The AT comes with a hard wired 3.5mm male connector with a thousand feet of cord. I converted mine to a short cord with a 1/4" female so I could mount it to the tailpiece and use a standard instrument cable from there to the amp.
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Double Bass The Radio Shack mic rebooted
- Thread starter Jay Corwin
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Earl
Supporting Member
I'm shocked the ATM 35 would work like an electret. I had a Pro 35 years ago, and it had the same feedback issues as any condenser.
The ATM 35 can be powered by phantom power from a desk and provides the reduced voltage to the capsule and uses either 9 volts battery or phantom power provided by the following device.
Cheap lavalier mics often have a battery adapter that provides the voltage needed for the mic capsule and the output from that adapter is a bit higher impedance mic signal (around 1 KOhms) that often needs a mic preamp to feed a bass amp. They cannot be powered by phantom power since they have an unbalanced TS connector.
The Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 doesn’t have a mic input and therefor does not provide phantom power.
Cheap lavalier mics often have a battery adapter that provides the voltage needed for the mic capsule and the output from that adapter is a bit higher impedance mic signal (around 1 KOhms) that often needs a mic preamp to feed a bass amp. They cannot be powered by phantom power since they have an unbalanced TS connector.
The Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 doesn’t have a mic input and therefor does not provide phantom power.
Earl
Supporting Member
I have not used mine in years because of feedback issues in the normal placement positions on the bass. However, wrapped in foam in the F hole I don't seem to have that problem. I will have to wait and see under gig conditions though.
Out of curiosity, I bought one of the Radio Shack tie clip microphones and gave it a shot on my bass. It sounded fine, but was pretty difficult to EQ at the time and feedback, so I put it into a drawer and forgot about it until today.
Ampeg had a pickup that sat inside the bass, I only heard that one once, long ago so I really don't remember what it sounds like. It seems like these little lapel condensers work for some of us. One thing's for sure
their very inexpensive. For me there are alternatives, but they definitely cost more. There does seem to be some kind of relationship, between microphones that are less sensitive and using them for live performance. Just my take of course.
Ampeg had a pickup that sat inside the bass, I only heard that one once, long ago so I really don't remember what it sounds like. It seems like these little lapel condensers work for some of us. One thing's for sure
their very inexpensive. For me there are alternatives, but they definitely cost more. There does seem to be some kind of relationship, between microphones that are less sensitive and using them for live performance. Just my take of course.
Any tips for shortening the wires on the Audio Technica ATR3350 would be much appreciated? They're so cheap I don't mind the risk.
I'm a noob at soldering but am thinking of giving it a go, and just wondering if it is obvious which wires go where e.t.c.
I've used mine on gigs with drummers at Jazz volumes and was happy with it, I like how it is plug and play like a pickup and gives good volume. No need for a preamp. The little battery pack goes nicely in the tailpiece with a realist style clip, no feedback at all in the F hole, and sounds good with arco...and I will probably use it again but would be great to shorten that crazy long cable.
I'm a noob at soldering but am thinking of giving it a go, and just wondering if it is obvious which wires go where e.t.c.
I've used mine on gigs with drummers at Jazz volumes and was happy with it, I like how it is plug and play like a pickup and gives good volume. No need for a preamp. The little battery pack goes nicely in the tailpiece with a realist style clip, no feedback at all in the F hole, and sounds good with arco...and I will probably use it again but would be great to shorten that crazy long cable.
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I've been looking for a cheap, omnidirectional lavaliere/lapel microphone for several months now, but it's been a PIA trying to search Amazon and eBay and the various manufactures pages to figure out what I'm actually looking at. So I'm very glad to have found this thread!
I like the idea of using putty for the mount. What do you all recommend?
I like the idea of using putty for the mount. What do you all recommend?
Looking through the various offerings from Movo, this is probably the most promising one that I've found:
Movo LVM-XLR1 Self-Powered XLR Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone for Mixers, Recorders, Camcorders & More
It's only $40. Of all the Movo mics I've looked at so far, it has the highest sensitivity rating and the lowest noise. It's also the one that mentions "instrument recording" in the description. It would be nice if they offered it with different connectors, but that's a very small point.
