2XiV

Strings, March, 2008 by Scott, Heather K

A primer for string players seeking to pump up the volume

This the final installment in a two-part series about amplifying your acoustic violin, viola, or cello. The first story focused on pickups; this article spotlights microphones as an option. Here’s a look at what’s out there, what works best for certain situations, and what the pros say about this gear.

To amplify a pure, rich acoustic sound, a mic might be your best bet. The downsides are that they are prone to feedback at moderate to loud volumes and they will pickup and amplify every sound around you (other instruments, drums beating, people talking, and so on).

Clip-On Condenser Mics

Directional mics help cut down on these problems