HI TOm,

On Wed 2036-Dec-31 17:04, Thom LaCosta (1:261/1352) wrote to Richard Webb:

 RW> helping out a bluegrass player from out west.  HE and his
 RW> buddies like to do the old put a good condenser microphone
 RW> up, everybody gather around it, step forward or back to take their
 RW> moment in the spotlight, let themselves balance
 RW> themselves,


TL> Ah yes...the old one mike....Well, I was at a festival a few years
TL> ago when Del McCoury brought his own mike....it was plumb
TL> expensive...and he fretted over it a lot.....I think it was such
TL> that you could pattern the mike for pickup area, response, etc. 
TL> Anyway, he and the boys moved in and out....I walked over to the
TL> sound guy....he did absolutely nothing...and it sounded real good. 

YEp, Del uses a Neumann multi-pattern iirc.  tHat technique
works fabulously on big stages indoors or at festivals, but
doesn't translate well to the small fraternal lodge hall or
church basement auditorium .
I love those guys at festivals when I'm doing sound (which
has been many years since I've done bluegrass festival
sound) because it's just set the mike and let them work, go
get a snack .

TL> Does the name Ray Davis ring a bell with you?

sEems to, but can't put my finger on where, but in
connection with that genre especially.  sTill pre coffee
.


 RW> I explained that it works well for them on festival stages,
 RW> but not in small rooms because that good condenser
 RW> microphone and speaker cabinets just *must* interact.  I
 RW> suggested that in small rooms, though it seems
 RW> counterintuitive, they go with  a close mike for each
 RW> instrument, and a couple small monitors to hear if they
 RW> need.  Or, forego the sound reinforcement altogether and
 RW> just play to the crowd .

TL> The pureists would tell ya that more than one mike ain't ole-timey
TL> enough for ya (g)....but then, some of them play claw hammer style
TL> and fast dance while they play ala John Hartford.

Yah I know, but if you need the sound system to be heard
then you need to use it effectively .  Otherwise, forget
the sound system and work the room, and work with the room,
or space .


Regards,
           Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+