How to Use a Contact Microphone As a Violin Pickup
While the violin generates enough volume to cut through any acoustic instrument environment, including orchestras and concert halls, when a violin is brought into an electric environment, such as a rock band, it can have feedback issues. Just playing into a microphone doesn't work, because the mic will pick up too much of the stage volume. Electric violins work well, but many players feel that sound they produce is a poor substitute for a true violin. For these players, a contact microphone, which sticks onto an acoustic violin, is a good option.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Peel the adhesive off the back of the microphone and stick it onto the body of the violin near the bridge on the left side of the instrument (for a right handed player) or on the right side (for a left handed player). You want the jack on the shoulder side of the instrument, so that the weight of the instrument cable doesn't pull the microphone and jack off the violin.
-
2
Mount the instrument jack on the violin on the same side as the contact mic by loosening the jack mount, sliding it onto the body, then tightening it down until it is held securely on the body.
-
-
3
Plug the instrument cable into the jack, then plug the other end into the preamp. Connect the DI box to the PA system using an XLR cable.
-
4
Slide the bow across the violin strings and listen to the sound coming from the PA. Adjust the EQ on the DI box to get the sound you want. Many players find a slight boost in the midrange and low frequencies gives a more balanced tone that offsets the bright highs.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
When using a contact mic, you may need to have stage monitors to hear what you are playing. Have the sound engineer in the hall you are playing do a soundcheck and adjust the volume levels of the monitor so you can hear what you are playing clearly while the rest of the band is playing.
References
- Photo Credit violin image by Kkatka from Fotolia.com
