Amplifying Your Acoustic Violin - Mic vs Pickup

Amplifying Your Acoustic Violin - Mics vs Pickups
In this video, we talk about the difference between microphones and pickups for acoustic violins, how they work, and why you might want one over another in a given situation.
We talk about the difference between active and passive pickups and mics. We demonstrate how a number of mics and pickups are installed.
We play a number of mics and pickups and provide direct audio comparisons so you can hear how they sound.
0:00 - Intro
3:48 - Difference between a mic and a pickup
4:40 - How a violin generates sound
9:00 - Natural vs Isolation
13:48 - Feedback
16:44 - Piezo pickup
20:19 - Permanent vs removable pickup
21:23 - Permanent pickup
21:57 - Removable pickup
25:07 - Discuss Barcus Berry
27:04 - Demonstrate Barcus Berry
30:24 - Discuss Kremona
31:56 - Demonstrate Kremona
36:09 - Discuss The Band
37:52 - Demonstrate The Band
39:33 - "My pickup changes the sound of my instrument"
41:56 - Discuss iSolo mic
43:53 - Demonstrate iSolo mic
47:25 - Discuss Provider Series mic
50:40 - Demonstrate Provider Series mic
52:48 - Q&A

[@MySetDancer1]

Initially I thought this was unnecessarily tedious, but I eventually realized that there is so much more to this subject than I ever dreamed of. I am grateful that I was exposed to so many subtle issues. Of course, "everything depends . . ." so I am no closer to a decision than when I started watching but at least I have a lot of new material to think about. So thanks for the excellent presentation. I may even watch again!

[@coreymerchant7289]

The best explanation on this subject I have found. Thanks.

[@jackloganbill605]

best violin pickup video, thanks for the time and effort to put this together!!!!

[@violacharlie]

Totally comprehensive and awesome! Well done Matt

[@gracebond6052]

Fantastic video. Thank you for explaining this so thoroughly 👍

[@kennethsparks4824]

I am only 10 minutes in and it is clear that this man is very well educated, both in his knowledge of the violin and the physics of sound/music. This is helpful for me bc I know very little about the violin or how to play an instrument, but I do understand a bit about physics. So, what I am saying is that Matt/Electric Violin Shop has indeed earned my subscription. Thank you for your comprehensive and simplistic teaching methods. Well done! :)

[@ajitsank]

Awesome Matt...The MattTalks are always enlighting.

[@seanmalroy]

excellent! informative, funny, and complete! I think I'm going to give my fishman piezo one more try now....

[@carlweiderick]

Very informative. Thanks!

[@thatlittlevoice8292]

This guy knows his stuff and explains the principles and methodologies better than most. I have been to countless lectures at scientific conferences over the years. They have nothing on this.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Oh wow! Thanks so much!

[@kennethsparks4824]

Damn, I appreciate Matt's approach toward music as an engineer. Everything makes SOOO much more sense. I want to reiterate my earlier comment, and that is THANK YOU MATT!!!

[@Skripofonia]

Very good explanation, thank you!!!

[@Jeinel23]

Awesome video. We are trying to add violins at our church, it’s the first time ever so I was very lost about how to amplify the violin. Very helpful. Thank you!

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Awesome! Glad you found it helpful.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Electric Violins might work

[@chaslaurie]

Very informative. Entertaining as well.

[@victoradiel]

Thanks so much for share your knowledge about this. It's amazing! In my church we play a violin and a cello with 2 dpa mics, great sound, but i feel like they get much noise and have a little hum (not from wire). But, thanks again, your videos are great!

