The $8 microphone that every musician should own

[@F_I_J_I_W_A_T_E_R]

I have one of these glued to the bottom of a tin can, I break it out when I want to ruin discord calls.

[@djaydeved]

diabolical.

[@rlywtfdude]

Does it make you sound like an old-timey announcer? 😂

[@TastelessTrees]

you know, before I was unsure if I needed one of these. now I'm sold!

[@bluebirdtrh686]

You've convinced me.

[@EazyRed]

jesus LMAO

[@stvitalkid7981]

“Luckily I have a box of violin parts.” Something even someone as resourceful as Macgyver never had occasion to say.

[@DMSProduktions]

MMmm Mcgyver!

[@MadNoisy]

lol 🤘🤘

[@Biosynchro]

True. But MacGyver always had a chewing gum wrapper in his wallet.

[@garydiamondguitarist]

My reaction was "yeah, you seem like the kind of guy who would have boxes of spare instrument parts" 😂 experimental sonic artist that he is, I'd be disappointed if he didn't, quite frankly.

[@adorodrums]

that would be me if that were drums....

[@dustins.6833]

You just restored three old violins that are only meant for "decoration" purposes in a video showcasing an $8 mic? That came unexpected, haha - loved it.

[@garydiamondguitarist]

Just goes to show, it's the talent and creativity that count, not the gear. World is full of musicians trained by capitalism to assume lots of expensive gear is the ticket to sounding good. It's not: it is time, dedication, open-mindedness.

[@dooleyfan]

I was in a bar about 20 years ago and got introduced to this guy Bob, who appeared to be somehow involved in the music industry. I was just getting into home studio recording, and I asked him what mics he liked using, and he went on at length about trying anything and everything with any mic you have,including his favourite piezo mics. He said, mount them on the wall, mount them on a piece of plywood or plexiglass, put them in a ziplock bag and sink them in a jar of water, just let your imagination take hold. After our conversation, my buddy and I left the bar. Then my buddy informed me that I had been talking to Bob Wiseman, keyboard player for Blue Rodeo and producer for a number of bands.

[@KapilKhatter]

Bob’s one of my musical heroes

[@spacebroad2192]

And I ADORED the "collage" music section.

[@spencertatum897]

@spacebroad2192 I started writing a short rap to it... if course about physical contact.

[@4saken404]

I would love to know how people make these. I can arrange my sounds in a DAW or something but I have no idea how to get the video clips to match up. And it's not practical to use a video editor if for example you are using a separate video snippet for every percussion hit. I'm so cornfoosed. (Mainly because I am super new to all of this and have very little free time to try to figure it out on my own. And I am soooo far out of my depth watching videos like this.)

[@Anchorhillhartley]

Same here! I melted

[@ripjawsquad]

@@spacebroad2192 IT SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE APHEX TWIN

[@illford]

@@ripjawsquad it gave me pikmin vibes more than aphex twin

[@loejewis]

Damn that pitch shifted violin sounds like a full string section!

[@garydiamondguitarist]

With the octaver it genuinely sounds like perfectly in-tune cello accompaniment, which makes perfect sense when you think about it.

[@markhodgman6422]

I'm a drummer and have been experimenting with time based effects pedals on my snare drum for awhile. After a ton of research looking at and trying out preamps, DIs, adapters, etc. I finally realized I could just use a contact mic and go straight into a pedalboard without all the hassle and it sounds great.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

that’s really cool. do you attach the piezo to the drum head or to the sides?

[@RobloxLevelDude]

Have you listened to Lightning Bolt/Black Pus (same drummer) before? He does something similar but uses a contact microphone for his voice instead of his drums.

[@markhodgman6422]

@@DavidHilowitzMusic usually to the reso head with some gaff tape

[@nixdawegda]

That is such a good and easy way to do CRAZY stuff!

[@CatFish107]

​@markhodgman6422 great tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@xbhshk]

That's a lot of nifty top notch editing. As much as one would appreciate the sound design, I hope more people would appreciate the quality time spent on the video edit of your music. Beautiful work, thank you for sharing.

[@jmclen7]

Every now and then you click on a video with no expectations and it changes your life. I’ve often considered picking up a contact mic for some ideas I had, but I just never thought it would sound very good. This has been very eye-opening. Thank you.

[@brentogara]

As a violin repairman who keeps a contact mic on my bench, I loved everything about this video... except watching you try to insert a too-thick, unshaped soundpost with a pair of tweezers while the *soundpost setter* was sitting _right there_ ...awesome editing, playing, and soundboards too!

