Contact Mics

[Rodrigo]

Hah, cool. Small world.

I stopped doing “albums” many many years ago, choosing to focus on making videos. You can read about why here, but the short version is that I don’t like the idea of art functioning commodified way, or selling people things.

Although it’s not directly linked on my page anymore, I do have a store page which I haven’t fully deleted in case it was linked in any older blogs. I think I have all of my solo ones setup so you can download them for free, but if that’s not the case, let me know and I can link you to .zips of them.

[Ecoustic]

I understand the whole commodification of art. I have a book coming out this fall. Publishing is a cruel business. Thanks for the links to your work!

[Jonny]

Has anyone tried wiring 2 piezos in series ala this diagram? Is there a major difference in the sound and noise?

Also seen in Leafcutter John’s article on Hydrophones:

https://flypaper.soundfly.com/produce/how-to-build-a-diy-hydrophone/

[static]

My new pair of red Marshmallow contact microphones arrived and they are very nice! No hum/buzz, just as Mike promised (ironic name?). Very high gain mics! Not sure I’d need higher gain than this, I may go for the white ones next, for percussive stuff. Thanks again for suggestion.

[emenel]

Is there a link to this Etsy shop? I did a search for “marshmallow contact mic” and variations and came up empty…

[static]

Looks like you may be able to get it directly from Mike’s webpage. https://michaelkrzyzaniak.com/marshmallow/shop.php?q=Metal+Marshmallow

[emenel]

Thanks.

These looks really interesting, and sound great front he demos. I don’t use a contact mic every day, so the battery thing is a little concerning… what happens if it stops holding a charge? In my case I can just see it being dead every time I go to use it

I might get one anyway and take a chance that I’d use it more since it sounds better than the ones I have…

[static]

I was also concerned.

Q: Does it constantly discharge even when nothing is plugged in or is the connector essentially the switch?

A: It continually discharges. It takes about a week to 10 days to fully discharge.

Q: What happens when the battery is no longer holding a charge?

A: Unfortunately the battery is not servicable. However, you will still be able to power it via the USB port and get the same quiet, hum-free operation.

It seems more like a studio item somehow… but you could potentially permanently install it into an instrument for recording/live performance. Maybe you could have it constantly receiving USB power when that instrument needs to be amplified.

I personally think it’s fine this way, with it discharging… because I plan my sampling sessions ahead of time, and I like to be mobile as possible to work quickly.

[Ecoustic]

I’ve been putting the red Marshmallow contact mic to good use, too. No hum at all, as you said. I’ve gotten used to the routine of the sticky tape and mounting putty–really not much of a chore. The sound the mics produce is very 3-dimensional. Truly high gain indeed. I hope Mike restocks soon. Both the white and black are of interest–also another red like you wisely bought.

[Jonny]

Has anyone tried the Radial Preamps that are available for piezo/acoustic instruments? They seem to have a good combination of filtering and eq options.

[Rodrigo]

Q: What happens when the battery is no longer holding a charge?

A: Unfortunately the battery is not servicable. However, you will still be able to power it via the USB port and get the same quiet, hum-free operation.

This part is a little concerning, particularly if you use it often (hence going through a power cycle every 10 days or whatever).

I guess it’s assembled via the Apple school of glueing everything shut or something.

[Ecoustic]

Yes, I have the same concern. Actually, several concerns. First, being I’d hate to think I’d bought a disposable product for $75. My second concern—and perhaps it should less selfishly be my first—is the prospect of industrial waste, namely that discarded electrical components aren’t the best thing for the environment.

[static]

I have the ToneBone PZ-Pre from Radial and it works very nicely. Versatile, clean gain, features an FX loop I/O, balanced pre and post EQ output. The EQ is certainly useful!

[Rodrigo]

Does it look completely (safely) unopenable? Is it like “not recommended” that you service the battery yourself, or is it like “you’ll fucking break it if you open it up”.

[andrew]

has anyone used the marshmallows on a sound system (for processing, more specifically) ? that was kind of my motivation for ordering a red one just now - I’ve been using a homemade contact mic plugged into an interface preamp which has worked successfully, but I’ve still run into feedback issues depending on the venue/speaker/volume situation. I’m kinda hoping that a dedicated pre-amp might reduce feedback issues, though I’m not an expert on these things. sounds like I should at least expect much better sound quality and not have to EQ any hum

[Jonny]

This is why I’m looking at the Radial pz deluxe or ac driver since they both have a lot of ways to beat feedback and shape the sound.

[andrew]

oh but I’m sure I can build a digital equivalent !

I think @Rodrigo recommended HISSTools a while back

[static]

The correct gain staging will most certainly help with feedback issues, as will the mounting position of the microphone itself. Equalization is going to help some as well, depending on the venue.

[static]

Reading this comment reminded me about the phase invert function and how helpful that can be for getting rid of feedback with live performances.

[zebra]

i also use a pz-deluxe (for viola.) it’s very nice. fy i, would not expect the ground lift to help eliminate hum unless you are using the balanced (xlr) output.