single mic technique a la bluegrass band

Subject: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 02:21 PM

I know we've talked this issue before - but tie has passed and the technique and technology has evolved some ... so I'd like some recent thoughts.

A fallback to the practice of placing single mic on stage, around which all the players stand to perform live has become popular again - especially for Blugrassers, but for other types of acoustic stringed and vocal music as well. I know there are variatiosn on the single mic technique with, adding one or two, freestanding instrument mics for solos ...

I'm curious - what are folks selecting for those mics? Any Mudcatters using this approach frequently (a couple of Bluegrass festivals I've played use this method, and I liked it).

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: Vixen
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 02:31 PM

Hi Jed--

Reynaud (aka Tim) and I are using a single mic for most of our gigs where we run our own sound. We've got an Audio Technica 4051, and the Bluegrass band he plays in also uses it for their gigs. We like it for two reasons--1) it gives us great sound; 2) it makes for a *whole* lot less stuff to cart around, set up, keep track of, and tear down (one mic and stand and cable set instead of 2 vocal mics and 4 instrument mics, and all the associated stands and cables).

V

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: Mark Clark
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 02:58 PM

I'm very pleased to learn that bluegrass bands are returning to the single mic technique. Beyond simplicity of setup there are performance advantages when using a single omni-directional mic.

With a single mic, the band is no longer dependent on the sound technician to correctly balance the sound or turn up the correct mic at exactly the right moment for a hot break. The band controls all the balance and dynamics by continually adjusting the proximity of each member to the mic. The sound the band wants is the sound that goes out to the audience.

Using a single mic also requires the return of the elaborate ballet the band members must perform in order to keep the sound correctly balanced. Watching that ballet was one of the rich visual rewards when watching a bluegrass band. With individual mics, everyone just stands there.

Bluegrass vocal harmonies often work best when all the singers can look each other in the eye and catch facial movements. Using a single mic really helps this aspect of the performance. Even when I've used individual cardioid pattern mics, I've positioned the vocal mics close together with the wire ends almost touching to simulate the idea of a single omni-directinal mic.

It's been many years since I've seen a bluegrass band work with a single mic but I'll start expecting to see it happen again real soon.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: Mark Clark
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 03:28 PM

Vixen, Is this AT4051a the one you use? Does Tim's bluegrass band use it for their only mic or just one of several? How well does it pick up sound which is off axis?

I was thinking more along the lines of the Sure 55SH Series II. You can see a representative cardioid pattern for the 55SH in the PDF version of the Users Guide. Do any Catters have experience with this mic?

Are there other mics that might work better as the single mic for a bluegrass band?

      - Mark

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: Vixen
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 03:38 PM

Mark--

After looking at the photo on the link...I think I must have the numbers mixed up...

It's definitely an AT, and I *thought* it was a 5041, but it doesn't look anything like the picture. Ours stands upright in a shock-web harness. It seems to pick up anything that's close enough to be picked up.

Gotta run, back tomorrow to check up...

V

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: kendall
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 04:01 PM

As long as the lead singer can be retrained. I know one band where he gets into the mic and stays there.

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: Mark Clark
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 04:15 PM

I don't think having a shock mount necessarily means your mic isn't an AT4051a. I think Audio-Technica's shock mounts are sold separately.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 05:26 PM

The AT 4051 mic first mentioned looks like a good choice. It is not an omni directional (this would be bad for stage performance) but it has a wide range - something close to a 2/3 circle around the front of the mic. Just what you'd want to stand a 4-some around - maybe 5.

What I've seen done pretty frequently, is to use this technique for most ensemble play (vocals etc) but when solos come up, the soloist steps off the the side of the circle where a similar mic is set up, free standing, and adjusted for a general standing instument height. Many times, there are two of these mics at either side of eth stage so that the mando player doesn;t have to cross all the way over to the banjo player just to do his/her solo.

The single mic technique is NOT the equlizer you might think. Strong players, strong voices and loud instruments win the day ... the fine individual technologies we've developed to give good sound to every player, no matter how loud their instrument or their playing style is - has vanished. But, as Mark says, there is a self regulating of volume that the group can work - and this in itself can have a nice quality.

The other thing you loose - and this is important to solo singers, is the close mic technique that most solo singers have developed. The mic itself is an instrumnet, an dthe technique you develop can provide a nice advantage ... you loose that ability with the single mic approach.

I think you use this technique for a few reasons; looks good - moves players in and out easily for stage that move multiple bands through an event - allows player most of the control over balance (though frequency and overall volume are still in the hands of the sound man) - most good players can adapt to the 'un-plugged' jam session feel pretty quickly.

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 01:46 PM

A couple of other choices besides the Audio Technica are the Rode and the Beheringer cardioid condensors. I got the Beheringer because of a quote about it being "the economy-priced clone of a Rode". Sorry, I'm not at home, or I'd give you it's number description.

Our group usually performs acoustically, but the few times we've used the one mic set up, it worked well. I also played with a friend's group through an AT a couple of weeks ago and it worked well also.

The Behringer is the cheapest by far, about $250 or so at Musician's Friend. However, I did buy a $50 two-input mixer board, also Behringer, because the mic needs 48 v. phantom power, which the little box supplied. So around $300, plus stand.

With one mic you don't need monitors since you're working so close. So we got away from eight mics (four vocal, four instrumental) two monitors, an eight-input mixing head, the associated stands, etc.

Subject: RE: single mic technique a la bluegrass band
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 01:50 PM

I forgot to mention that the Behringer is switchable between omni-directional (full circle) and cardioid (half-circle). Of course most of the time you want to use cardioid, unless you really want to hear the shrieks, groans and catcalls of the audience amplified :)