Anybody have any ideas on how to convince novice vocalists, especially metal vocalists, not to hold the mic by the ball and "sing" into their thumbs? Also, anyone know where to find an explanation of how a directional mic works, why blocking the back creates feedback? I am hoping to educate them although I have almost given up.

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Stephen G. Smith

Edited by Stephen Smith (03/06/12 08:41 PM)

It's just got to be physical correction plus denial of food, drink and drugs, I think!

In the studio, you can always set up an alternative mic of course.

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PA stuff on FB

Quote Guy Johnson:

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I love it, and it even fits with the metal theme:)

Seablade

That might work! They might even think it adds to their stage persona!

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Stephen G. Smith

Edited by Stephen Smith (04/06/12 09:05 PM)

Last night Tom Jones was hand-cupping his mic. I give up!

There were several mixing cock-ups in Mama Told Me Not To Come too. Overbalanced brass on their first entry. Inaudible keyboard riff later on.

Despite some brave attempts at visual interest, the whole idea of performing pop songs "live" in such a location seems pretty pointless to me.

Gaff em to a wheelie chair, with headphones on playing In the garden of Eden at 140db whilst spinning them around, until they renounce their faith Originally designed for deprogramming Mac users but it should do the trick. (:

Blocking the back of a cardiod mic makes it roughly omnidirectional.

You can do the same (more effectively) by blocking the little vent holes on a 57 or 58.



The basic reasoning is that the pressure at the back of the capsule would be the average air pressure so the diaphragm would move in response to any sound. The response pattern will only be omnidirectional for wavelengths greater than the size of the diaphragm.




But in answer to your question about vocalists, I second Guy's barbed wire idea. This may not stop Emo (sorry 'post-hardcore') bands though...



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11011110110010101111 - 110000001111111111101110 - 101110101101
Hexadecimal binary coding anyone?

OK, what if I write an explanation of microphone theory myself? Can I post a 1000 word essay here for comment? My idea is to distribute it at the venues I work at. I realize this is most likely a fruitless effort but I have to try.

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Stephen G. Smith

Edited by Stephen Smith (07/06/12 09:17 AM)

Quote Stephen Smith:

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OK, what if I write an explanation of microphone theory myself? Can I post a 1000 word essay here for comment?

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You're a brave man if you're hoping to get recalcitrant vocalists to read a 1000-word essay! Perhaps you were joking...

Bottom-line is that if you've explained why it's a very bad idea and they still do it 'cos they've seen "names" doing it and think it's cool then you have two options:

1) Live with it
2) Get new vocalists

One issue is that that people don't realise that it "works" for 'names' because either they're likely using in-ears or are miming anyway. They're also in much bigger rooms (usually) where if they're using wedges then the sound isn't bouncing off the walls quite so much.

Quite. Also, with mics like the '58 with plenty of grille behind the vents, a lot of sound will filter through the fingers to those vents, so all i s not lost. And who knows, it's not unusual for experienced and powerful singers to find a way of holding the mic to alter its sound to their taste

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PA stuff on FB

Quote Mike Stranks:

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One issue is that that people don't realise that it "works" for 'names' because either they're likely using in-ears or are miming anyway. They're also in much bigger rooms (usually) where if they're using wedges then the sound isn't bouncing off the walls quite so much.

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Black Sabbath live in the early seventies has Ozzy singing in all the wrong ways and it sounds great, not unlike on record. He's not miming and not in a huge room. Meaning whatever works, works. If the song is good, people will listen anyway. If it isn't, well, then...

Edited by Kaw-Liga (07/06/12 11:07 AM)

Oh, I know I'm dreaming. After 30 years I can pretty much tell who is going to work with me and who thinks I am just an old fart trying to sabotage his set. I don't know why I keep trying but I do.

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Stephen G. Smith

After a year I finally convinced a guitarist who had been playing for 35 years to put his amp on something rather than firing at the back of his legs. The rest of the band got on his case and he finally tried it, and at the end of the gig said "I hate to say it Dave but you were right". Woohoo, 1 down several million to go...(: So it is remotely possible!

I know a bassoonist who for years played in a semi-reclining position, legs crossed, slouched in his chair...

A simple suggestion that he sat up straight immediately focussed his sound and improved his tuning to a quite remarkable degree.

It's very rewarding being able to make such a difference so easily!

Know what you mean, wombat, being a bassoonist myself. My teacher at university made me do all sorts of things, many of which were either totally stupid (IMO) or just didn't work for me, but it didn't half make me think about technique, posture and all the bits that make one's playing acceptable. And I've avoided buying a better bassoon for 35 years during which most clarinettists and saxists have upgraded several times, not always with a worthwhile improvement in sound.

What annoys me is female flautists, all of whom seem to sit with their legs crossed or hooked round the chair legs. There's as many of them as ants in summer, so perhaps a lethal spray would be the solution? Which moves me neatly back to mike technique where a dab of something corrosive to flesh would do the job of that barbed wire without having to put gauntlets on to wind the stuff round the mike.

As to the 1,00 word essay idea, nice to distil everybody's wisdom into a short instruction, but if a picture's worth a thousand words, why not develop a pictogram (maybe a road sign parody) that sums up how to hold your mike? Even drummers could do it then. But not while drumming, obviously. Or make mic sleeves like bike handlebar thingies with contoured grips for guiding the hand into the correct position.

Damn, can't 'spell' 1,000 now! Sorry.

Quote tacitus:

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What annoys me is female flautists, all of whom seem to sit with their legs crossed or hooked round the chair legs.

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I have happy memories of a female flautist with whom I had an on off relationship spanning several years and a marriage for each of us. I can't remember her ever crossing her legs much

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http://www.random-thought.co.uk/

Well, perhaps playing in a band is the only opportunity they get. Opens up a whole new line of thought ...

'proper technique' on this (FFWD to about 1:40)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0pm0hNbYqo

Quote Alfie Noakes:

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'proper technique' on this (FFWD to about 1:40)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0pm0hNbYqo

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hahaha.. very funny.

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www.Lozjackson.com

Quote Alfie Noakes:

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'proper technique' on this (FFWD to about 1:40)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0pm0hNbYqo

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OMG, I hope that's his own mic!!!

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Stephen G. Smith

YUUUCK!!!

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PA stuff on FB

At that point I hand them a toothbrush and some disinfectant and say you are either paying for it(And thus being the only one to ever touch it, set it up, etc., and at a rather high premium, MSRP seems reasonable here) or cleaning it to my satisfaction.

I now have another video clip to show on how not to do proper mic technique. I wonder how many of my students get sick from watching that.

Seablade

I've just come across THESE - Audix Vocal Mic Technique Videos ...

... a good resource for sharing with vocalists methinks!

Mike