[Harp-L] Re: hi-z lo-z mics

[Greg Heumann <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, Michael -

I will be in the vendor area at SPAH and can probably clear this up  
for you - no seminar, but come by and I'll be happy to answer your  
questions if I can.

Here are a few guidelines/thoughts:

Low-Z vs. Hi-Z doesn't make a whit of difference in tone per se,  
however a mismatch between the mic and the device you're plugging it  
into sure will. You can plug a Low-Z device into a hi-Z input (think  
SM57 into a harp amp) and it will work, but not as well as if you did  
it the proper way, which is to use an impedance matching transformer.  
You cannot, however, get a peep out of a hi-Z mic played straight  
into a low-Z input. Here, an impedance matching transformer must be  
used.

Low Z  technology came along much later than hi-Z, and was developed  
because it supports longer cable runs without noise. Almost all  
modern vocal mics (and harp mics derived from them, like the Audix  
Fireball and the Bushman Torpedo) are low-Z.

Modern vocal mics are simply higher tech than older ones- and as a  
result both produce a cleaner sound and have more headroom (which is  
the technical term for how loud you can play into them before they  
distort.) The Fireball has more headroom than any other mic I've  
played - which is a good thing if you want a clean signal to run into  
your effects pedals, and maybe not so good a thing if you like being  
able to alter your tone a lot simply with your cupping technique.  
Older/dirtier mic elements do indeed distort when cupped and are, in  
my opinion, an essential part of the "great tone chain" if you WANT a  
"Chicago blues" style sound.


/Greg

http://www.blowsmeaway.com
http://www.bluestateband.net

> From: michael hines <otisharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: June 26, 2008 6:16:50 PM PDT
> To: Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] hi-z  lo-z mics
>
>
> Here's a question for the tech folks; how exactly do you know if  
> your mic is hi-z or lo-z? I rarely play out but when i do i use  
> either my old 545-s or a Shure PE-53v. I always run these through  
> the P.A. and i'm now wondering if i should use another type mic or  
> tweak these. I think they sound o.k. but i'm hardly unbiased. Also  
> i don't know beans about electronics. Seems like this topic would  
> make an interesting short workshop at S.P.A.H.
>                                                                        
>                                       Mike