Radio/megaphone effect live?

[hrodbert696]

Hey all, thinking of a song list for a potential project and in some the studio recordings include a "radio" or "telephone" lo-fi vocal that would be nice to reproduce live. Looking through some products and reviews out there, it looks like there can be lots of trouble with feedback doing this. How have any of you guys gone about it? A particular mic? Putting vox through an overdrive? Vocal processors? Best way to do it? Cheapest way to do it?

Let's also assume we won't have a separate sound guy controlling it, I'd like a singer to be able to switch it in and out themselves.

 

[RoadRanger]

I've done it with just raising the HPF on the mixer to 300 or 400 Hz - but it does get quieter. If the song is quieter at that point too no prob. But you'd need a digital mixer for that and it's hard to do on-the-fly without a soundperson.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

I wonder if you could use an equalizer set to filter out highs, and lows progressively narrowing the range of frequencies, until the desired effect is achieved. There should be a bypass switch on the unit to select the band-pass filter effect, when desired.

 

[Bufalo]

I've seen guys literally use a megaphone, turned all the way down to normal voice volume, and sing through it into their microphone. You get the AM Radio sound without blowing things out.

 

[morgansterne]

our lead singer in the classic rock band uses a megaphone all the time. It works great and looks cool (this is important, we are putting on a show!)
If you're playing at the same time you'd need a floor vocal processor, there's lots of them around but I've never used one.
EDIT: err not all the time, obviously. figure of speech!

 

[dheafey]

I've seen guys literally use a megaphone, turned all the way down to normal voice volume, and sing through it into their microphone. You get the AM Radio sound without blowing things out.

Same in a previous band of mine. My singer would grab a small (toy?) megaphone and get that really cool, low fidelity sound.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Scott Weiland just uses a megaphone through the mic.

 

[dreamadream99]

You can also have 2 mics for the lead singer. One normal, one for megaphone effect with distortion and high EQ on it.

 

[two fingers]

Yeah make sure there's compression on the vocals and point the real thing at the mic. I bet you can find a used one cheap. Put a bunch of stickers on it. It'll look great on stage.

 

[FuturePrimitive]

I've seen guys literally use a megaphone, turned all the way down to normal voice volume, and sing through it into their microphone. You get the AM Radio sound without blowing things out.

This is what my singer does, no issues with feedback. We do sound check it though, just in case.

EDIT: Probably should mention singer is on IEMs and isn't behind a stage monitor. My understanding is that that is usually a main source of feedback in general.

 

[4Mal]

You can also have 2 mics for the lead singer. One normal, one for megaphone effect with distortion and high EQ on it.

I saw an interesting band out of Portland named PigWar at HopsFest this year. Lead sing used 2 mics. 1 driving a floor box of some kida. Mostly he was going after dramatic echo and modulation.. Must have made the sound guy nutz ... But it was pretty cool. I expect most of those boxes offer the old time radio patch.

If the guy can be consistent in his vocal volume and where the volum on the floor box is sitting, I think this is the best approach if there is no sound guy.

I had that kind of patch in my old Yamaha EMX 5000 mixer. The effects on that board were surprisingly good.

 

[plaidgoat]

I have in the past used my green bullet harmonica mic by itself or through my pedal board to get some interesting sounds.

 

[hrodbert696]

I have in the past used my green bullet harmonica mic by itself or through my pedal board to get some interesting sounds.

What does it sound like by itself on vocals without the effects? I'm only finding samples with harmonica or highly effected.

 

[plaidgoat]

I will try to put some sound clips up this week probably monday for you to hear. Its a real lofi sounding mic.

 

[hrodbert696]

I will try to put some sound clips up this week probably monday for you to hear. Its a real lofi sounding mic.

Cool thanks!

 

[BucketOfFish]

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[plaidgoat]

Here is a quick test of the green bullet I am in the process of moving so I just used a fender combo 25 watt practice amp and a modded boss blues driver. I recorded on garageband. Let me know if you want more or a better recording, it may be a few days before i find my interface to record with. Hope that helps.

 

[hrodbert696]

Here is a quick test of the green bullet I am in the process of moving so I just used a fender combo 25 watt practice amp and a modded boss blues driver. I recorded on garageband. Let me know if you want more or a better recording, it may be a few days before i find my interface to record with. Hope that helps.

That's perfect, thanks! Just the kind of sound I was thinking of. Is the volume control on the green bullet passive or does it need some kind of phantom power?

 

[plaidgoat]

its passive and comes with a 1/4 inch plug attached to the mic with a volume on the bottom, it can be a very hot mic so you have to be careful with feedback sometimes

 

[hrodbert696]

its passive and comes with a 1/4 inch plug attached to the mic with a volume on the bottom, it can be a very hot mic so you have to be careful with feedback sometimes

Good to know. Thanks!