The Little Morse That Roared

[Mark Evans]

Okay, I've been sniggered at 'bout this before, but there's evidence now.

 

Did a little Irish program at our hall yesterday (went well, capacity crowd, la, la, di, la). I put up a Shure KSM27 which does very well for single microphone situations or for recording choral groups. It was there so folks didn't have to strain their voices when talking to the crowd (educational element ya' know).

 

I arranged the chairs (Harp, 2 fiddles, flute, concertina and bodhran) in a semi circle around the microphone each at a distance of 4 feet (well within the even response range). Just to see I had the sound tech guy come over and throw in a cassette in the recorder and just leave it on and walk away.

 

Whoa Nellie! I listened last night a bit embarrassed. Tina was howeling! I descended into the texture for back up chords fine, but when I brought her up for a run at the melody, her bright agressive voice had it's way with everything except the flute and tin whistle. Acoustically it didn't seem that way to me. The recorded evidence doen't seem to be about volume but tone (I love her tone by the way).

 

Last night at a rather dismal and snowy session the tenor banjo player shot me a look when I started out on The Blarney Pilgrim and said "you sure are honkin' that aren't ya?". Wasn't said with a grin either. Oh well, don't really like the cat anyhow.

 

I'm two for two. A bluegrass banjo player complained about Tina's volume (pot callin' the kettle black) and now a tenor banjo (he doesn't play too loud just too much).

 

I asked one fellow who was at the concert what he thought. Said everything was balanced and to never trust banjo players (but he is a banjo player...Aargh!).

 

Next time maybe I should put a pair of microphones mid-way in the hall and see.

[Chris Timson]

I put leather baffles in my Ceili. Doesn't affect the volume too much, but takes the edge off the sound. Whether you like that or not is a matter of taste. Might be worth a try.

 

Chris

[Mark Evans]

Leather? How's the air flow? I'm a bit worried to open er' up an' start messin' around. Could that possibly stress out the pads?

 

This has kinda got me in a tailspin.

 

I could always just play danity like, but then I wouldn't have any fun.

 

I've decided to avoid session until after the next concert on the 28th (with mics mid hall) I'll have a better idea. Of course it will be a bluegrass thing. I'll see the Bluegrass Buckaroos this weekend and have someone I trust in the audience give me some feedback.

 

DRAT!

Edited March 9, 2005 by Mark Evans