Transducer Pickup or Microphone?

[Bluegrasscal_87]

Looking for ways to amplify without having to be confined to being near a condenser mic on a stand.

Anyone had any good/bad experience with transducer pickups for the mandolin?

[pops1]

I think Mike may reference you to several threads about this topic. You can also do a search as it has been discussed many times here.

[Bluegrasscal_87]

I think Mike may reference you to several threads about this topic. You can also do a search as it has been discussed many times here.

thanks pops. Sorry to make a redundant post. I did a search but nothing came up for transducer so I started a post.

[pops1]

In that case let's get this started. I use a K&K with a RedEye preamp. I have tried many preamps and this is by far the best I have found. I have a really nice sound that captures the sound of my mandolin. I have had other mandolin players with many more toys compliment me on my sound, and with the RedEye I EQ very little.

[Bluegrasscal_87]

In that case let's get this started. I use a K&K with a RedEye preamp. I have tried many preamps and this is by far the best I have found. I have a really nice sound that captures the sound of my mandolin. I have had other mandolin players with many more toys compliment me on my sound, and with the RedEye I EQ very little.

Is it the K&K Twin internal or the external Twin Fusion?

[Br1ck]

+1 on the RedEye. Best non instrument pice of gear I own.

[pops1]

Twin internal, I didn't want to drill the endpin so I used a Tapastring jack.

[Mark Wilson]

Twin internal, I didn't want to drill the endpin so I used a Tapastring jack.

any issues soldering those two together?

[Mark Gunter]

I'm not sure whether you only want to discuss transducers? Seems so, though the post title is "Transducer or Mic?"

Anyway, I'll chime in to say that I went with clip-on mic, and love it. I'm using the AT PRO 35 in a setup like this:

[pops1]

any issues soldering those two together?

I am fine with soldering and do a fair amount so no it was no problem. You may want to cut the wires shorter tho.

Thanks Mark, I only replied to what I use. Glad the other side jumped in.

[almeriastrings]

The advantage of a transducer is that you can achieve higher levels before feedback. The disadvantage is that it will not match a microphone in sheer 'quality' terms. It may be good enough.... only you can decide.

The advantage of a mic is that you capture the full sound of your mandolin, including the 'air'. With a highly directional mic, or with very close-mic systems such as a clip-on, you can get very good output levels before feedback, though not quite as high as you could achieve with a soundboard transducer under similar conditions..

It really comes down to how loud you need to go, in the end....

For my own purposes, I get more than adequate levels from a stand mounted condenser mic: though I also have ATM350 and DPA4099 clip on mics available if required... not that I tend to need them myself. I also have an AKG C411 transducer installed in my Ellis (via Tapastring jack), but I don't think I've used it more than once in the past 3 or 4 years....

[Beanzy]

However if you’re prepared to stump up the readies in your quest I have heard these working miracles, taking a jj baggs source and turning it into a crisp clear Neumann acoustic sound. Incredible bit of pro level kit. Rent the mic for the set up on all your instruments, then save (& backup) & you’re set for studio quality ‘acoustic’ sound from your pickups on stage.
http://audiosprockets.com


I’ve no connection to them, just stunned by how well they do the job.

[mandroid]

Schertler offers what is a contact microphone.. advantage , to a mixer its just another microphone ..
channel has the preamp.

Installed , opting for their end button jack there is a TRS connection,
you can get balanced mixed plug TRS one, XLR on the other end.

Passive version I have fount the signal strong enough to just use the guitar amp input..

A pickup will of course hear mostly what it is attached to..

[mandroid]

Looking for ways to amplify without having to be confined to being near a condenser mic on a stand.

Anyone had any good/bad experience with transducer pickups for the mandolin?

You may have had better search success using 'Pickup' rather than transducer ,
they mean the same thing, essentially..

and there are lots of past discussions of the various pickups and peoples favorites ..