HawkeyeKane
2401 posts
Mar 20, 2014
11:36 AM
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...that I can run in between my vocal mic and the board that will allow me to cut the volume when I activate it? XLR connections would be a must. Reason I'm asking is when I play clean on my vocal, I have a hard time hearing myself when standing an appreciable distance from it. So I get closer up on the mic, but this tends to make my harp blaringly loud through the mains. A BMA inline v/c would work, except I feel there'd be too much margin for error on where I'd set it when I alternate. I figure if such a pedal as I've described exists, where I can set it and forget it, it would be a more efficient approach.
Anyone know of a good solution product like this?
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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isaacullah
2691 posts
Mar 20, 2014
11:49 AM
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Something like this might do what you want: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATT-448-Hosa-XLR-Mic-Input-Balanced-Line-Attenuator-3-Pad-New-/131140247250
But that particular one doesn't have a setting where it's not attenuating your volume some.
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YouTube! Soundcloud!
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HarpNinja
3829 posts
Mar 20, 2014
1:17 PM
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What kind of mic, and how do you use it? If you take something even like a SM58 and point it down towards the floor a bit, and play the acoustic harp above it, that helps a lot.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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HawkeyeKane
2403 posts
Mar 20, 2014
1:21 PM
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Beta58. I've tried the downward aim route before. Unfortunately 9 times out of 10, my monitor is right next to my mic stand aiming up. I'm sure you can guess what that spells....
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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SuperBee
1785 posts
Mar 20, 2014
1:45 PM
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XLR connections are the trick.
I gather you're playing into the vocal mic? And playing lines quickly fitted between vocals so you can't just back off from the mic when you play?
I mean, I do that all the time, but I use a separate mic for the harp. And adjust my amp if I want a different sound, but maybe you're wanting a sound too different to get from the amp.
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timeistight
1514 posts
Mar 20, 2014
1:46 PM
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You could do this with two transformers and any preamp or overdrive pedal with a volume control, such as the Lone Wolf Harp Tone+ or Harp Break.
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HawkeyeKane
2404 posts
Mar 20, 2014
2:03 PM
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shbamac, I may have missed something with that Crown design, but to me it looked like it was a mute button. While I may find a use for something like that in the future, my goal on this was to simply lower the volume, not kill it.
Dave, yes, you have it correct for the most part. Its a combination of needing to be close to sing, and the need to have a clean acoustic sound on certain songs. I use my amp rig for beefed up Chicago blues, rock tone, and some Hammond type sound with a cupped mic. I need to be able to use hand expression on the clean, which is why I use the vocal.
time, you think I could really get a clean tone using something like an OD pedal for this purpose? Not being snarky here, it's an honest question drawn from curiosity.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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timeistight
1515 posts
Mar 20, 2014
2:12 PM
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Maybe not, but the Harp Tone+ is a clean preamp, so it should work. You'd have the added benefit of harp-specific EQ when it was engaged.
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HawkeyeKane
2405 posts
Mar 20, 2014
2:15 PM
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Well I have a Dano Fish n Chips, but I use it in my amp rig. Maybe I'll look into something similar. LW's are great, but out of my price range at this point.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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dougharps
585 posts
Mar 20, 2014
2:16 PM
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Since you are using a Shure Beta 58 vocal mic with XLR you could use a vocal effects processor that has a level control for when it is on and a bypass.
I have an out of production TC Helicon Voicetone Create (NOT the XT, mine has no pitch correction) that has good reverb, compression, delay, etc. It also has bypass so you could have one level be the bypass (natural)level, and the other volume be set by the unit's volume knob. You can toggle between using the bypass and using the unit and the volume you have set.
It also has 2 XLR outputs, one clean and one with effects. You could run one output to your own powered monitor and set your own volume if you wanted. I think this unit was eventually replaced by the Mic Mechanic, thought the MM has pitch correction, something I don't care for.
I have only occasionally used this effects unit as my recent performances have been without using effects. I use one of Greg's Ultimate 58s to manage the volume, and just make a mental note of the level settings.
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Doug S.
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shbamac
397 posts
Mar 20, 2014
3:34 PM
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Yes, Hawkeye, it's a mute. I thought when you said cut you meant kill.
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slackwater
31 posts
Mar 20, 2014
3:34 PM
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Doug S. just mentioned the Voicetone Create by TC Helicon, I was going to suggest checking out the Mic Mechanic of the same brand.
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nacoran
7633 posts
Mar 20, 2014
4:48 PM
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I have a gain pedal I use to switch between my vocals and my harp, since I'm not a loud singer. It works well for two volumes. Beyond that you'd have to futz with the gain on the pedal.
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Nate
Facebook
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shadoe42
288 posts
Mar 20, 2014
7:44 PM
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I use my RP250 for my harp mic and it has a volume pedal. I use 255 on my guitar for similar purposes. pedal up...mute...and pedal down to varying degress of volume. So something as simple as a volume pedal might do the trick
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Dr. Rev. Mr. Cheeks Miller
My Electronic Music World
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BigBlindRay
220 posts
Mar 20, 2014
8:31 PM
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Hi MBHErs
Hey Hawkeye. I use a Beta 58 too for Vox and Acoustic Harp playing. I've found the best pedal to control volume when switching between Harp and Vox is working the mic.
Don't need a pedal IMO. Just need to pull back from the Mic for Harp playing and work the space.
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Big Blind Ray Trio Website
Big Blind Ray Trio Facebook Page
Big Blind Ray Trio on Bandcamp
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Greg Heumann
2651 posts
Mar 20, 2014
8:52 PM
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There is a MUCH SIMPLER SOLUTION!!!
It's a BlowsMeAway in-line volume control.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
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Kingley
3527 posts
Mar 20, 2014
11:05 PM
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Personally I don't believe you need more gear to solve this problem. You just need to spend more time working on your mic techniques and acoustic tone. Improving your tone will help your projection which in turn will help you hear yourself. Whilst working on your mic technique will breach you all about the huge amounts of variation in tone and volume that can be achieved by the use of your hands and the distance from the mic. Throwing money at this problem is not the answer. Good old fashioned hard work is!
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Suffering Heath
17 posts
Mar 21, 2014
5:45 AM
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Just throwing out there that I use Greg Heumann's in-line control on my SM58 for similar reasons, and I have nothing but positive things to say about it. It does exactly what it says it does, and as a harp player I'm always dying for more control over everything.
Heath
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www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
Last Edited by Suffering Heath on Mar 21, 2014 5:45 AM
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Barley Nectar
328 posts
Mar 21, 2014
9:16 AM
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This sounds very simple to me. All you need is a 250KA pot with a bypass switch. Set the pot to the volume level you like then use the switch to bypass it. Probably need a small cap across the switch to suppress pop. Could use a 2 pole sw. and put an LED on the second set of contacts so you know when pot is in circuit. That would require a battery also. Need 2 XLR connecters also, male and female. Put it all in a pedal box. Or you can do like Kingley says...BN
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