just about any other).
>
> I'd just make sure the mix engineer understands that the harp is supposed 
> to be heard.

What Richard says is right on, especially so in this organ and harp situation.

Mudharp, you probably know this, but the Hammond organ has these black keys 
over on the left hand side and sliders up across the keyboards.  The 
sliders allow the organist to attribute widely different EQ colors to the 
keyboards.  These EQ's can then be assigned to the black keys over on the 
left hand side.

This allows the organist to use several very bright, out-front EQ's when he 
is soloing, and some more subdued colors when he's accompanying, and to not 
have to do much more than hit a black key to make the change.  Any good 
Hammond player will either know what colors to set when accompanying each 
player in the band, or will work with the players to achieve optimal color.

The reason it is worth taking some time establishing the backup colors is 
that the EQ's of the various instruments play off each other and can make 
each other sound great, lousy or neutral.  I'd go for great, and you'll 
only get that through some experimentation.  The organ player will have 
likely not played with many harp players, especially many who have your 
specific sound.

If you really want to go for it, make sure the organ guy has A FEW backup 
colors for you, so that he can build as you do.  (Lots of time a skilled 
organ player can do that part on the fly by moving the sliders during the 
performance.  It's very common to see Hammond players grab a fistful of the 
high sliders from the EQ he's using and pull them way up for climactic 
moments and then ease them back.)

Preparing your sounds before you get into the studio like this (which you 
may not have time for) will take some of the burden off the engineer.

Why would you want to do that?  Because engineers are not harp players.  If 
you're not involved in the mix it is a near certainty that the harp will 
not sound just as you wish, and -- sad to say -- sometimes absolutely no 
care whatsoever will be placed on making the harmonica sound any good at 
all.  It happens all too often.  So prepare by getting your colors straight 
with the Organist early on.

K