[@toluwaborionitiju9760]

Now I understand Thank you for this

[@alexizumi]

Awesome! Thanks

[@bananas_uma]

とても参考になりました！ありがとうございます

[@johnsharpe734]

I've been using and still use an old RSA Truevoice acoustic guitar pickup on the underbelly (2 elastic bands hold it) for 30+ years and it gives a really great sound. I've tried E- violins..mics etc and they can't 'hold a candle' to what sound I can achieve. E-fiddles a tend to be nasal like. It's not about saving money. RSA Truvoice are extinct unfortunately. So I'm hanging on to mine. I play jazz/folk etc and I get lots of positive comments. Just bought a Boss wireless which is great too...John (UK)

[@Jeff034]

Very good - thank you!!

[@nikoginter4018]

Great content, thank you.

[@RomanDiyanovGuitar]

Very usefull. Thank you.

[@Richard-Freeman]

13:48 - Feedback - That was an exceptional way to explain impedance! Wow! thank you for taking the time to do these videos. I'm thinking of taking up viola. I'm 41 and hoping it's not too late.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Thanks! It's not EXACTLY perfect - an electrical engineer would likely have some minor corrections - but it's close enough for us mere mortals.

[@dikwak74]

This is the answer I wanted. And I've found best solution for my purpose. 말이 너무 빨라서 어려운 부분이 있었지만, 충분히 유익한 영상이었습니다. 감사합니다. !!!! :)

[@FernanMas]

Thanks, very much

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

A Piezo Pickup (aka Contact Mic) picks up the vibrations from what it's attached to & they're common in Electric Violins.

[@JanetteGailFrancis]

I suppose you've heard it often; I was so taken by your remarkable resemblance to Liam Neeson. Somewhere in your past you must be related. My favourite Liam Neeson film is his Rob Roy MacGregor. You also play violin rather well. Thank you.

[@shupesmerga4694]

Great video! Learned a lot from this video, especially about chickens. 🤣 but seriously, I got more understanding of projection that's why I could never sound like the recording of a pro because of what the mic hears during the recording is different from what my ear hears during practice.

[@BelabaharrMusic]

Very good explanation brother , my instrument is very softer than the violin , Gone through many mics but not satisfied yet , if you can help me on this .My instrument has skin & sympathetic strings also .I need fully natural sound which Condenser does best .Can you please suggest me

[@Jen-lb1ze]

Super helpful video! Is there a lesser-expensive version of the Provider series mic that you would recommend for a hobbiest? Not a pro - I play for my church, but thanks to the 'rona - I'm now playing both to a small in-house crowd and on livestream. The current setup is super tinny (I am not mic'd but am being picked up by the singer and piano mics, and another tiny mic on one of the cameras) - I've been trying to understand how to adjust the sound system so you hear the sound from the violin more fully (not to overwhelm the others, just so it doesn't sound like a $50 shoe box with steel strings)...What would you recommend? (sorry for the long comment)

[@electricviolinshopaccount2045]

There are a number of clip on mics that might be worth a try. We haven't really experimented with any of the cheaper microphones, but they'd almost certainly be better than what you've got.

[@DrSkitteh]

Best acoustic review lesson ever! Thank you! ^^ Btw, I've been in chicken parties as well xD

[@amindaou5711]

Which pro violin mic do you advise me to use with (acoustic violin 🎻) to hear a real pure sound ? Thanks

[@jlars972]

What a great video! This fiddler learned more in the last hour than from years of playing/performing. I dont perform anymore but when sound support was needed, it was almost always an SM-57 on a stand and into a PA. Dont laugh😊. Second, I thought that stick-on mike sounded much better than the very last mike. And lastly, knowing this is an old thread, maybe not monitored and definitely off topic: That violin you were using sounds pretty damn good to me. I'm curious what it is, how old is it and if it is your personal instrument. Did I say it sounds great? Oh, and a wonderful varnish on it too - really a beautiful violin. Thanks in advance Matt for any reply and of course, for this really good, knowledgeable video. Anyway, I'm off to explore your EVS website - you're a real credit to your shop and music in general.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

That is my personal fiddle. We don't know anything about it except that it's around 1900 and from somewhere in Europe. It was the best violin my parents could afford when it was time to get me a full sized instrument. No label. No papers.

