cloud1i
22 posts
May 31, 2010
9:20 PM
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Hi Everyone,
Do any of you find that using volume control, either built in or external have an effect on the sound of the mic?
Hope you gurus out that can give me some of your opinions on this one.
Thank you all.
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slowblowfuse
22 posts
Jun 01, 2010
4:10 AM
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I suppose it depends on the type of mic/element and the type of volume control.
My experiences with the in-line volume control from Mr Heumann are excellent.
Bye,
Ruurd
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barbequebob
878 posts
Jun 01, 2010
9:48 AM
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He's right on that. If, for example, you're using a mic with a crystal/ceramic element, any pot below 1meg is wrong (ideally 5meg), and the so-called Rod Piazza mod, which is a 5meg pot with a low value capacitor across it works so that every time the pot is turned down, the mids don't get buried by extreme lows and highs, and this was used on pre-1956 Fender Telecasters (but guitars use 250-500K pots).
If the mic has a CM/CR element, that pot shouldn't be higher than 500K. Dynamics around 100K. If the volume control pot value is too high, it essentially works as a gloried on/off switch.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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hvyj
386 posts
Jun 01, 2010
6:48 PM
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I don't use bullet mics, I only use PA style mics. With those, I sometimes use a VC to attenuate how "hot" the signal going into the amp will be. This is a fairly reliable method of controlling feedback if you are using a tube amp. I set the volume control on the tube amp for the "sweet spot" and back off the VC on the mic so I don't feed back.
Depending on the mic, the "tone" of the mic may be "smoother" at a lower volume setting than if the VC on the mic is wide open. It depends on the particular mic--some have a very noticeable variation in tone, others not so much.
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Greg Heumann
500 posts
Jun 01, 2010
10:05 PM
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@Cloud - there is no free lunch. A volume control necessarily lowers the impedance the mic sees. Properly chosen, the "right" value pot has minimal impact on tone and a smooth response. The wrong one can really hurt. But.... there is no free lunch.
@hvyj - by "PA style mics" I'm assuming you mean low impedance. I'm curious - mine is the only low-Z volume control I'm aware of - at least an in-line one. Are you using a BlowsMeAway low Z in-line control or something else, if so, what?
Thanks
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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mrdon46
44 posts
Jun 01, 2010
10:46 PM
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Maybe a dumb question (I'm sure someone will be quick to set me straight if that's the case)-- but something I've wondered when contemplating volume controls on mics: wouldn't it be the case that if the volume control pot were wired as a variable resistor rather than in the normal way (ie to ground), that the load the mic element would "see" would be the sum of whatever the resistance of the pot was at the moment plus the value of the grid load resistor? Wouldn't this reduce the potential negative impact of the mic control pot and allow the use of smaller value, more easily obtainable audio tapers (5M audio tapers are out there but rare)? Or is my basic premise incorrect, or are there downsides to doing it this way that I'm overlooking (quite likely)?
Full disclosure: I find that even with the "Piazza Mod" VCs alter the tone, and I end up using the VC on my mics with them mostly as on-off switches, and I've gone towards mics without them.
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hvyj
387 posts
Jun 02, 2010
1:51 AM
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@Greg, yes, Currently, I'm using a 545 Ultimate I got from you. Before that, i usually used an EV RE 15 with an in line VC I got from you. But I've tried your in line VC w/ other mics, too.
Btw, the Audix Fireball V is also a low-z mic that has an integral VC, but I don't usually use that mic with an amp.
Before I started using VCs, I would sometimes "cool out" the signal from the mic by using an MXR 10 band EQ between the mic and the amp and turning down the volume and gain sliders on the MXR. Of course, this is a little more cumbersome than than just backing off a VC on the mic itself, but you can get wider variations in tone depending on where you set one of the sliders on the MXR in relation to the other, even if all tone controls on the MXR were left flat.
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Greg Heumann
501 posts
Jun 02, 2010
9:13 AM
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@mrdon: you're correct about the resistance the mic would see. But there are 2 problems with wiring a VC this way. First, the response of the control will be extremely non-linear, and second, in the "off" or lowest volume position, you've effectively turned the mic cable into an open circuit antenna instead of a short circuit. This can cause major league hum problems.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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mrdon46
45 posts
Jun 02, 2010
6:06 PM
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Thanks, Greg--I figured there must be a catch or more mics would be wired this way.
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