I also like the battery powered option because I should be able to go straight into my Fdeck HPF-Pre using an XLR to 1/4" adapter, which I already happen to have. It might sound silly, but one of the big turn-offs with most mics for me is not being able to go straight into the HPF-Pre mounted to the tail piece. Having those controls at my fingertips is just crucial to me. okay, it wouldn't kill me if the HPF and phase switch were a little further away, but the volume control....
Movo LVM-XLR1 Self-Powered XLR Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone for Mixers, Recorders, Camcorders & More
It's only $40. Of all the Movo mics I've looked at so far, it has the highest sensitivity rating and the lowest noise. It's also the one that mentions "instrument recording" in the description. It would be nice if they offered it with different connectors, but that's a very small point.
I also like the battery powered option because I should be able to go straight into my Fdeck HPF-Pre using an XLR to 1/4" adapter, which I already happen to have. It might sound silly, but one of the big turn-offs with most mics for me is not being able to go straight into the HPF-Pre mounted to the tail piece. Having those controls at my fingertips is just crucial to me. okay, it wouldn't kill me if the HPF and phase switch were a little further away, but the volume control....
Elias, for $40 what do you have to lose? I found the Movo to work really well and it sounds great. To my ears, I just like the way the Rode smartlav plus sounds with my bass better than the Movo, but you never know til you try it. Mounting it with putty inside the bass, I think is the way to go, especially if you can run the cable out through the bottom of the bass. You have to experiment with different locations, but with my Rode, its sweet spot is in the treble side f hole, pretty close to the sound post. After so many years of struggling with mics and feedback and bleed issues, as well as crappy sounding piezos, this is the solution I've been looking for. I don't care if it's expensive or cheap, if it sounds good it is good.
You haven't suffered through enough gigs where the stage is so small there is no such thing as further away!
Well, I received a Movo LV10 yesterday, which I thought would sound the same as the LVM-XLR1 because they have basically identical specs, the difference being an XLR connector vs an 1/8". I like 1/8” connector better for going into my HPF-Pre. Bonus is that the LV10 is only $20.
Well, I don't know how the LVM-XLR1 sounds, but the LV10 is not good. It's actually pretty lousy. After tinkering with the setup and the signal chain for a while, I noticed that the spec sheet has a frequency response graph. One glance at that and no wonder it sounds like poopy! I sure wish they would've put that graph online.
Well, I don't know how the LVM-XLR1 sounds, but the LV10 is not good. It's actually pretty lousy. After tinkering with the setup and the signal chain for a while, I noticed that the spec sheet has a frequency response graph. One glance at that and no wonder it sounds like poopy! I sure wish they would've put that graph online.
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Earl
Supporting Member
I used the ATM35 wrapped in foam in the F hole the other night through the Phil Jones Double Four (up on a stand at ear level), on an outside gig with trumpet, guitar and accordian (don't ask!) and wow it sounded great with not a hint of feedback. Volume to spare and much more natural than the Yamahiko. Even the band commented favorably on it. My hand cramped up in the second set (probably from not playing enough and being dehydrated) so I had a bass player in the audience sit in and I walked around the large parking lot and it sounded fantastic, I could hear every note. I think it might even work with drums - we shall see.
So here's an update on my cheap lavalier mic experiments. I ordered a Maono AU-100R rechargeable lavalier mic for $22 back in June, but I'm just now getting the opportunity to really test it live. Ordinarily, I have ~6 big band rehearsals each month that are great for testing out new gear, but those are on hold due to COVID-19. Thankfully, my new grass/Americana/whatever band is finally getting half-a-dozen-or-so gigs each month again! Here's what I've found regarding the lavalier mic:
1) Placing the mic inside or near either f-hole was not very successful with my bass. I tried the mic inside both f-holes, outside, pointing in, pointing out, deep inside the bass, etc. The two main problems were (i) apparently, my bass really resonates in/around the f-holes with the open D-string (74 hz), which led to feedback issues as well as just very uneven volume and tone. I tried to tame the problem frequencies using a parametric EQ, but it was hard to get just right, and just helped me recognize problem (ii), which is that the sound I was getting was boxy and not any better than my piezo. It sounded like what it was, a mic inside a big boomy bass. Don't get me wrong, it was use-able, especially at low volume, but at higher volumes or with headphones (I found noise cancelling headphones useful for these experiments), it was noticeably not a great sound.
