Tuba /Sousaphone direct inotio a Bass Amp

[trubac]

Hi there !
I want to have a tuba/sousaphone miced into a bass amp ...
I mean use a microphone direct into a bass amp and use pedals.
What sort of DI I can use to match the impedance of the mic and amp ?

My idea was to put a Radial JDI or ReAmp in the opposite way, but as I'm using a dynamic mic, I'm not sure I'm going to have enough gain to go thru pedals !

What do you think ?
Regards
Gilles

[NorseHorse]

You might want to send a note to Tuba Joe in NYC to see what he uses:

TubaJoe on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

If I'm not mistaken, he uses FX in his performances. Echo, reverb, phase, etc.

[jnorman]

i think you will have plenty of gain to drive your pedals with a tuba, even with a dynamic mic. not clear to me why you want to use a DI. i recently tracked a tuba/piano duo in my med-sized studio room, and it was almost overwhelming - those gizzies are LOUD.

[fifthcircle]

Easiest way to deal with what you want to do is a dynamic microphone into an impedance maching plug (XLR to 1/4") into a DI into the rest of your rig.

I've worked with some other folks that bring a small mixing console and they use a condenser mic. From there, they insert effects/loops on the input and use the auxes and a pedal to control effects. It is a bit more complex, but it works quite well, too...

--Ben

[WVUtubadude]

Try an adapter (XLR to 1/4").

[trubac]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

Easiest way to deal with what you want to do is a dynamic microphone into an impedance maching plug (XLR to 1/4") into a DI into the rest of your rig.


--Ben

Thanks folks !
Where do you find those impedance maching plugs (XLR to 1/4") ?

So the maching plug ----> pedals---->Inverted DI (or ReAmp style)----> bass Amp ?


Nice link TubaJoe !

Cheers
G

[trubac]

Originally Posted by WVUtubadude

Try an adapter (XLR to 1/4").

need a matching impedance thing as mics are ~500 Ohms and input amp is ~10K Ohms

[trubac]

more input please !!!

[Corran]

You can get a basic one at Radio Shack.

They sell ones with nicer transformers online but that's probably not really necessary.

[Corran]

Here it is:

A3F XLR Jack-to-1/4" Plug Adapter/Transformer - RadioShack.com

[trubac]

great ! thx !

[trubac]

found this one in EU :
MONACOR MA-100/15 - Cyberstore International Français

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

Easiest way to deal with what you want to do is a dynamic microphone into an impedance maching plug (XLR to 1/4") into a DI into the rest of your rig.
--Ben

This is EXACTLY what I've been doing for 20 yrs (except heading into a SWR bass amp w DI out to FOH). I use a Senn 421 on a self-made mount.

[trubac]

Originally Posted by PlugHead

This is EXACTLY what I've been doing for 20 yrs (except heading into a SWR bass amp w DI out to FOH). I use a Senn 421 on a mount I designed/made 2 decades ago - still works - day in, day out...

Thx for input !
no preamp pedals booster before hitting your SWR ?

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by trubac

Thx for input !
no preamp pedals booster before hitting your SWR ?

Nope - the 421 is into XLR to 1/4" adapter (w XFRMR) direct into the amp - Bal DI out of amp to monitor/FOH etc.

It has tons of gain, and is bulletproof - 20 yrs of doing this constantly - never an issue, and I ALWAYS have a consistent rig that brings me what I need in each and every (amplified) venue...

edit - one thing - if you use the XLR/1/4" barrel adapter (like the one Corran shows above^^) make sure to take strain relief off the cable by looping the cable thru a handle (or whatever above the amp), as it WILL eventually spoil the amp's 1/4" input...

[PlugHead]

A fan took an iPhone shot from last night's gig and sent it to me - sorry you can't see the rest of it, but you get the idea of the mount:

[trubac]

Nice horn you got !
never used a 421 on tuba ... don't have one in fact !
I usually put a M88 or a EV408 , very wide Dynamic, or obviously a ribbon for recording ...
I made this one yesterday out of a Sennheiser bf504 ( now e604)
they work pretty well and are incredibly light !

[PlugHead]

I've used those Senn/Shure clip-on tom mics - they work well too. I like the bulletproof nature of the 421 tho - 20 yrs solid working mic: I can hammer nails with it before the set, and still have it working and sound great afterward ...

Thx for the comment on the horn - I bought it new 24 yrs ago - lots of years of wear on that Rudy Meinl - what horn is yours in the pic - I can't see anything but the bell/clip-on mic?

[trubac]

I'll take a pic for you tomorrow ... times to get the kids to bed now here !

[WVUtubadude]

I completely forgot to mention this as I haven't done it in quite some time.

I used to use a Yamaha SilentBrass system for processing. It was really cool, in fact, I still do it for processing trumpet live.

Unfortunately, it didn't fit my Thor, so I sold it.

[trubac]

Here are two pictures

[PlugHead]

wow - 4 rotor sousaphone - rare on this side of the pond (IME). Almost every one this side is either NA or British made, and are 3 pistons. I expect that is a BBb?

I would love to land one like that - gets me thinking I should look harder!

Also cool is I have a Rhodes Mark1 stage to match where my horn is resting!

[trubac]

It is an Helikon (not a Sousaphone, the bell is straight here), from the 50's, I guess ...BBb ... very large bore, (larger than a 20K Conn). quite light.
I've changed the mechanism for ball bearings.
This beast has a very powerfull sound with a lot of edge opposite to the mellow Conn 20K sound that I've got too ...


Edit : note the tube configuration/design : no small radius shapes !

edit edit :
funny trhat we've got the same room configuration : same chair too !!!