Ampeg Gemini I

[thatswayboss]

So besides being a fabulous, vibey guitar amp certain vocalists sound fabulous, very lo-fi, to me through this amp as well. The problem, though, is that the adapter I'm using to send an XLR cable into the 1/4" jack has some (supposed) impedance issues. I have the amp max'd out on volume to get about a 3.5/4 that I do with my guitar. What type of connection/finagling can I do to get a hotter signal from an dynamic microphone?

[Ngr]

you need a reamping tool. a simple xlr to 1/4" jack adapter won't work.

[FFTT]

When I use my Blues Deluxe for a practice PA, I use an XLR to 1/4 adapter
cable with the built in transformer to change the impedance.

You're using your Gemini I for vocals? That's a trip.

[thatswayboss]

Originally Posted by Ngr

you need a reamping tool. a simple xlr to 1/4" jack adapter won't work.

Can you recommend a specific reamping tool?

[thatswayboss]

Originally Posted by FFTT

When I use my Blues Deluxe for a practice PA, I use an XLR to 1/4 adapter
cable with the built in transformer to change the impedance.

You're using your Gemini I for vocals? That's a trip.

A total trip! What kind of a adapter is is?

[FFTT]

Just ask your local music store for a hi to low impedance
XLR to 1/4" cable with a built in transformer.

Not hard to find.

[Ngr]

I'm using a Radial Pro RMP

[thatswayboss]

Originally Posted by Ngr

I'm using a Radial Pro RMP

Gave the Radical Pro RMP a shot. In fact, I realized that's something we tried when setting this up. Same issue as I previously described. Perhaps it's a cable issue?

[Ngr]

You did run your mic into a mic preamp before going into the reamp box and then into the amp, didn't you?

[drbob1]

Can you describe your current chain: mic-cable-transformer-amp, or is there a recording stage in there first?

[Ngr]

Originally Posted by drbob1

Can you describe your current chain: mic-cable-transformer-amp, or is there a recording stage in there first?

I usually use a mic pre and then convert the output signal with the reamp box to feed the amp. Going straight with the mic into the reamp box won't work well, unless maybe you have an active reamp box (mine is passive) that will amplify the signal coming out of the mic. Or you can boost the mic signal with whatever guitar pedal you like most, of course you are not looking for pristine fidelity when feeding a mic into an ampeg gemini, so any overdrive or booster will do the trick.

[FFTT]

Guitar cable in Channel 1,
Channel 2 mic cable with large barrel inline transformer.



I can get the amp up to about 3-4 on volume, but you do need to position
the mic away to avoid feedback.

Guess I should clean the corrosion off the XLR end

[FFTT]

If you want to boost the mic signal before going into your amp,
you can patch your mic through an external pre amp, even the clean
channel of a guitar processor.

You can also use a cheap condenser mic rather than a dynamic.

Running my SM58 beta into the Blues Deluxe is really just loud enough
for rehearsal.

When I used to play open mics on cheap underpowered PA's
I would take my AKG C-1000 condenser
which provides for using a 9 volt battery rather than phantom power.

They might freak out the first time, but even with this affordable
condenser the FOH had to admit they'd never heard vocals with
such clarity on their system before.

[thatswayboss]

I had not been using a preamp or other method of adding gain before the mic hit the amp, so that's most likely where my problem lies. Thank you all for the suggestions. I'll be trying all of these ideas out when we record.

[teleharmonium]

The simple way to do this is to use a "line matching transformer", which is an impedance stepup transformer with an XLR on the input side and a 1/4" on the output side. You should be able to find one for about $15-20. Audio Technica CP8201 is one example. These are a handy way to run dynamic mics directly into guitar effects pedals for live dub delays on snare/vocals or whatever. This will help with the output - but you can still use a clean boost (or overdrive or compressor or ....) stompbox after the transformer to bump it up further.

If you're comfortable with committing immediately to the sound, that's the easy way to do it. You might get a better track since the vocalist is monitoring the sound from the amp and relating directly to that effected sound.

If you would rather retain options - no longer my philosophy, but nonetheless a valid and popular one - you would reamp (or just use amp model plugins on the vocals).

[FFTT]

When I recorded this back in the early 90's
I ran my AKG C-1000 Condenser Mic into my Digitech Valve FX
guitar processor on the clean tube channel for all vocals
and for the acoustic guitar tracks.
Hell, I even made up a pop filter from my wife's panty hose
and a coat hanger. :-)



I had to make due with what I could afford.

Even if you just use a spare amp for your own vocal rehearsal,
at least you have a tool to work with, but you can get some
cool vocal effects experimenting with what you have available.