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Post by littlemart on Mar 21, 2017 21:59:24 GMT
Huge thanks for all this detailed advice folks! I have to admit some of it left me feeling a bit insecure about the state of my electro-acoustic knowledge base!!
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Post by nkforster on Mar 22, 2017 6:57:42 GMT
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Post by littlemart on Mar 22, 2017 12:59:54 GMT
Thanks, Nigel. Looked at the Orchid site and they also have a useful FAQ section which cleared up most of the questions I was left with. I now know that 'Phantom Power' is not a lesser known O'Carolan tune. Also, more to the point, a DI box is loads cheaper than a pre-amp.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 22, 2017 13:16:37 GMT
Thanks, Nigel. Looked at the Orchid site and they also have a useful FAQ section which cleared up most of the questions I was left with. I now know that 'Phantom Power' is not a lesser known O'Carolan tune. Also, more to the point, a DI box is loads cheaper than a pre-amp. It is true to say that K&K minis don't need a preamp and that they will indeed, thanks to their relatively high output for a passive pickup, work directly into a combo amp or even a PA mixer. However, if long jack leads to PA mixer or combo are envisaged then it is better to use an XLR lead, hence Nige's suggestion of a DI box. The mixer eq will then control everything to do with your sound. This may be fine, or may not. I much prefer the added control afforded by an outboard preamp, particularly for control over the mid-frequencies - I get the sound about right using the mixer eq flat, and then tweak if necessary on the PA mixer channel. I also like having control at my fingertips, especially of volume and the ability to mute the instrument altogether. Hence I use a preamp mounted on my mic stand where I can easily make any adjustments if necessary. Similarly with a combo, which obviously has a preamp stage anyway. If I'm using my AER I tend to have it a couple feet behind me and off to one side - not handy for quick tweaks, and it would require moving to the amp (wearing the instrument) for any adjustment, when spontaneous feedback is always a possibility. So a preamp within reach of the performing position is really handy for quick tweaks/muting etc. You're right littlemart, turning on Fanny Power has entirely different connotations to turning on Phantom Power..... Keith
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andrewjw
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Post by andrewjw on Mar 27, 2017 19:01:55 GMT
Plus one on the need for a preamp with the mini...however even then [using a K n K XLR ] getting a crisp sound on the tops whilst avoiding boom on the bottoms has taken much twiddling of knobs to achieve a reasonably OK result...on a largish guitar. So much of this stuff is down to personal taste , ? age related hearing changes , strings used...so many variables. I've long stopped giving my opinion on "what is best" Use your ears ...if it sounds good to you then don't let other's opinions spoil your day!
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Post by andyhowell on Mar 27, 2017 21:02:26 GMT
The Headway Preamp (also UK) is also good with K&K. As good a sound as the Orchid but with built in battery phantom power. You can't go wrong with either of these preamps.
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