This may be in some other thread, so please steer me in the right direction if so
I am looking into an onboard mic for my Boehm flute, and it could be wireless or not. I play with a folk trio (flute, mandolin/fiddle and guitar), and also with a contra dance band which includes a fiddle, bass guitar and keyboard, and I am finding that I need something more than my mic in a mic stand at gigs, to really be heard properly.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. For example, I saw that Ian Anderson uses a Countryman mic. I also was reading about AMTās Roam 3 wireless mic, that clips onto the flute.
Does anyone still use the replace-the-headcork-with-the-pickup Barcus-Berry affairs anymore? I havenāt used it since my Tim Weisberg/Claude Bolling days in High School, but it sure did the trick then. I have the little jobber still stored in its little box along with its installation tool and instructions. If anyone has any use for it Iād make them a great deal!
Yup - thatās the unit I have. Mine also came with a small metal cylinder with slots to properly place the unit, a string to pull it with, and a little square box of lubricant. Jackās post is the first Iād heard (or seen) of anyone using these with wooden flutes. Other experiences? How universal would the fit be??
You do have to recork them as the āsilverā head bore is tapered and smaller than most āIrishā flutesā¦the cable is a bit odd but can be made up easily enough,.they also brighten the tone a bitā¦much like a hard-faced stopperā¦
Edit: When I had the Hammy, I used a regular dynamic mike cartridge as the bore was large enogh to take itā¦that gave a āsofterā response more like a typical cork stopperā¦
Radio Shackās lapel/lavalier mic ($25) does an admirable job. Get a 1/8" to 1/4" extension cable, and youāre ready to go. I clipped mine to a velcro cable tie wrapped around the headjoint. Used it on both wood and silver flutes, in various genres, and it was a winner. The mic has similar specs to ones that cost 6 times as much.
sorry I took so long to get back to you. What I use most is a high quality vocal mike on a stand. This allows to wax and wane from the mike and not depend on a sound man for vollume control. It also picks up better in the monitors. I also sometimes use a barcus berry end cap with a pre amp for big rooms and outdoor events but it does get some key clicks and noise. I think the clip on types are worse and they get in the way. Some high energy performers, like Mr. Anderson, use the extra noise as part of the music. In a small to moderate setting I can get enough out of my Yamaha 881 not to need amp, even on the low end. For wood I always use the mike if it just has to be amped. I truly prefer accoustic music for flute.
