playing with condenser mics (or 48V mics) into pedals

[ibarakishi]

As the title states, for the past year i have been playing my traditional thai bowed instrument ( ซออู้/saw u) and have been messing around with running it through pedals. the mic i am currently using is a trash dynamic that i have owned for nearly my entire life. i have been just using it for fun running it through a xlr to trs cable into my pedals that are acting as stand in preamps to boost the signal. This is terrible for for sound quality, but its what i have had laying in my home and it is what i have been using to write and have fun in my evenings alone.

I am to the point now where i would like to invest in a simple clip on mic solution with a goose neck (for my instrument it will need to mic it from the back with a clip on mic at the sound holes there) for my instrument and also a way to give it phantom power. I have already talked with some players i know here and they all pretty much use the shure clip on mics if they are actually working class musician, but all have expressed how the highs on it are a bit much at points in how they react with some harder bowing situations. I have been looking at the Audio-Technica ATM350UL Cardioid Condenser Horn Microphone with the long neck as it seems to be a bit more mellowed out and detailed in the mid to low ranges, which would be ideal. The DPA stuff is way too much money for me to consider and the AT stuff looks like a happy middle ground. Has anyone used any clip on mics and what have been your experiences with them?

The thing i am not really sure on is what other people on ILF use as their solution to connecting a mic (condenser, ribbon, etc.) that needs phantom power to run, and then how you plug your device into your pedal chain. There are a handful of solutions and products to get from point A to point B, but i figured i would ask what other fellow acoustic instrument players are using as their solutions for this situation. What have you liked and what haven't you liked? I know that some people on here play double bass and cello (and maybe violin?) so any insight or advice would be great.

So thats it. long story short, what are string players using to play into their pedals?

[Gone Fission]

For dynamic mics, the little Shure XLR to T-S converters have a transformer for impedance and level matching, so worth looking into. (I’m remembering the metal-ish cover band some guys had freshman year of high school where the singer used one of these to use his dad’s tweed Tremolux as a PA.)

I haven’t messed with mics into pedals. If I were doing what you are, I might cobble together a preamp and re-amp box, but I would maybe think about whether the Eventide Mixing Link is worth the splurge: https://www.eventideaudio.com/products/ ... mixinglink

[ibarakishi]

For dynamic mics, the little Shure XLR to T-S converters have a transformer for impedance and level matching, so worth looking into. (I’m remembering the metal-ish cover band some guys had freshman year of high school where the singer used one of these to use his dad’s tweed Tremolux as a PA.)

I haven’t messed with mics into pedals. If I were doing what you are, I might cobble together a preamp and re-amp box, but I would maybe think about whether the Eventide Mixing Link is worth the splurge: https://www.eventideaudio.com/products/ ... mixinglink

yeah the eventide ticks all the boxes. im really hesitant though because so many people have complained of noise issues. something like the Headway EDB 2 H.E. also would work well as an all in one solution too which has way more flexibility and two channels as well. people seem to like them a lot.

its just rough because i don't have anywhere within 12 hours by bus ride that i could try something out, and even then in Bangkok the options are limited as well. Its very much just going to be a buy and try situation since returning something or trying it in person is out of the question. one important thing is that i want to use it live too so if its somewhat compact that would be a bonus as well. have been playing live here and there and using mic setups provided by the spaces is a train wreck sometimes

[Schlatte]

I had similar issues when running my trombone board - my solution is somewhat complicated but works fine for me, so here it goes:

I have either a dynamic mic (Shure SM57) on a stand, or a clip on mic (AKG C 519 ML) going into CH1 of my 2-Channel interface (Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD) where I can switch on Phantom power if needed. On the insert of CH1 I have connected a TRS Plug where I soldered together T and R, so basically I shorted out the insert loop and on the other end of that cable is a "normal" mono plug that goes into my pedalboard. From the pedalboard it goes to amp or DI and into CH2 of the interface. In that way I always have a "clean" and a "dirty" channel when recording and I can edit both afterwards and I have proper signal levels for my pedalboard - I have a volume control on the input of my pedal board so that I can adjust the level coming from the interface to usable levels.

[jirodreamsofdank]

The JHS Colour Box 2 has phantom power, if there's anywhere you can shoplift one from in your area.

[JM Charcot]

The JHS Colour Box 2 has phantom power, if there's anywhere you can shoplift one from in your area.

I think it doesn't have pantom power, but drives it from a mixer providing it, so it won't work in that case.

[Heraclitus Akimbo]

My solution probably won't be super helpful, but in my group I tend to run my bandmate's saxophone through all my pedals.

I generally just rent a clip-on for the day whenever we have gigs. Because we're dealing with band volume (and often dodgy, mix-yourself, DIY shows) the finer points of sonic clarity aren't such a big deal.

But in any case, I just run the mic into my mixer (which gives it phantom power) and then send the signal through my effects loops. That, plus basic eq-ing on hand if needed, means the mixer is a winner in my case. But I'm already committed to having the mixer with me anyway.

[rfurtkamp]

I bought a Digitech Jamman variant that was built for mics with phantom power for this purpose.

[coupleonapkins]

I bought a Digitech Jamman variant that was built for mics with phantom power for this purpose.

Like this one?

[rfurtkamp]

Yep, that very one. It was $19 on blowout a couple years back.

[Schlatte]

Well, those options are all way better and easier than my crappy hack.

[lumena]

great information - thanks!

[Zork]

The ART tube mp is a small preamp, delivers phantom power, has a jack output and sounds pretty good. There's also a more expensive version with some voicing options that could tame the high frequencies, the "Studio V3": https://m.thomann.de/de/art_tube_mp_studio_v3.htm

[oldangelmidnight]

I bought a Digitech Jamman variant that was built for mics with phantom power for this purpose.

Like this one?

I've got one of these for vocals and it works well. And you get a bonus looper.

[JM Charcot]

What about the Radial Vocoloco?
https://www.radialeng.com/product/voco-loco