Guest Zeenat Aman Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 Dear soundmen/women!Is actual acoustic live performance a viable option(ie: no pickups, clip on's etc), the reason being that I hate the sound of electro-acoustics?yukyukyukI imagine volume will be an issue, but having witnessed a few gigs where, even with the player using an electro-acoustic, he was still very quiet and tonally it sounded awful... You thoughts and advice please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gord Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 I hate the sound of most electro-acoustics too. When I play solo I prefer to just mic up my acoustic guitar. Usually sounds okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tav Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 I was going to suggest using a mic also. That'd get you out of having to use an electro acoustic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 Apologies, I was meaning to just use microphones... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Jack Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 Martin Stephenson (www.daintees.com) went through a phase of really hating any barriers between him and the audience, so would quite often unplug, step off stage and sit with the crowd. I saw him do it at the Lemon Tree once, and the effect was amazing. The whole place was utterly silent, and it felt like such a connection between him and the crowd.Always wanted to get him to Drakes, would have been great. Tunnels, maybe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lime ruined my life Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 i think its quite common to use an acoustic with a peizo pre amp and eq, try getting the ebst sound out of that, and mixing it with the signal of a microphone.best of both worlds.i don't know much about this though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 fine as long as the soundman knows his job. Less manouverable, unless piezo stuff's used. AKG do some really nice clipon instrument mics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nullmouse Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Martin Stephenson (www.daintees.com) went through a phase of really hating any barriers between him and the audience' date=' so would quite often unplug, step off stage and sit with the crowd. I saw him do it at the Lemon Tree once, and the effect was amazing. The whole place was utterly silent, and it felt like such a connection between him and the crowd.Always wanted to get him to Drakes, would have been great. Tunnels, maybe...[/quote']Chris TT did a similar trick at Drakes when he played with Thomas Truax and Sergeant Buzfuz. The effect was amazing, aside from the flushing cistern from the bloke's bog the room was in rapt awe and silence.Takes a certain type of performer, I guess. Chris TT has that mad-eye thing which makes you think you'd get the guitar to your head if you didn't shut up and listen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Jack Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Chris TT did a similar trick at Drakes when he played with Thomas Truax and Sergeant Buzfuz. The effect was amazing' date=' aside from the flushing cistern from the bloke's bog the room was in rapt awe and silence.[/quote']Aye, I was there too, and he did remind of Mr Stephenson when he did it. That was a fantastic night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 In general, pointing a dynamic cardiod mike at the point where the neck of the guitar joins the body gets the best results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundian Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 fine as long as the soundman knows his job. Lol! When did soundmen start advising artists to use 100 acoustics with 6 month old strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lime ruined my life Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 a lot of artists won't touch a guitar with new strings on. Some people just prefer the aged sound of strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeC Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 a lot of artists won't touch a guitar with new strings on. Some people just prefer the aged sound of strings.So there could be a market for second hand strings then....I would suggest that is bullshit invented by someone who's poor but proud!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 So there could be a market for second hand strings then....I would suggest that is bullshit invented by someone who's poor but proud!!I think he means when the strings are brand spanking new and sound very *zingy*.Ian, answer the original question mofo!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lime ruined my life Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 yes, when strings are new they are zingy. (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 I remember reading somewhere that Ry Cooder likes his strings to be very old, even rusty!(although it might not have been true!).I leave mine on until they snap, just to bug the musos (and the grumpy old soundmen ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeC Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 I like a bit of zing....well there you go eh...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lime ruined my life Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 yes! you old fool! mocking my rumour mill, lots of blues acoustic people like old strings i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Which old fool...me or GraemeC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lime ruined my life Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 greamec, we're all old fools here, let's face it, im no spring chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeC Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Which old fool...me or GraemeC? Hey...lets face it, I think we both fit the criteria... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundian Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Dear soundmen/women!Is actual acoustic live performance a viable option(ie: no pickups' date=' clip on's etc), the reason being that I hate the sound of electro-acoustics?yukyukyukI imagine volume will be an issue, but having witnessed a few gigs where, even with the player using an electro-acoustic, he was still very quiet and tonally it sounded awful... You thoughts and advice please![/quote'] OK mo-fo First, the explanation as to why someone using an electro-acoustic may still be quiet and sound bad. PA systems work on ratios, they give you a maximum of x amount of dB gain on the input signal. The output can never be more than the original signal plus x. If the input signal is too quiet the engineer has several options, all bad. (note that acoustic artists seem to think whispering is a viable artform). To get more of the signal out than the PA can deliver we have to unbalanace the PA and start pushing it past it's normal operating parameters (i.e. more than xdB signal gain). Unfortunately this also affects the other instruments tone because, in the absence of fancy gadgets, it has to be done globally, over the entire FOH speaker system. The other options involve not hearing much at all. Unfortunately with miked acoustics we have the reverse problem normally, the guitar is too quiet, especially nylon strings, and when they're picked rather than strummed. Add this to the fact that sound works in an inverse square relationship to distance (twice as far away from the mic=4 times quieter) . A smallish venue with an over-specced PA and a receptive crowd would give you the best chance of success, unless you've got fancy gadgets. That all right for you Sir Philip? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Thank you kindly, so generally a guitar and mic is a no go!Hm what about when you mic'd up the sitar?OK mo-fo First' date=' the explanation as to why someone using an electro-acoustic may still be quiet and sound bad. PA systems work on ratios, they give you a maximum of x amount of dB gain on the input signal. The output can never be more than the original signal plus x. If the input signal is too quiet the engineer has several options, all bad. (note that acoustic artists seem to think whispering is a viable artform). To get more of the signal out than the PA can deliver we have to unbalanace the PA and start pushing it past it's normal operating parameters (i.e. more than xdB signal gain). Unfortunately this also affects the other instruments tone because, in the absence of fancy gadgets, it has to be done globally, over the entire FOH speaker system. The other options involve not hearing much at all. Unfortunately with miked acoustics we have the reverse problem normally, the guitar is too quiet, especially nylon strings, and when they're picked rather than strummed. Add this to the fact that sound works in an inverse square relationship to distance (twice as far away from the mic=4 times quieter) . A smallish venue with an over-specced PA and a receptive crowd would give you the best chance of success, unless you've got fancy gadgets. That all right for you Sir Philip?[/quote'] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundian Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Thank you kindly' date=' so generally a guitar and mic is a no go!Hm what about when you mic'd up the sitar?[/quote'] Personally I'd avoid it if possible. No point sounding great if no one can hear how great it sounds.Check your memory banks. That wasn't me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Personally I'd avoid it if possible. No point sounding great if no one can hear how great it sounds.Check your memory banks. That wasn't me.Ah, I remember now. How the hell did they manage before electro acoustics! Audiences must have listened/been quiet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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