HARP EFFECTS
BY MARKO BALLAND
[1]
BEFORE YOU START USING
EFFECTS...
There are so many harp players these days,
looking for new sounds to match many musical
styles and genres, which is great. BUT....
Keep in mind that amplification
doesn't improve the quality of your
acoustic sound :
- if your sound is good it will remain
good after amplification
- In the other hand, if your acoustic
tone is bad, the amp will make it even
worse.
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1) START TO THINK AS A GUITAR PLAYER
Why is that? because the
you plug it to an amp, you'll
usually used for guitar. A
avoid it, you have to use a tester
effects you will use are
create a feedback. In order to
guitar has microphones
to measure your volume level
and volume controls. You
and stop it at 17 kHz. If you
can open a guitar's volume
don't have a tester, just know
up to 17 kHz.
that 17 kHz is approximately a
Harps usually have microphones that
quarter of the volume button's range.
open their volume until 200 kHz.
This is not a problem for a P.A, but if
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2) BEWARE OF THE IMPEDANCE
1) Microphones and amplifiers work best with certain
7) There's nothing wrong with connecting a high
load or drive levels, respectively. For this reason, it is
impedance mic with an XLR connector to a high
desirable to "match" the impedance of the microphone
impedance load (like an amp) with a cable that has
to the impedance of the device it is connected to – an
XLR at one end and a 1/4" connector at the other.
amp, a foot pedal, a wireless transmitter, or....
There is something wrong, however, with using that
same cable to connect a low impedance mic to the
2) Impedance matching transformers are simple
amp. First, there is an impedance mismatch and neither
devices that can "match" a low impedance mic to a high
the amp nor the mic will perform as well as they could.
impedance load, or vice versa.
More importantly, high impedance
3) Low impedance systems came later than high
XLR and low impedance XLR cables are wired
impedance ones, and were developed to enable much
differently. When you use an XLR!1/4” cable with a
longer cable runs and better reject noise (like hum) that
low impedance mic, you will get less than half of the
gets injected via the cable.
mic’s output! The proper way to connect a low
impedance mic to a high impedance amp is to use a low
4) There is no inherent difference in tone or feedback
impedance cable (XLR to XLR) together with an
rejection between low and high.
impedance matching transformer.
5) Low impedance systems are almost always wired
with "XLR" jacks and plugs. This is a worldwide
industry standard.
6) Many different kinds of connectors are used for
high impedance devices, including XLR. However when
XLR is used, the cable-to-pin wiring is not the same
as it is for low impedance XLR. Mixing low- and
high-impedance cables and mics just because you
can connect them together with XLR can lead to
poor performance. When you see a mono 1/4" jack
or plug (like guitar players use) it’s a safe bet that
you're looking at a high impedance device. The same is
true for the "screw-on" connector that was made by
Switchcraft and Amphenol, was found on many vintage
mics and is still produced today.
[4]
3) LET'S THE CHAIN BEGINS !
Now that we know about the microphone, let's the pedal chain begins (and the
fun too)...
BE AWARE THAT THE PEDALS HAVE TO BE PLACED IN THAT
ORDER FOR AN OPTIMUM SOUND.
The "expression pedals": Wah wah, Whamy, Harmonisor, auto wah
1
If you want to add an anti feedback device :
It has to be placed between the compressor and the "expression" pedals. I warmly
advice the Harp Shield from Lonewolfblues
2
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The compressor: won't have any impact on your expression pedal, Its role is
to smooth down the notes, not to boost your signal
3
The distorsion and overdrive : You have to choose the right saturation. It will
give its colour to your sound.
4
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The Booster : It will boost your direct sound ( Clean amplifier sound). It will
also boost your distorted sound. One thing is to know when you set up the
distorsion or overdrive volume, is to put the same amount of volume as your
direct sound, the booster will increase the level when you'll be on "Chorus,
solo"...( If you don't pay attention to this particular set up, becareful of the
feedback)
5
the Equalizers and ultramisers : The equalizer will give your harp and your
whole system its real sound. It will also determin the input and output gain for
your amp. I would prefer a band equalizer, to a parametric one ( At least 10 bands
with input and output gain) A tip : Turn your input gain down and your output
gain up!
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The effects (Delay, chorus, reverb, phasing,etc...) : they are after
everything (the Equalizer on the pedal chain) they won't be equalized, wich is
fine since they really don't need to be.
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AND AT LAST THE AMPLIFIER : I would recommand a lamp amplifier.
The number and the type of speakers is important
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[8]
ET VOILA....
NOW KEEP
PLAYING
THAT
THING
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