[@dvp39]

@@brentogara lol. It had to be intentional.

[@CatFish107]

Trap sprung: violin nerd spotted!!

[@VoyageMediaGroup]

Haha - i noticed the soundpost setter too! But they are quite difficult to use without practice ;)

[@TimBitten]

Violin C is the best one. Warm, soothing tones.

[@MusicalWizardryMarcoIannello]

Absolutely love how those 3 violins you found at the flea market sound

[@halloola3636]

But we hear more of how good a player he is, the main part is his well-cultivated touch.

[@MusicalWizardryMarcoIannello]

@@halloola3636 no doubt!

[@z1nk-]

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - Your mangled brain would like you to know there is a boxer called Contact Mike.

[@Yeppers_Peppers]

yeah 9:59 really felt like disco elysium

[@Guyfromnowhere2]

im so high what does this mean

[@luckyhunt7293]

@Guyfromnowhere2 reference to a game called Disco Elysium. In it, your character has massive amnesia and learns about the world through a series of different inner voices. Encyclopedia is one such voice that tells you random facts; often, the facts told are not helpful and only mildly related to whatever information you're trying to glean. The [Medium: Success] refers to the difficulty of the skill being checked (via rng dice roll similar to a tabletop rpg dice roll) and whether or not you succeeded or failed.

[@Guyfromnowhere2]

@ you are amazing thank you

[@CyberChrist]

That's Tyson's nickname.

[@dmusicsheks]

The way you salvage musical instruments is just great! Keep up the great work

[@danlindy9670]

Nothing is ever that easy, but it’s wonderful to hear you narrate your creative process so succinctly and melodically. Besides which, the sounds you end up with, whether deliberately or accidentally, are remarkable in their depth expressiveness. So, thanks.

[@mrksaccount123]

The production value in this video is through the roof!

[@andrew6889-p5c]

These videos are just perfect. I love that this started one place and ended up somewhere else, while telling me everything I need to know about each step along the way. So good. Thank you.

[@billsimpson1085]

There’s no unnecessary rambling on. Straight to the point and entertaining at the same time. We need to keep David a secret. If the BBC finds him they’ll hire him to be a narrator for documentaries!

[@ehxjsjd4553]

@@billsimpson1085 or to make the music for one.

[@andrew6889-p5c]

@ 100% agree. The level of editing and careful planning required to be so clear, succinct and interesting is impressive.

[@_XRMissie]

OMG the violin with contact mic only sounded unreal. That as a slow pad ensemble/unison would be incredible with a touch of distortion for the upper harmonics, pitching capabilities, it's so versatile and clean

[@muskatmusic3927]

Your channel and your ingenuity have inspired me with so many ideas...In many of my tracks, I used at least one of your instruments. David, I say thank you. You're an inspiration.

[@Mad7H]

Violin C sounds amazing to my ears. My mind was blown by your creativity, finding samples in such random stuff, the effects blended with dry track etc. Well done, sir!

[@Jim-iw1yd]

You're so creative it's off the scales, it's fantastic ! Inspiring.

[@RJ_Eckie]

Oh man there’s more things I love in this video than I should probably express in a single comment! What a gem. I’m so in love with the Solar 42. I was really hoping you had made some samples available from the first part of the video. Specifically the selzer water and the bowed bowl sounded sooo good to me!

[@stevesm2010]

The violin you played with just the contact mic sounded like a pristine 78 record :-) I do wish I had a flea market close to me. Great video as always David.

[@LoiteringReaper]

The contact mic on the violin can be a learning tool to teach violinists & luthers about what piece of a violin has the most effect on clear sound transmission.

[@kitonbass]

I clicked here expecting some kind of talking head video about the contact mic, maybe some experiments or showcases. But man, do I got something I wasn't expecting, but was needing. The inspiration from your video is crazy. The editing is catchy, the sound is gorgeous. This is not just the video, but more of short movie experience. I cannot buy plugins now, as self-employed student with nothing but big urge for music making. But I still subscribed, hope that helps you and your channel. Good luck!

[@charlienyc1]

There are many free plugins and lists of them out there!

[@Noises]

1:47 Is it strange that all I hear is the sound of automated youtube copyright trollocs unironically claiming that this is their song?

[@sonijam]

I love the sound of the contact mic on the violin, dry. It sounds so close and personal, like I'm in the room as you play.

