Using digital effects with microphone

BJPWillcutt

I’m looking for advice or a starting place to mic myself and experiment with different effects. Delays, synthesizing, reverb, and the like across different genres. Anybody have recommendations on gear or different effects that would be fun to play around with? Do I use use pedals like a guitar player? I heard the melody played back on a trumpet at the end of the song ‘Ego Death’ by the band Polyphia with a guest collaboration with Steve Vai and it got me thinking about what would a solo horn album be like if one were to play around with different digital tools to alter the sound.

Best!
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bach_again · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 12:32 pm Post subject:

It is a deep rabbit hole...

Consider the Boss ME50 is a multi FX - the bass version isn't all that liked (though Christian McBride lists it amongst his gear, so I reckon the issue is much more the user than the equipment... I digress) - you will find these very cheaply used.

I can't quite recall the signal chain I ran with this pedal, but I did a few gigs with it and it worked extremely well - and plenty of things to play with which may inform future excursions into pedal types... if you decided to pursue harmonisers more, or whatever... (again very affordably)

I am fairly sure I ran a DI box with this pedal, whether that was running the SM58 into the pedal or running the pedal into the DI to send balanced to the desk I can't recall. The latter seems to make more logical sense. I can't offer to test it for you because I left it in a wet shed for 2 years and it won't turn on now... stupid.

Good luck!
Mike
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MichaelHeebs · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2023 5:53 am Post subject:

A piece of gear I recently picked up is the Zoom a1x four pedal. It comes with a phantom adapter for mics that require it, and has a wonderful bank of effects built in. You can also hook it up to a computer and create your own. There aren't too many trumpet specific effects right out of the box but it is meant for pretty much every acoustic instrument, so there's a couple dedicated sounds for everyone. Its only $150 if you already have a microphone.
One bonus feature I've been messing with is its built in looper. I'm not trying to shill for this pedal but its been a really fun tool to get into effects and see what is possible. I have not used it in a live setting yet, just used it practicing and recording so I can't comment on that yet.
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kehaulani · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2023 6:56 am Post subject:

Just two comments -
Us 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqwQL3VRACY&list=RDEMCUcb5n7xdxK5WMLos6sMVA&index=3

I have heard of good use of electronics being played through a Yamaha Silent Mute hook-up.
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atrumpeter · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:16 pm Post subject:

I just got a piezo barrel from Ebay via Australia that I recommend for effects over the Silent Brass!! It wires into your mouthpiece and uses standing waves which leads to less feedback issues. So far so good, just need more effects with it!
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Riojazz · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2023 7:34 am Post subject:

atrumpeter · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2023 4:03 pm Post subject: Piezo Barrel

Yes, but it comes with a plug you can use to play the piece regularly, which works great.
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Adams A1 Tpt.
Olds Ambassador Tpt and Cornet
Warburton, Curry and Stork Mpcs.

Mostly musicals and church gigs with the occasional jazz jam

Riojazz · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2023 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Piezo Barrel

jazzjezz · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2023 2:31 am Post subject:

I have chucked a lot of money at this - it is a rabbit hole.

The big one is balancing the natural sound of the trumpet with the sound of the effects, especially in the live setting.

I have settled on a piezo pick up as described in comments above (with a drilled mouthpiece) and a practice mute as opposed to using a microphone.

The other bit of kit is a dedicated signal manager - I have a Radial Engineering Voco-Loco which allows good control of the input and output signals, also allowing mixing of wet and dry signals. I also have a Radial Engineering Stage Bug specifically designed for piezos.

After you have a reliable signal at a good level the world of guitar pedals are open to you.

My current train is a harmoniser, a phaser, an envelope pedal and then delay and reverb... its still a work in progress to get my head around the loop pedal

atrumpeter · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2023 6:34 am Post subject: Re: Piezo Barrel

atrumpeter · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2023 6:36 am Post subject:

WestCoastTpt · Regular Member Joined: 13 Aug 2022 Posts: 39

JHs makes the color box v2 that you can run a mic into that starts the signal chain. Pretty cool too because it’s a sort of an eq too!
Pricey but one option.
Sometimes I’ll use my line out from my wireless receiver and send that into my pedals.. I’ll then send that chain into the mixer or amp.
I have a piezo barrel That’s great too but I like a good dry signal I’f possible and the dry piezo is more of a tone than a trumpet sound, if that makes sense.

Fwiw for fx, I have a digital tape delay/reverb and an envelope filter. I use an isolated power supply and for fun, I’ put some led’s under the board haha

Speed · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2023 5:28 pm Post subject:

TC Electronic makes a series of pedals that look like the ones guitar players use, but they are designed to use with a microphone. You plug your mic cable in to the pedal and then run an XLR cable from the pedal to the PA.

They do not have the ability to run on a battery, and they must be plugged into a power source. Also, they don’t work well with condenser mics. F you are using a Shure SM-57 or similar dynamic mic, the TC Electronic pedals will work fine.

gypsyblues · Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 6:04 am Post subject:

I've been experimenting with guitar pedals and a trumpet on and off since the 90's. The most important thing I've found is to use a quality preamp first in the chain. The sound gets "tinny" and loses a lot of the trumpet character if you don't use a good preamp. I wouldn't recommend mic-ing straight into a regular guitar pedal board without one due to the sound quality loss.

Like it was said earlier in the chain "After you have a reliable signal at a good level the world of guitar pedals are open to you."

www.horn-fx.com is a good resource to learn about how guitar pedals interact for horn players. These guys have tested quite a few pedals and have informative reviews.

I've sold off most of my electric gear, but am considering getting a Voco-Loco preamp pedal to get back into it. I used to do horn lines with an octave/harmonizer pedal for a good effect.
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