[@waynechurchill7212]

I like the pick on the back of volin it not Scratchy it’s much cleaner less sound off the violent bowl just my opinion great videos

[@juliahakeem5040]

Your videos are amazing especially now when we cannot try them out in person! I was hoping to buy your pick up my violin package on your website, but was wondering if you had any amp recommendations that you can plug two instruments (two violins or a guitar and violin) into with bluetooth for backtrack songs? I understand the fishman mini loudbox has a preamp with bluetooth with an instrument channel and microphone channel, but could you put a second instrument into the microphone channel and if so, how would that work? Also, is the fishman mini loudbox enough watts to play at a wedding with people talking in the background or would I need more? In terms of budget, I'm trying not to spend more than $400 on an amplifier as it is just a hobby.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Ooh. That's a tall order. The Loudbox Mini is a fantastic amp. How to plug two instruments into it? The instrument channel is obvious. For the mic channel, just go into a DI (or a preamp) first, then out of the DI with an XLR cable and into the mic channel. Will it be loud enough for a wedding with people talking? Indoors or out? How big of a wedding? 50 people indoors? Maybe. 100 people outdoors? Probably not. Of course, if you're already playing an acoustic instrument, then people can hear your instrument AND the amp, so that helps. And how loud do you want to be? Audible or overpowering? (I personally like to be able to cause people to cower in terror, but that's just me.) With a limited budget, you pretty much get to choose between sound quality and sound power. I think you'll do well by choosing quality. If people want to hear you better, they can hush. It's a lot better than being loud and not sounding good. If you buy the Mini now and find it's not enough, you can always buy a second Mini later on and add it to your collection for larger gigs. It scales nicely. (You could send the output of one Mini to the input of a second one and have double the power.) Hope that helps! -matt

[@jobrycimafrancacrossovervi1477]

Awesome video! It was very informative. Do you think the roland microcube is a good violin amplifier?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Thanks, Jobry! We much prefer the tone and features of Roland Mobile Cube over the Micro Cube in the same size/price range. Check it out: www.electricviolinshop.com/roland-mobile-cube.html

[@paulamiller4872]

Great educational video. Thanks for posting. I play acoustic violin in our band at church. We have a piano, keyboard, organ, bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums and congas, which are right behind me. Based on your information, I'm thinking a pick up is going to be better for my violin than a mic because of all the other instruments playing around me. Correct?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Almost definitely.

[@OdedViolin]

Thanks for this great video! You said you will address the issue of improving the sound when using a pickup, but you eventually didn't. Can you please elaborate on that? I am using a Fishman 200 on my acoustic, and I want to improve the thin, shrieky sound. What do you recommend? Preamp? EQ? LR Baggs DI? A better pickup? Thanks.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

I think this video might help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqbHknRra7OWa5o

[@khalilelbaba4931]

first thank you so much for all the ground you covered.second i have a barcus berry pick up like the one u attached to your instrument. my question is which preamp brand would you recommend while using this same pick up?

[@samuelafonso4694]

The burcus berry preamp is available.. I use one

[@pirateracingnz9846]

Am super new to music. Have picked up a six string acoustic electric with built in piezo which uses 9v battery. Do I treat this the same with effects and amp or do I still need a pre amp. Plan to switch between sea shanties and heavy deep rock. Great channel!

[@ElectricViolinShop]

The way to know is to plug it into your rig and see if it sounds good. If not, then, yeah, you need a preamp.

[@marymorgan3621]

What do you think of the Meyer feather mic? Is it better to use a cordless mic or plug in mic? I'm on stage playing live celtic music or music from secret garden. I have an excellent acoustic violin.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

I haven't spent much time with that mic. Honestly, the best way to know is to plug it into your system and try it on a gig. You'll know right away if it's the mic for you.