[@rustyaxelrod]

Interesting. I’ve played guitar since childhood and enjoy all manner of stringed instruments. Recently, at 63yo, I grew tired of “ playing out” so I’ve purchased a computer an necessary accessories to record. This is a whole new world for me and the possibilities seem overwhelming just in the DAW. Its cool to see someone navigate the sea of possibilities with a vision. I need to learn that skill. 👍

[@fretworkband3204]

@@rustyaxelrod Same here. One thing that seems to make the transition a little easier is to mix analog into digital. I use a Tascam DP-008EX 8 track recorder and do a partial mixdown before transferring to my laptop DAW. Currently using Audacity but will eventually switch to Reaper, the DAW he uses. Anyway, it works for me.

[@jondnz]

"Why the hell would I want that?" ***Watches for a minute*** "OMG I want one"

[@fenech97]

And , what an adventure? There's so much to learn from this video, Violin repair, using different Mikes, using things to make sounds and record them , sampling them etc. Thanks for sharing.

[@zodak9999b]

Thank you for rescuing those old violins from being just wall decorations.

[@johannkeaton1452]

Your videos sound so gorgeous. Not just the music but the sound mixing, voice over, everything.

[@flutechannel]

Even on a flute it can save you in a pinch! Fantastic video David!

[@RaccoonHenry]

this might be the best video on this channel!! the distracted collage music turned out really cool!!

[@AndreaDeAndrei]

Man, you're a true ispiration. I've seen many of your videos in the last years, since I started looking for something new to play with and stumbled across your Decent Sampler libraries. With touch, creativity, passion, every one of your videos and libraries are love letters to music, and I feel that all of this can help me never give up on music, never give experimenting and trying out new things. It's great to have a 'friend' like you here on KZbin. Thanks.

[@andycordy5190]

I love the way you get distracted. As well as displaying your wonderful sample libraries and your meticulous attention to detail, the soundtrack itself displays some lovey work. I loved the Cocteau Twins cue at around 6' 45", when you're fixing up the first of your purchases.

[@bogotta]

The C02 detector ran out a month ago, and has just been sitting on my desk pissing me off. It took maybe 10 minuets to get the piezo out and wire it to my field recorder. It's a well made piezo and works real good. David, thank you. And thanks again for Decent Sampler.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

that’s fascinating! does the CO2 detector use the piezo for CO2 detection? or is it using that as sort of a speaker?

[@bogotta]

@@DavidHilowitzMusic 3 prong piezo was the buzzer alarm. Smoke detectors have them also.

[@oumarh.gassama8063]

I am baffled by your creativity in all ways. Thank you so much for recording this video. You are awesome.

[@juanreina4554]

Dam this was so good, and I love how your videos are legit an adventure and have inspired me to work on my own sound design at some point. Keep doing what you're doing, and catch you in the next one!

[@bobboulden]

Maybe Pink Floyd would have finished that experimental noise album if they'd had this video to help them 😅

[@le_th_]

I like the collage music. How wonderful that you turned 3 violins back into genuine instruments! What an amazing find, and the timbre of each instrument is actually beautiful. Man, you are not only a musician, you're a creative wizard.

[@Mintyseden]

The smoothest sales transition ever. Wonderful video, totally creative inspiring. Thank you

[@superburrito5635]

1:58 that collage song is awesome 🎉 Definitely going to grab a few of these to use in my music

[@Shift18]

This was one of the most inspiring videos I've seen in a very long time. I have so many ideas now

[@joechapman8208]

I love that you fixed the violins as part of all this! You should go back and give a link to this video to the woman who sold them to you - I'm sure she'd love to see it.

[@tomswagner]

Awesome! I also experimented with contact mics on my drums! I put Kick and Snare through lots of echos and fuzz pedals and it was the most intense hip hop beat I've ever heard haha great video as always David!

[@scottysatori]

This just gets better and Better. You are Amazing David

[@jrgutierrez316]

Another amazing video. You always manage to inspire me to go and play and write new music. Thank you. I was playing around with decent sampler the other and I'm hooked. Using the free stuff for now. Thanks again.

[@Jeronimo365]

Thanks man, in a world gone mad this kind of innocent fun and exploration is a real tonic. 🙏

[@TheHmm43]

This is the best video on KZbin I've seen this month. Subscribing.

[@KnapfordMaster98]

10:48 holy crap that sounds incredible.

[@soft-llama1530]

sounds like I'm about to fight a boss in elden ring

[@grundformen]

Your videos are always so full of joy, thank you.

[@halloola3636]

Wow! This is very nerdy, but highly musical and entertaining. Thank you very much!

