Double Bass Microphone mute box - recommendation?

[Axtman]

I am currently taking an online jazz combo class consisting of instructor, piano, bass, drums, guitar and vocal. We are all using Jamulus.

I recently bought a Focusrite Scarlett USB interface box. It has two inputs: one for my upright bass and one for my microphone.

My only complaint is the lack of a mute button. I don't want to leave my mike live so when I need to talk I have to reach over and turn the volume up, then turn it down when I am done speaking.

I have seen floor mute switches for microphones that have a momentary "press to talk" or switch to "press to mute" button.

Do any of you have a recommendation?

It would sure be convenient to not have to let go of my bass when I want to talk to the class.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I have a dynamic (!) table mic with a switch meant to be used for announcements. It has an XLR output. The hot and inverted signals are shortened to mute the mic (built that way by the manufacturer.

I would never do that with a condenser mic because of the active electronics inside the mic that might become damaged, but it works with the dynamic capsule in that announcement mic.

If you put some resistors in series with hot and inverted signal and shorten on both on the interface input side of the resistors, it might work even with condensers, depending on the resistor values (200 Ohms minimum), but the output voltage level might drop at least to the half.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

Try these... Link Removed (they used to much less expensive.) I have a Sign Off I haven't used in years.

 

[Wasnex]

Try these... Link Removed (they used to much less expensive.) I have a Sign Off I haven't used in years.

Whirlwind makes mic mutes as well: Invalid Link Removed


@Axtman Make sure to read the operating characteristics and select the style that meets your needs. You probably want the type with a latching switch rather than the type with a momentary switch. The Whirlwind aso give you the option of foot operated or finger operated switches.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Do you have a tuner pedal? Throw it between the bass and interface. Use the tuner as an off/on switch. I do this with my pedal board for double bass:

 

[Matthias Hacker]

I´m also using Jamulus with a two channel interface. My dynamic mic for speech is set at very low volume, so I need to be really close to it when speaking. Like this there is almost no room sound on the mic and it works just fine for me, but you really have to use a pop filter (foam) on the mic. Give it a try!

 

[Brent Nussey]

I have a dynamic (!) table mic with a switch meant to be used for announcements. It has an XLR output. The hot and inverted signals are shortened to mute the mic (built that way by the manufacturer.

I would never do that with a condenser mic because of the active electronics inside the mic that might become damaged, but it works with the dynamic capsule in that announcement mic.

If you put some resistors in series with hot and inverted signal and shorten on both on the interface input side of the resistors, it might work even with condensers, depending on the resistor values (200 Ohms minimum), but the output voltage level might drop at least to the half.

It works fine with condensers, the hot and inverted signals just cancel each other out. Phantom power is still passed through as normal. I have a cable with one of these on the end: NC3FXS-B You do have to reach over and flip the red switch with your hand though. If you're handy, you could make something for a few bucks:

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If the mic outputs are short circuit protected (by using an internal resistor in series after the last amplifier stage) connecting hot and inverted signal won‘t do any harm.
And (condenser) microphones should have that kind of protection, otherwise a short in a bad XLR-cable could kill the mic.
I didn‘t thought about that before.

A different way is disconnecting the mic side hot/inverted with the switch and instead of connecting the mic to the output ground is connected to the output on both.
But then phantom power is shorted (usually not a problem) and you get that big pop like when you enable phantom power. I would probably prefer that for unbalanced unpowered connections, but not for balanced phantom powered ones.