[@ThiagoWolf]

How should we better deal with the instrument feedback while using a pickup? Is there any kind of damper like those for acoustic guitar holes?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXiZoH6PjdN5obM

[@ThiagoWolf]

Electric Violin Shop Thank you very much for replying! I did watch this video sometime ago but didn’t have dealt with feedback issues. But now I understood all advices and gonna put them into practice! Thank you for the amazing content!

[@deborahdey2003]

That I solo sounded pretty good . What does the receiver look like ???

[@electricviolinshopaccount2045]

www.electricviolinshop.com/isolo-wireless-instrument-microphone-stage-gold.html

[@kamikan22]

more info about having pre amp on pickups? is it obligatory if you cant trust the sound engineers? for busking should I get one? or an amp is enough? also are there amps that work better with acustic violin?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

There's a video for that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqbHknRra7OWa5o

[@scottyesch]

Great illustration of different violin amplification options. I've honestly been against piezo options for violin, because they generally sound so artificial, even the expensive ones. My friend's band has a violinist that uses a solid body violin, and despite her good technique, her tone is not very good. Not her fault, I think it's the piezos in her solid body violin. Useful in a loud concert, but it sounds very little like the violin we all know.

[@hiromiprabowo9461]

Piezo pick up:The good point:1.Easy to use just plug the cable to amp or wireless transmitter. 2.The sound is like electric violin and thick sound. The weak point:1.The sound is not natural. Microphone with clamp:The good point:1.Have a natural sound. The weak point:1.Take time to install to the violin. 2.Too sensitive, sometime the sound will be a feedback noise when you play near the huge speaker. I prefer the piezo pick up, because I like electric violin, hahaha🤣🤣🤣

[@saruccettaramilli6794]

Hello I'm Sara.I play violin just for hobby and fun but in my music school i play in a rock band also. The band is really noisy because they're so much (two drums, 2 electric guitars, elecrtic bass, and the singer) and i have the amplification problem. I tryed to play with the electric violin but it was a problem because the external emission i wasn't able to sense any sound of my performance. Other instrument were too strong. So I think it would be better to play with my acustic one. Do you think that a piezo pik up coud be the best solution? Can you give me an advise? Thank you Sara

[@ElectricViolinShop]

It sounds like you need a bigger amp

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The Piezo Pickup will work better, and fun fact Acoustic-Electric and Electric bowed instruments use a Piezo pickup (aka Contact Mic).

[@djDimaTrusH]

Hello, Do you have any pick ups or microphones that are of Japanese makers?

[@martaulinaelisabet5803]

whether the pic up should stick to the violin

[@victoredikan9538]

Funny guy 😂... thanks

[@SickMetalAddict]

I was hoping to see how you would EQ a pickup to sound more like a natural violin, or even better, how you could get an electric violin to sound more natural. Do you have a video on that topic?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

We actually have a two-part video on the topic of EQ in our 'From Classical To Radical' video series, which you can find here: kzbin.info/aero/PLl1EomZB2NA_-svI7_AtdhUF9sloMnGBP The first video explains a lot of background info it's helpful to understand about frequency, while the second video talks more about how to apply it to your violin signal for improved tone.

[@SickMetalAddict]

@@ElectricViolinShop Oh sweet, thank you very much for the reply and the efforts you guys put. Keep rocking on :)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@ElectricViolinShop Electric Violins have a Piezo Pickup aka Contact Mic

[@kennethsmith3719]

Not satisfied with the tone from my violin recordings. I cannot get the tone or sound from my violin in my home studio recordings using a TASCAM DP03 8 track recorder. I am using a Barcus Berry pickup 1320 built in to the bridge. I have tried using my Roland Chorus AC60 with the Piezo setting with delay, reverb, chorus; using a Nashville 100 and Boss DD-3 Digital Delay; even my Austin 400 amp with delay; a Sure vocal mic, a AudioTechnica condenser mic into the recorder. My next plan is to go from the violin through the Digital Delay then into the recorder. Have you got any ideas, advice that can help me get the sound like I hear on professional recordings.

