[Dixielandjazz] Sound Check From Hell

[Steve Barbone]

"Jim Kashishian" <jim at kashprod.com>

> 
> Referring to Steve's post showing his sound check at a park concert:
> 
> Why do you have a mike at the end of your bell, Steve?  The sound of a
> clarinet is where your fingers are.  If anything, you can place a mic over
> the holes & one at the end, but at the end is a no-no.

Hello Jim:

Basically because the sound crew told me this mike was specially designed to
pick up the sound that way. I didn't buy it either. (Note the mic to my
left, your right as you look at the picture.) That was put there at my
request "in case". After talking to a friend I had in the audience while I
was with the sound guys during the rest of the check, I decided to place it
above the horn as I usually do with my portable system. Worked fine.
> 
> When we worked with Tom Scott, he always got up real close to the mike at
> the finger level, particularly for the low tones, but he always used the mic
> around the fingers....and, you know that fellow had one of the best sounds
> available.

Yes, he (Tony? Scott) had a great sound with or without mic. I do move in
and out, and up and down <grin> with mine depending upon register and which
end of the horn the notes are. Placing the open hole close to the mic,
especially on low register work. That's what he did and I paid close
attention in the 1950s.

Best mic job I have ever had was with a real pro sound guy in an old time
restored theater in Warren PA. It was some sort of very small mic, mounted
about a foot above mid horn. Very live and it picked up absolutely
everything I played in all registers without my having to move the horn.
Made me sound like early Tony Scott, liquid, breathy, centered etc. Some
people in the audience later told me that was the first time they heard
every note on a clarinet and they loved "my" sound.

I should have asked about it but at my age, I figure what the hell, the Tony
Scott method, and moving the horn up and down the mic works fine for me even
though it is a pain in the butt at high energy concerts and/or club dates to
concentrate on what you are playing and where the horn placement should be.

I much prefer acoustic if possible but there were between 700 and 1000
people at this concert in an outdoor open venue. (no bounceback anywhere)

We did get the sound sorted out and I referenced the youtube as a reminder
to leaders to go out to the sound board and listen, then tell the guys what
you want. In this case, they even lost track of who was on what mic, etc. It
was like a Ferrari Pit stop in the old days. (1950s) Mass confusion.

Basically I think because their main guys were at a "star" rock concert in
Philadelphia and the second team, in this instance, was having problems.
Thank goodnes what you saw was the "check".

Cheers,
Steve Barbone