[Harp-L] Re: Best PA setting to play with band

[Ray Beltran <raybluemax@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dennis-
This is not the price you should have to pay. Do the other instruments have to "play through the PA as well?" If they can be mic'd properly, so should you. Not many sound guys I've run into know how to mic a harmonica driven amp.

I've heard your sound… full & fat. Most sound guys aren't used to that. They are used to a thin, shrill sound that is often weak. Strong player like you shows up, this is new territory for them. Perhaps that is why he's "grimmacing". Maybe your sound is something he's never come across. Maybe an experienced harp guy or two could follow along next time and help him out.

But if he's telling you you MUST play through a vocal mic through the PA…

When I opened for Cotton, he had a unique, particular vocal mic set up just for his harmonica. It was NOT eq'd like the others. I know… I attempted to sing through it by mistake, and was QUICKLY shut down by Cotton's assistant who stood next to the soundman. I thought I sounded weird… Sounded to me he had highs rolled down (not OFF), and mids up a bit. Not so much bass, but he cups the mic; read further.

I recall a post here by Tom Ball who said that one should ask for the highs to be brought down  a couple of notches and the bass to be moved up, generally speaking. He's quite experience running through the PA. Mileage may vary with any given venue/vocal mic.

'Course, if you're CUPPING the mic like you would a bullet, things are gonna be a bit different. I think some of the recommendations that have been posted are for playing UP TO the vocal mic, and not necessarily cupping, but I could be wrong.

Will you be cupping the mic?

Ray.

Facebook – Ray Beltran BlueMax
Videos & Live Tunes - www.reverbnation.com/raybeltranbluemax



> From: Dennis Moriarty <yodennis@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Best PA setting to play with band
> To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <34894657-CBC9-4E74-ACAB-E88FF307388B@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> After years of the sound man's grimacing in a club I am going to try and defer to his wish to "just play through the PA mike" rather than setting up my miked amp. This is a paying gig in a major NYC joint that I do weekly so the opportunity is worth the degradation in tonal quality if it's the price I have to pay. I must go through one of the house wireless mikes into the PA without the addition of any added effects so what would give me the most resonantly smooth sound regarding PA settings please? Thanks. d
> facebook.com/yodennis     
> http://www.myspace.com/blowintheblues