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Recording an acoustic violin with a pickup?

[@kennethsmith3719]

yes Barcus Berry 1320 as I stated previously.@@ElectricViolinShop

[@danpayne9735]

What about feed back on a solid body violin using pickups?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

You've got to work REALLY hard to make a solid-body feed back.

[@playerviolin1815]

I use" the band pick up". When attaching the pick up, it doesn't hurt my violin.

[@lindalough4587]

How noisy is too noisy for microphone? What was the name of that microphone?

[@barbaradesir9855]

Are there any good wireless options

[@ElectricViolinShop]

The iSolo mic is already wireless. For many of the other pickups, you can use a regular instrument wireless system. Pickups and wireless units are almost always separate units. So you'll buy a pickup and you'll buy a wireless system.

[@vincentwayne2788]

What’s the best pick up ?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

It's like asking what the best pair of shoes is. The answer is going to be different for each person.

[@ansonfrancis1478]

Can I use an Active DI instead of preamp?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

Yes. It depends on what functions you need. A combination preamp/DI box will have more tone-sculpting features, anti-feedback features, possibly even a boost switch and mute, whereas most DI boxes are a little more bare bones, but they will lower impedance and result in a cleaner, more usable signal that is sound board-ready.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@ElectricViolinShop A Pickup will have less feedback than a Mic big plus, that's why you also have Acoustic-Electric bowed instruments, which are basically Acoustic bowed instruments with pickups added to them.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Electric Violin Shop With Acoustic-Electric instrument they usually make them a bit less resonant.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@UC6W4QkBDKjzTrCNG3pJYIKw A pickup will give you less feedback, big plus & allows you to also use effects like distortion.

[@TheCharlesfastiggi]

Why have the Glaser violins increased in price?

[@Ramsey.001]

Whats the last mic name

[@ElectricViolinShop]

That's the Provider Sereis PS-IMK, availabler here: www.electricviolinshop.com/provider-series-ps-imk-acoustic-instrument-microphone.html

[@santosp.martinez1436]

Where’s that?

[@wwewesty]

What’s the story with DPA? Why haven’t they been nice people?

[@sandraandpaul]

passive Vs active :-))))

[@curiousgeorge555]

"We're talking violins not jackhammers". lol!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I'm getting a 5 String Cello so I can be the Bobby Hicks of Cello.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I just ordered my 1st 5 String Cello & it should be on its way any minute.

[@deborahdey2003]

Dude I just want my violin louder for Josh Grobin . I don't care how it works. LOL

[@ElectricViolinShop]

YOU RAISE ME UUUUUUUP!!!!!

[@DivaDeb1234]

I bought Isolo choice and an amp. It works great. Now I want to know how to make a nice recording. Seems impossible to learn.

[@heiditaylor6206]

@@ElectricViolinShop 😆

[@ASIFHUSSAINMUZIK]

Knavv3 has too much highs by default.

[@curiousgeorge555]

Watched quite a few of your vid's. ...get the feeling you're not very fond of drummers, haha...

[@ElectricViolinShop]

On the contrary. I love working with drummers. They're just really loud.

[@johnnyparker9928]

Can you wrap the "Band" around your neck instead of singing through a mike😊.

[@user-fx7mu6fi9z]

mic better

[@yosef2328]

Damn, instead of talking a lot, already say which pickup is best for the violin from your experience? And which microphone is best for the violin?

[@ElectricViolinShop]

I mean, I could also tell you which shoes to wear and what to put on your pizza, too. Or do you have your own opinions on that? My job is to educate and then let you decide for yourself.

[@songoftheblackunicorn666]

Oooooh now ya made me mad I played for a st Simons island wedding and in fact all of my weddings without amplification. I have good clear sound and intonation without. So now I need to go listen to someone else because you obviously don't understand traditional violin or fiddle.