Best/preferred clip-on trumpet microophone(s)?

Bruin

Wow, gang! I haven't been here in several years! Good to be back!

I've not been playing horn much at all; been busy playing my primary instrument, keyboards, in a fairly active performing band.

I cover a lot of brass section parts (i.e., Earth, Wind, and Fire; Chicago) on my synth (sorry!), but for solo trumpet parts, there's nothing like the real thang, so I've begun practicing my trumpet again.

That said, I need to start mic'ing my trumpet for such parts in songs, so what do you folks recommend and have experience with in terms of clip-on trumpet mics? I don't want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on one, but it should be good enough to project an accurate sound coming out from the bell of my horn, eh?

Many thanks for your feedback!

Bruin
_________________
'64 Conn Connstellation 38B
Jupiter 846S flugelhorn
CarolBrass Mini Pocket Trumpet
Schilke 17& 17D4d4 trumpet mpcs
Schilke 17F flugelhorn mpc

zaferis · Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 4:32 am Post subject:

there have been a couple threads regarding this, do a little digging..

But for me, the Audio-Technica Pro 35 has worked wonderfully. Easy to carry, great sound, sound techs like it, long wire, light-weight, and wireless capability.

Around $150.. considering that the standard SM-57 to put on a stand, without the stand, is around $90, a comparable price point.

Bruin · Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 12:37 pm Post subject:

zaferis, thank you for this info, and I will also poke around the website. I looked earlier for a search command, but didn't see one.

Again, thanks. This info gets me started in the right direction.

Cheers!
_________________
'64 Conn Connstellation 38B
Jupiter 846S flugelhorn
CarolBrass Mini Pocket Trumpet
Schilke 17& 17D4d4 trumpet mpcs
Schilke 17F flugelhorn mpc

ayryq · Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2019 4:33 am Post subject:

Don't bother with the forum search; use Google and add site:trumpetherald.com

https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Atrumpetherald.com%20clip%20microphone
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Bruin · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 7:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks, ayryq.
_________________
'64 Conn Connstellation 38B
Jupiter 846S flugelhorn
CarolBrass Mini Pocket Trumpet
Schilke 17& 17D4d4 trumpet mpcs
Schilke 17F flugelhorn mpc

Chris# · New Member Joined: 01 Aug 2018 Posts: 10

Additional point when choosing a clip mic (maybe discussed earlier, maybe not):

A clip mic deadens the bell. Playing becomes significantly harder with a clip mic mounted. I have tried basically all clip mics on the market and they are all the same. I mean, if you play with a loud ego rock/funk band and a guitar amp is pointing to your bell, it is already dead and a clip mic does not worsen the situation. But if you play with musicians....

I tried the AMT https://appliedmicrophoneshop.com/products/amt-p800 - this is too much hassle to mount, especially when switching between trumpet and flugel. It sounds very good, actually way better than the other ones, but buying two of them was not an option for me.

Finally I found a clip mic with a great sound (best of any I tried) that does not deaden the bell:

https://www.dpamicrophones.com/instrument/4099-instrument-microphone

It's not cheap, but worth the money. I wasted quite some money on cheap stuff before... I am very happy with the 4099 for years now.

If you try it, two things:

1) Use the mount clip with the 2 balls, which they recommend for sax. This has the least (close to no) negative effect on the bell vibration.

2) Bend the neck of the mic so that the mic is straight, bit does not point to the middle of the the bell hole. Best sound if it is about an inch off-center

cheiden · Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2019 11:56 am Post subject:

Love my AMT ROAM1 (now obsolete) but really don't care for their off-bell mount. The older ROAM1 bell mount isn't much better but I tolerate it because the mic works so well otherwise. I've used other bell-clip mics before and haven't perceived any downside. I'm half inclined to see if I can use the new AMT clip with my older model. Though I am intrigued by the DPA clip. What I really like about the AMT wireless option is that it's entirely self-contained, with no belt pack.
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"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

Speed · Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2019 12:58 pm Post subject:

I have not had the same experience as Chris#. I use a Shure Beta 98. I do not notice any deadening of the bell, or the trumpet being any harder to play. I prefer the sound of my trumpet using the Beta 98 over that of the stand-mounted Shure 57 that I previously used. Unless they have changed recently, Chris Botti and Lee Loughnane (Chicago) use the Beta 98, and I suspect they could use any mic they chose, money being little or no object. I feel certain there are other good clip on mics out there, but I've had good luck with Shure products for many years.

Take care,
Marc Speed

Bruin · Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2019 9:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all your feedback, guys. I'm still taking notes at this stage.

Chris#, wow, $600+ is waaay expensive. This might be something I'd consider if I were called on to play a lot of trumpet/flugelhorn for gigs, but this isn't the case. I play trumpet lines/motifs/solos that make certain songs recognizable to the audience, e.g., the trumpet solo in Tower of Power's "So Very Hard to Go," Chicago's "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?," Malo's "Suavecito," etc.).

Maybe a couple hundred bucks neighborhood for me?

Thanks again, guys!
_________________
'64 Conn Connstellation 38B
Jupiter 846S flugelhorn
CarolBrass Mini Pocket Trumpet
Schilke 17& 17D4d4 trumpet mpcs
Schilke 17F flugelhorn mpc

cheiden · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:55 am Post subject:

If you're parked in front of a keyboard I'm not sure the hassle of a clip-on would be worth it. If it's not wireless then you need to worry about the cable. And with any clip-on, getting it on and off the trumpet stand could be a nuisance. A stand mic would be easier and cheaper.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

Bruin · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 1:42 pm Post subject:

cheiden · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 4:08 pm Post subject:

Bruin · Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:56 pm Post subject:

UPDATE: Just to see how this might work out, I used my Yamaha Silent Brass system as a way to amplify my trumpet to play in my band at rehearsal tonight, and it actually worked out quite well and the band said that my trumpet sounded very good. I am able to control the volume on the unit, and add one of two reverb settings as well. It felt a bit strange feeling the back pressure from playing into a mute and it does affect my slotting, but it's a viable option for those of us whose primary axe in a band isn't trumpet.

Thanks for all of your input, gang, and if my role in a band changes and I need to play my trumpet a lot more, I'll be referring back to this thread to explore the options that you provided me.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
_________________
'64 Conn Connstellation 38B
Jupiter 846S flugelhorn
CarolBrass Mini Pocket Trumpet
Schilke 17& 17D4d4 trumpet mpcs
Schilke 17F flugelhorn mpc

nieuwguyski · Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2019 9:16 pm Post subject:

Yamaha used to sell an inexpensive clip-on horn mic that was meant to be used with the Silent Brass "portable studio" box. I bought just the microphone and used it with my first-generation Silent Brass module to drive earbuds, as a cheap personal monitor system.

I doubt Yamaha still sells the mic, but maybe you could find a used one.
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bach_again · Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2019 1:44 pm Post subject:

beta 98
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deleted_user_680e93b · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

Bruin · Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 3:10 pm Post subject:

When you guys refer to "Beta 98" are you referring to a Shure mic? A Shure Beta 98H/C Clip-on Condenser Microphone?

And, nieuwguyski, I couldn't find that mic anywhere online, unfortunately. But, thanks for the suggestion.
_________________
'64 Conn Connstellation 38B
Jupiter 846S flugelhorn
CarolBrass Mini Pocket Trumpet
Schilke 17& 17D4d4 trumpet mpcs
Schilke 17F flugelhorn mpc

cheiden · Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 4:16 pm Post subject:

Bruin · Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 8:18 pm Post subject:

nieuwguyski · Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 10:44 pm Post subject: