Tech: belt amplifier

Subject: Tech: belt amplifier
From: Mo the caller
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 08:48 AM

While we were in Whitby we saw a trio in a pub wearing mikes with a small speaker strapped round the waist.
I wondered if this would be a good thing for a dance caller to use in small groups.
Any info anyone?

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: Scrump
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 09:02 AM

I used to have to belt my amp now and again - it had a dodgy speaker connection.

... I'll get me coat.

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 09:06 AM

I have been fannying about on this very topic - bid toget mandolin heard over violins, bajos and morris drums.....

Most of the belt amps are only 1 watt or 1.5 watts RMS at most. It is quite simply not enough. The only way to get my mandoin heard in the parade at Faversham ws to whack the little marshall up flat out, my belt-pack preamp up flat out, and dial in the overdrive distortion on the marshall too. That would have made a vioce wholly incomprehensible.

I think the AXL thin amp would be a lot better and I so nearly bought one on ebay but I was convinced it would go out of my range and then after I ahd not bid it didn't! THEy do 10w RMS but they neeeed a battery pack and the running time is a max of 3 hours before youchange batteries.

I am awaiting delivery of a Yamaha 5 watter (I may have to sort carry strap or belt clips myslef) and there is also a Yamaha 7 watter.

THe AXL is about 60 quid retail, alas, but I think it is likely to be the best for the job.

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: treewind
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 09:15 AM

I've seen a melodeon player with a Pignose amp strapped to his back in a procession. He was able to walk in front of his morris team and still be heard from behind. You mostly need treble for that, so it doesn't need a big speaker.

I wouldn't have thought a belt-mounted amp would be much use for a caller. Too much background noise.

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 11:36 AM

For a caller working 'from the dance floor' rather than from the stage
a radio mic with a headset , running through the main PA would work a lot better ! I know a few callers who have just this bit of kit and it definately does the job !

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: nickp
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 01:45 PM

I had a Realistic/Tandy one. Very low powered but it was better than nothing.

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 03:05 PM

I've been eating way too much lately, so my belt doesn't have to be amplified, it needs to be lengthened!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: Genie
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 05:14 PM

I was gonna say, My belt is a couple sizes bigger than I'd like it to be already. I don't need it amplified."
But you beat me to the punch, Uncle Dave. LOL

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 05:19 PM

Mo,

One of Pourparler members described using one of these in a classroom situation. She was a music teacher, as well as a caller, developed strain problems with her vocal folds, so she used one of these to just give her voice a little boost in the classroom. (If you want more info, I can look up her name; I'm at work at the moment. She could say more about the system's benefits & limitations. You could also just post the question there, if you haven't already.)

I've used a karaoke set-up in the classroom (for a similar low-level vocal boost), but I'd think there would be an advantage to having your voice coming from your own location in a classroom (where you might be mixing with dancers), rather than from speakers elsewhere.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: Genie
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 05:24 PM

I'd love to have a small, unobtrusive amp that would increase my volume just enough to be heard in settings like jams where there are often 5 or more instruments playing with only one person singing.   In that type of setting I often have trouble catching all the lyrics even when the singer has a big voice, so with my relative lack of (vocal) belting power it would be great to have something that would make me audible.   It would need to have a lapel mic, because something as in-your-face as a mic stand mic or even a headset would be a distraction.   I think with a lapel mic, since my amplified voice wouldn't be any louder than many others' unamplified voices, this kind of set up would hardly be noticeable.

As for the amp and speaker, I'm thinking something sort of like a very small radio.   Radio Shack used to sell something like this, where you had a location on the dial that was your "station."   In a rehab center, e.g., you could sing into the wireless mic for this system and people in their rooms could hear you just by turning to your number on the dial.

Has anyone ever used something like this?

Genie

Subject: RE: Tech: belt amplifier
From: treewind
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 06:38 PM

In a noisy environment, a lapel mic will pick up as much of everybody else as your own voice. I've also tried a lapel radio mic with a small PA in a quiet environment and got very little amplification without feedback problems, and even if you get some volume you won't get clarity.

I don't think the RS radio mic idea is very legal, and as for quality it's about good enough to use as a baby alarm (if you can still get them)

Proper VHF and UHF radio mics are expensive, but something like the Sennheiser EW100G2 range is worth every penny if you're using it (semi) professionally. Mary H has used hers (headset version) on festival stages in several places now and lots of people come up afterwards and ask about it.

Anahata