Fwd: [Harp-L] Rack mic

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>
> Date: April 6, 2011 11:23:35 PM PDT
> To: captron100@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Rack mic
> 
>> There are commercial mics that clamp on to the harp:
>> 
>> Strnad mics are made in two sizes for diatonics and for chromatics.  Their clamps slide on from the side and grasp the flanges of 270 and Marine Band types of covers.  Other cover styles might not work very well. 
> See:       http://www.harpdepot.com/index1.html?309.html&1
> 
> The AMT HR3 mic clamps on to your harp by grasping the ends.  
> See: http://www.appliedmicrophone.com/products/show/66
> The clamps are not very secure.  The mic is long enough to accommodate a 16-hole chromatic and would dwarf a diatonic.  This is basically a mic for a chromatic.
> 
> Any mic that clamps on to the harp makes it impractical to switch harps quickly as diatonic players often like to do. 
> 
> I am unaware of any commercial mic that attaches to the rack.
> 
> I made some mics that attach to the Ergonomic-Neck-Rack.
> See:   http://www.builderofstuff.com/enr.html
> They consist of a dynamic element in the end of a length of copper pipe.  I thought that it sounded pretty good and had a volume pot and an on-off switch. It is big and heavy and didn't take the market by storm.  I have three of them that I would part with very easily if anyone is interested.  I called it the MicENR.  Its inspiration was the mic used by Paul Oscher on a rack that I made for him. 
> See:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-5KoP4o4Xc
> The best view of his mic-in-a-tube occurs at about 0:58  Nothing less than an ENR would have held his 16-hole chromatic, the mic, and the framework that he used to hold it all together. 
> 
> The mic that I use with my Hands-Free-Chromatic Seydel Saxony on a rack is made by gluing a $4 Radio Shack electret (peanut) element into the end of a 1/2-inch aluminum tube with some slots cut in the side towards the harp.  Its inspiration was the AMT HR3.  However if you make it yourself, you can cut the tube to match the length of a 12-hole chromatic or a diatonic.   Attaching it to your rack would require some custom-designed brackets. You must provide "phantom" power to operate the transistor in the electret.  
> 
> An easy way to get started would be to get a $20  Radio Shack electret "tie-clip / lapel mic p/n 33-3013.
> See:  http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102927
> I'm a big fan of these little mics because they are cheap, have a good flat response, and have plenty of output.  They don't have any characteristic distortion.  You must get any desired audio effects in your electronics.  Because they have a little battery pack in their chord for their phantom power, they are ready to plug in to your amp. Because they are tiny and light, they are easy to incorporate in any DIY design. I have used them for pickups on violins, bass harmonica, and horns.
> 
> For about $25 in parts, you could attach a tie-clip mic to your harmonica or rack with velcro and see how you like it.  Then you can experiment with more sophisticated elements and enclosures as your shop skills and budget allow.
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Vern
> 
> On Apr 6, 2011, at 5:38 PM, captron100@xxxxxxx wrote:
> 
>> David wrote:
>> I want to work out mics for harp holder racks.....snip..... ways to mic a rack mounted 
>> harp, please email me offline.
>> 
>> Pls keep it on harp-L, not offline.  Thanks.
>> ron
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>