[Harp-L] Microvox, Audix Fireball

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've used a Microvox condenser mic on numerous occasions since the  
late 80s. It was primarily developed for stringed instruments and  
consisted of an electret element enclosed in a rubber surround to  
avoid contact noise, connected to a battery & volume control belt  
unit with a 1/4" jack output. Like that you could hold it between  
your fingers and I met a number of chrom players who liked it for a  
clean acoustic sound. Personally I cut it out of the rubber, put the  
element into an Astatic shell, embedded in a circular piece of foam  
rubber behind the grill, and played through whatever amp I was using  
at the time. I still quite like the sound for some tunes and used  
this rig for several titles on the recent BluesCulture CD such as  
this version of Bill Withers' "Who is he?" (playing through a Fender  
silver face Princeton Reverb):

http://www.stevebaker.de/index.php/upload?type=3&page=download&id=136

I tried an Audix Fireball a couple of years back but was not really  
impressed as the ball shape makes it impossible for me to enclose it  
properly. I personally feel the subject is overrated and have gone  
back to playing acoustic harp on stage through my vocal mic,  
generally a Shure SM58, after using a Beyerdynamic M160 for some  
time. Too much trouble having 2 mics.

Steve

Steve Baker
steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.stevebaker.de
www.bluesculture.com
www.youtube.com/stevebakerbluesharp
www.myspace.com/stevebakerbluesharp