2) I tried the mic in various locations on the top of the bass, on the bridge, and under the fingerboard using tacky putty. These all sounded pretty great!!! The variation in sound from location to location was pretty intuitive and predictable. The sweet spot for me is somewhere around the bridge feet. Sooo, I ended up cutting a little block of foam to place between the bridge feet, and sticking the mic right in the middle. Which leads me to #3.
3) GIG TEST!!! I took the bass to an outdoor gig at a local brewery thinking there was no way the mic would work without feeding back. I thought about taking a small mixer to blend it with my Realist, but decided it would be too distracting. Anyway, I gave the mic a shot during sound check, and to my surprise, I got plenty of volume without feedback! Here was my signal chain:
Maono mic (self powered) -> fdeck HPF-Pre -> (Zoom B1 Four) -> Warwick LWA500 -> AudioKinesis TC112-AF v.1 (with one port plugged)
We were on a stone patio against a large brick wall. We used a small PA: one main and one monitor. Bass did not go into the PA. Judicious use of the HPF, cutting the bass EQ, and plugging one port in the Thunderchild were all critical due to the hard surfaces. The reason for the Zoom was to have an additional HPF and parametric EQ handy, but the batteries died mid gig, and it turned out I didn't even need it. The other key was putting a good 10 feet or so between myself and bass cab and standing somewhat off center.
BOTTOM LINE:
I was very, very happy with the sound quality and amazed that I didn't have major feedback. I actually ordered an LR Baggs Mixpro preamp last week, which will allow me to mix the mic with a piezo (either a copper Realist or a Vic's bridgewing pickup). I'll be testing it out at a couple more outdoor gigs this weekend! Stay tuned!
1) Placing the mic inside or near either f-hole was not very successful with my bass. I tried the mic inside both f-holes, outside, pointing in, pointing out, deep inside the bass, etc. The two main problems were (i) apparently, my bass really resonates in/around the f-holes with the open D-string (74 hz), which led to feedback issues as well as just very uneven volume and tone. I tried to tame the problem frequencies using a parametric EQ, but it was hard to get just right, and just helped me recognize problem (ii), which is that the sound I was getting was boxy and not any better than my piezo. It sounded like what it was, a mic inside a big boomy bass. Don't get me wrong, it was use-able, especially at low volume, but at higher volumes or with headphones (I found noise cancelling headphones useful for these experiments), it was noticeably not a great sound.
2) I tried the mic in various locations on the top of the bass, on the bridge, and under the fingerboard using tacky putty. These all sounded pretty great!!! The variation in sound from location to location was pretty intuitive and predictable. The sweet spot for me is somewhere around the bridge feet. Sooo, I ended up cutting a little block of foam to place between the bridge feet, and sticking the mic right in the middle. Which leads me to #3.
3) GIG TEST!!! I took the bass to an outdoor gig at a local brewery thinking there was no way the mic would work without feeding back. I thought about taking a small mixer to blend it with my Realist, but decided it would be too distracting. Anyway, I gave the mic a shot during sound check, and to my surprise, I got plenty of volume without feedback! Here was my signal chain:
Maono mic (self powered) -> fdeck HPF-Pre -> (Zoom B1 Four) -> Warwick LWA500 -> AudioKinesis TC112-AF v.1 (with one port plugged)
We were on a stone patio against a large brick wall. We used a small PA: one main and one monitor. Bass did not go into the PA. Judicious use of the HPF, cutting the bass EQ, and plugging one port in the Thunderchild were all critical due to the hard surfaces. The reason for the Zoom was to have an additional HPF and parametric EQ handy, but the batteries died mid gig, and it turned out I didn't even need it. The other key was putting a good 10 feet or so between myself and bass cab and standing somewhat off center.