[@DRMegaone]

Every time I watch one of David Hilowitz videos, I'm likely to buy something. Something about the quality and genuine attitude toward the passion projects he works on that gives reassurance the product is well worth it. Cheers to you sir.

[@SyntheticFuture]

There's no reason at all for that transition at 9:44 to go so hard :o That's seriously cool. Oh and the rest of the video was nice as well :D

[@garryhughes3837]

So glad I lucked into this video! Very inspiring and now I know what to do with those two old contact mics that have been sitting in a box for the last twenty years. Plug 'em into my pedal board and have some fun. Thanks David.

[@Jiyoon02]

I'm no musician, but I play fingerstyle acoustic guitar, which often involves using the guitar body as a percussion. My pickup system has a piezo mic component to pick that percussioning up.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

A piezo submerged in transmission oil of a specific velocity , and calibrated on a vibration table consisting of a 12" speaker driver minus the cone...and you have an electronic balancing pickup. My dad helped pioneer this field in Columbus, Ohio in the 1960's- 80's. They need demagnetized and recalibrated on occasion.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

Wow, that's fascinating!

[@paulj0557tonehead]

@@DavidHilowitzMusic The other components were an integrated strobe light and an X/Y plotter, or some portable units just used a sensitive VU meter and a strobe. Bees wax could be placed on the rotating object needing balanced. Leslie Speakers ( Electromusic) was a client. Funny, we had a Hammond L112 tone wheel organ at home, but it never dawned on dad to bring home a Leslie to try out. Leslies can be overrated. I'm a musician and I had an A100 Hammond (a B3 with internal amps/ speakers/ reverb) for a couple years before scoring a '59 Leslie 122 for a couple hundred dollars. Honestly a Hammond A100 with it's sweet reverb along with the Vibrato/ Chorus, you can play anything! Case and point: ytb: *Hammond A100 demo from Norwegian TV in 1962 - Eddie Layton* (look for my comment, a few links in it) Of course the Leslie is great for jazz and it's original intended purpose- Theatre Organ. Check out video- *Legendary Theatre Organists* (a great 1937 film short of the new Hammond tone wheel organ is at the 41min mark with the intro) You'll like the NSHOS site, North Suburban Hammond Organ Society (S is now for 'Service). While there check out the TECH ARTICLES- B3, X-66, and my favorite, the Wurlitzer 4600 electrostatic continuous free reed organ. Btw, the 4600 and it's 4410 spinet version were the fiirst ever organs with Sustain. It became the standard way to do it. Each key has it's own capacitor/resistor bleeder network.

[@jacobtallen]

2:10 reminds me of the intro of packt like sardines in a crushd tin box by radiohead

[@BackspinZX]

I bought one via my old job (used to work at the local Sam Ash) fir use with my little wooden Meinl kalimba, and it's been very useful ever since!

[@ggandthemix]

Amazing, David. Thanks for sharing your process... again.

[@bobrv8]

I've recoded a ton of sounds with contact mics but not a clip-on - thanks for the inspiration David and you have such a unique channel. Oh and I love Refractions 🙂

[@MartinFilip-w3v]

Yes, this is excactly a tool i am thinking to purchase during last days... Thank you for an inspiration in the right moment.

[@CreativeRebel]

This video is a masterclass in creativity in music and sound. Truly inspiring, thanks! ✨

[@SalemBatayeh]

I fall in love with every video you make. you are an artist with these videos. look into writing a book or creating a full length film/doc of this sort of stuff.

[@violahero4life]

Great video! Love the transition from contact mic --> violin, as a fellow strings player (amateur violist here ^_^) I initially wanted to pick up a piezo mic as a cheap way to get the sound of my viola into my DAW, but it seems that, at the very least, a dynamic mic is required for a decent sound. Seeing the potential for a combination setup (i.e., dynamic mic + piezo mic) similar to what you achieved with the ribbon mic gives me determination! Thanks for another inspiring video, and THANK you and Cameron for the string library!

[@RobertWildling]

Wow! I am blown away! That is such a great video! Thanks so much!

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

Shared this with my son who is a musician and YTber - Thanks!

[@kzustang]

Fantastic video, David. Extremely inspiring and just plain beautiful explanations. Just totally mesmerizing. I am alwasy trying to find more ways to compose and change the way I make music. Thank you for sharing!!

[@prcr]

The video editing for this video is absolutely insane! 🤯 Thanks for such great AND beautiful content.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

Thanks so much!!

[@realraven2000]

9:00 that contact mic on the bridge: not too shabby, lots of midrange warmth. useful!

