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Alternative amplifier for Yamaha Silent Brass



 
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Voltrane
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:57 am    Post subject: Alternative amplifier for Yamaha Silent Brass Reply with quote

Hello,
is it possible to use the Silent Brass mute with another ampli than the Yamaha Studio? (I am tired of the fragility of the Studio).
Thanks
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VetPsychWars
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's nothing magic about it. There is a microphone input at one and and a headphone output at the other, and reverb in the middle.

I should think a headphone amp designed for a guitar would work about as well.

Tom
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etc-etc
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The main problems with Yamaha Silent Brass are:
1) High resistance to blow;
2) Noticeable delay between the initiation of the sound and the response of the amplifier;
3) Noticeable (unshaped) background noise and, as a result, poor S/N ratio;
4) Low quality of amplified sound.

For a new setup, I would include a volume limiter (and compressor) into that setup. On a trumpet, it is too easy to overpower your ears with 1:1 amplification.

If you are planning to replace the built-in mic, the replacement mic should be able to take ca. 120 dB without distortion.

As far as I remember, the built-in mic in Yamaha Silent Brass is unbalanced. To be used with a balanced mic preamp, the replacement mic will also need to be balanced.

There was an idea by someone at TH to use a small portable bag for pets. The bag would have a hole (intended to be used so that the pet can stick its head out) into which you would insert your horn. You can make this bag more soundproof by adding sound absorbing foam.

Using this super inexpensive "soundproofing chamber" you can use any gooseneck on-bell trumpet-specific mic (Sennheiser makes one) plugged into a suitable preamp, then into compressor and then into a limiter.

If you have a multichannel DAW, you can direct the preamp output both into the line input of DAW and into the input of the compressor. Additionally, split the compressor output into second DAW line input. That way, you will have both compressed/limited and uncompressed signal recorded at once.

Of course, you can add a mixer into the chain to emphasize/deemphasize particular frequency ranges. You can also add real-time effects (including reverb) either in analog mode, or via DAW and a computer.
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jazzjezz
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Caveats.... Not cheap, and I haven’t tried it...

Would the Eventide MixingLink accomplish what you want?

In itself would not produce any effects/ reverb, but would facilitate the introduction of secondary devices (guitar effects pedals).
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etc-etc
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jazzjezz wrote:
Caveats.... Not cheap, and I haven’t tried it...

Would the Eventide MixingLink accomplish what you want?

In itself would not produce any effects/ reverb, but would facilitate the introduction of secondary devices (guitar effects pedals).


Nice form factor and lots of routing options. Adding reverb, limiter and compressor will greatly increase the budget (unless the OP already owns some of these).
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Voltrane
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 6:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello,

thanks for your answers and thanks for the pet's bag tip_ .
Well the alternative seems complicated...and the remedy worse than the disease !
I am not a specialist and do not own a lot of hardware, I was just trying to find a simple alternative to the Studio because in a few time, there is always a plug that does not work any longer. My first Studio Mute in plug was out after some months, with the second the Aux in plug was only mono after some time (it was under guarantee and replaced by Thomann) but now the Aux in of the new one does not work anymore...So, as said in the Tex Avery's Owl Johnson cartoon, "enough is too much" ! If there is no practical alternative, I will think about the Best Brass IV Mute that seems more solid. Any opinion?
But a question: do you know if the Studio supplies some power to the mute (a kind of phantom power") or not? Thanks again
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etc-etc
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 7:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The electronic Best Brass was designed, I think, by the same engineer who earlier had created Yamaha Silent Brass. It is much nicer than the original which is overly long and bell-heavy.

Their current lineup includes E-brass and E-brass junior:
http://www.bestbrass.com/stf/e-brass.html
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theslawdawg
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

etc-etc wrote:
The electronic Best Brass was designed, I think, by the same engineer who earlier had created Yamaha Silent Brass. It is much nicer than the original which is overly long and bell-heavy.

Their current lineup includes E-brass and E-brass junior:
http://www.bestbrass.com/stf/e-brass.html


Thank you for this. Have you been able to try both brands? Can you tell us more about the "much nicer" part?
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etc-etc
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The main advantage is that E-Brass is much shorter.
Sound is not much better than in Yamaha SB-7.
All of them have high resistance.
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Riojazz
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tried the e-Brass mute linked above. The sound is very quiet as a practice mute. I could not deal with the intonation though; any note above middle C is way flat. I wondered if the curve of my bell was making it too stuffed up, but trying the mute very loosely did not make any improvement. So, it's Ok if you have a need to practice quietly but I don't think you will be able to use the amplifier and earphones and stand the pitch.
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Voltrane
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The result seems closely related to the bell shape. My Weimann rotary and even my backup Besson 2-20 do not like at all the E Brass. (large bells)
Better results with my Xeno and my good old Couesnon Star (smaller bells).
It seems to me that the smaller the bell, the better the result.
That said, do not expect a good intonation.
I only use the mute when I need to practice without disturbing . Better than no practice.
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kehaulani
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

@etc-etc - are you basing your experience on the older Silent Brass or the "new" one? Thanks.
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popTbop
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2021 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote



Last edited by popTbop on Thu Oct 20, 2022 10:57 am; edited 1 time in total
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Voltrane
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2021 10:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello,
As I live in France, I bought the mute from Thomann. The price was 195€ Including shipping in July 2020. So 170€ seems a good price.
Regards
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