BOTTOM LINE:
I was very, very happy with the sound quality and amazed that I didn't have major feedback. I actually ordered an LR Baggs Mixpro preamp last week, which will allow me to mix the mic with a piezo (either a copper Realist or a Vic's bridgewing pickup). I'll be testing it out at a couple more outdoor gigs this weekend! Stay tuned!
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Movo are intersting ( and inexpensive)
https://www.amazon.fr/Movo-Micro-Cravate-omnidirectionnel-LVM-XLR1-Pare-Vent/dp/B01N11OYT3
And this one for only 20 € looks like the ATR3350
https://www.amazon.fr/Movo-LV1-omni...00781028&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-6-catcorr
@sevenyearsdown
the movo is sold with jack 1/4 adaptor, so it would probably work direct on the amp ( as the atr3350 ) ?
https://www.amazon.fr/Movo-Micro-Cravate-omnidirectionnel-LVM-XLR1-Pare-Vent/dp/B01N11OYT3
And this one for only 20 € looks like the ATR3350
https://www.amazon.fr/Movo-LV1-omni...00781028&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-6-catcorr
@sevenyearsdown
the movo is sold with jack 1/4 adaptor, so it would probably work direct on the amp ( as the atr3350 ) ?
Just because something looks like another which is high quality does not mean it is high quality. In most cases the closer a copy is to the original in look, the less it is in performance.
If it is really cheap and you would not care loosing this money completely (because of bad performance or going bad quickly), buy and try if you want.
If it would hurt you loosing the money (even if you only might get angry about that) better don‘t buy it.
If it is really cheap and you would not care loosing this money completely (because of bad performance or going bad quickly), buy and try if you want.
If it would hurt you loosing the money (even if you only might get angry about that) better don‘t buy it.
Movo product have a good feed back ( in this thread, and other little pickup from amazon Monano 22 $ etc).
Yes it's not an atr3350, but the concept is similar.
19 € in europe; and the ATR3350 is sold 25 € ( best price ), that's not an expensive pickup too.
19 € I think I can give a chance to one of these pickup ( Movo or Maono).
@bassically_eli the maono 100-r it's not available in europe.
I've found this one, it's looks the same ( but no usb to reload )
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01M4J5WCM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2DW78Q3SH8K57&psc=1
Could you send us a picture of your micro placement please ?
Here's how I used it last weekend.Movo product have a good feed back ( in this thread, and other little pickup from amazon Monano 22 $ etc).
Yes it's not an atr3350, but the concept is similar.
19 € in europe; and the ATR3350 is sold 25 € ( best price ), that's not an expensive pickup too.
19 € I think I can give a chance to one of these pickup ( Movo or Maono).
@bassically_eli the maono 100-r it's not available in europe.
I've found this one, it's looks the same ( but no usb to reload )
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01M4J5WCM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2DW78Q3SH8K57&psc=1
Could you send us a picture of your micro placement please ?
I tried the Movo LV10 briefly before getting the Maono. The LV10 was pretty worthless. I sent it back right away. The frequency response graph was not available online, but it was included in the packaging. Here it is:
As you can see, the response above 1k is no good. The mic sounded very dark to me with no upper mids or highs.
If you read through this thread, than you already know that others did have success with other Movo mics
@bassically_eli Hello, I,ve got the maono au-100 ( with a battery ). I've made few test.
It sounds good to me. I need to find the best location. The sound was not bad in the f hole, but I've tried with some foam the same location as you. Less volume, But the sounds was more pleasant.
It was an home test, no larsen, but I can push up the volume more than with a dynamic microphone ( snare drum micro) !! Cool for the price.
It sounds good to me. I need to find the best location. The sound was not bad in the f hole, but I've tried with some foam the same location as you. Less volume, But the sounds was more pleasant.
It was an home test, no larsen, but I can push up the volume more than with a dynamic microphone ( snare drum micro) !! Cool for the price.