[@morningcolossus]

every video you post brings me pure unbridled inspiration to create something ⭐️

[@rainstormdesign]

This channel and these videos are incredible

[@Slushee]

1:14 That sound is amazing, I must get a contact microphone, now

[@tktrips9]

Wow! Very Cool!!! Thanks for expanding possibility of sound!

[@Bloor005]

This is a piezo contact. Technically not a microphone but more broadly a sensor. The only issue to be aware of with piezos is a) how brittle they are, b) they knock out/cant capture a broad part of the midrange, and c) they can wear down as the electrical properties of the crystal means they lose the ability to generate those tiny voltages (much like solar panels over years).

[@GizzyDillespee]

When I used to make mbira, I'd use an old iron such as the rusty thing in the midst of the shiny metal just after 5:26 (pause when it appears, or you'll miss it). I turned it upside down and used it as my anvil, to hammer out my tines against its flat bottom. Got it real cheap at a tag sale or flea market, which is where I bought my tines materials and wood, too.

[@ringsystemmusic]

More authentic than the cheap Chinese crap at least.

[@NEKRWSPHERE]

To this day for recordings of voice and analog drums as well as of acoustic analog instruments, - I use a detachable camera microphone from a Panasonic camcorder. It has a coiled cord with a 90-degree 3.5mm male stereo plug, and it comes with a black foam cap, and that cap seems to be sufficient in filtering air blowing into the microphone. I tried other microphones, professional and not-so-professional like Blue Yeti USB microphone, but none had both the sound clarity and the universality of that little detachable microphone. The only caveat it has is it requires a single AAA battery, and I lost the cover for the battery port.

[@andysaiia]

Brilliant! This is so well demonstrated. Thank you!

[@Mopsie]

I'd love to see more of this String Flows Library

[@greatheightsu]

I could listen to your collage music all day.

[@VoyageMediaGroup]

Loved this video! As a violinist, i recommend that you learn arm vibrato, it will help your sound very quickly.

[@arrowsmith___]

This video is great! The balloon reminded me of “Telephone and rubber band” which used a contact mic on a rubber band across a chair to make the bass! Revolutionary for 1981

[@introvert__music]

makes me think of hands & feet, part of the film score for punch-drunk love. absolutely love that style and i'm definitely adding this to my music-making process.

[@pthelo]

Wow! Your collage music was tons of fun. Thanks for sharing, David! Also, flea markets in your area are MUCH cooler than ones here on Long Island.

[@tzz615]

What an interesting set of sounds from the various objects at the start!

[@VincentJona]

The one Bridge of one Violin said Dresden which is a City in Germany

[@hoodiedee4828]

Thank you for all your time and information along with great Ideas. Have a blessed day and don't forget to Enjoy Life.

[@NewHopeAudio]

A piezo has been on my wish list prior to this but this is perfect. Thanks for sharing!

[@tskolits]

Real cool man! Especially love the piezo in water sound design sounds!

[@kkarhiiv95]

I was just in the store looking for contact mic to attach to a small metal box for rythmic noise stuff, but they didnt have one. None of the stores did. Now this video drops. Haha.

Absolutely fabulous, I have enjoyed a lot this video. Well done !

[@Red_Martin]

I think this kind of experimenting with sounds got lost nowadays. Really appreciate your creative work and inspires! And the violins part shows again that the sound comes as an underrated part from the players hands and feel.

[@andrewfernie4932]

David, this was fantastic. I'm not sure it's stuff I'd want to do - but I'm glad someone is!

[@martinheuschober4341]

I am mesmerized with the collage

[@Javid_74]

You are a complete wizard. I've recently started my career and foray into composing and sound design, and I love the way you think so outside the box but still deliver usable tools! Do you perhaps have any teaching content released on the thought process behind having these ideas for really diverse sound? I'm sure the answer is simply experience... but I better ask! Awesome stuff again.

[@TheMrMarkW]

Using ambient samples from random objects to make music was what Depeche Mode did to make Black Celebration - so if you listen to ‘Stripped’ it has the slowed down sound of a motorcycle engine as the percussion, and the ‘car starting’ sample was of Dave Gahan’s own Porsche.

[@9VDC]

Great video, thanks so much for your erfforts. Just bought Refractions, amazing tool!

[@terryhayward7905]

I have used a Sennheiser lapel mic clipped to the bridge for live stage work, and it works really well.

[@HP_2435]

Wow - those violins turned out to sound better than they looked. As a violinist who likes messing around with sound this video was awesome - thank you