amplifying live acoustic middle-eastern band

[Timo Beckman]

You might look at the DPA mic's specialy the 4099 . I've used them on violins harps guitars and lot's of other instruments but not yet on the instruments in the video .
They are not cheap but do the trick most of the time

[jetboatguy]

another condenser mic that has impressed me for live use.. especially the gain before feedback scenario is the Neumann KM184.. one thing that does not impress me about them though, is that they are relatively fragile.. I have a busted KM184 mic that needs a new diaphragm, cause the metal they use is cheap ass and thin.. drop it on a hard floor and the mic is toast !

[M4-10]

Middle-Eastern and Indian music is usually a challenge for sound reinforcement because you are taking very quiet instruments and trying to make them very loud.

I recommend a sensitive microphone, probably a condenser. Place it where the Oud is loudest. Angle it in such a way that it is not only facing away from any monitor, but also so that it is angled off any reflection of monitor sound off the oud. So if the monitor is in front of you near your feet, angle the microphone upwards a bit rather than horizontal or downwards.

If you know how to ring out a mic/speaker, a graphic equalizer will really help, possibly as an insert on the Oud's channel instead of on the main mix. I mic my double bass, and when necessary I bring a small 1 channel mixer to use as a preamp for the mic I use, then run the output through a graphic equalizer, then send that signal to the house. In sound check I ask the sound guy to bring up the volume slowly, then use my graphic EQ to notch out feedback on the bass channel only (I use 2 EQs and do this for monitors and mains, or I use in ear monitors).

If you don't want to go through all that trouble then mic and monitor placement is most important, but you have to be realistic. Consider bringing up the oud before other instruments to as loud as it can go without ringing, then bring the other instruments in to balance with that. Then don't increase the volume. If the crowd is too loud then that's too bad. But generally I've found that if an audience is louder than the band then they soon feel awkward and get quieter.

One last solution: Put a pickup on the oud. Use it in conjunction with the mic. Use the pickup in the monitor. In the mains put as much mic as you can without ringing, and make up the difference between achieved volume and desired volume with the pickup.

[yaniv m]

thanks guys. i have two MXL 603 condensers, i could try using one but sometimes the stage is too loud. i've hear shur beta57A recommended for oud but also would probably work only in low noise situations.

Timo Beckman suggested a clip on mic, i have no experience with those, i guess it would have better gain before feedback than a normal condenser?

[M4-10]

Originally Posted by yaniv m

Timo Beckman suggested a clip on mic, i have no experience with those, i guess it would have better gain before feedback than a normal condenser?

It will have the same "gain before feedback". But it will require less gain! Because you'll be closer to the source of the sound.

[Timo Beckman]

Just get in touch with the local people from dpa in your country and try to arange a demo preferbly at a live performance situation .

[nnajar]

BagDpa 4060 on the oud....

[Ike Zimbel]

All good suggestions. Let's not forget the High Pass Filter. Engaging the HPF on the desk might buy you some gain before feedback in the LF region.
Best,
Ike