PIEZO DISC HOW TO
PIEZO DISC FULL

These modern pickups are intentionally made microphonic to 'listen' the guitar and not only the strings. or modern Rare Earths, Baggs M1, Sunrise, etc. Old style magnetic microphonic pickups are the way to go for this. I also used this approach directly to a console instead of an amplifier, but always having high Z preamps preceding the console inputs for both pickups. A more acoustic-like, rich and open sound than going pure magnetic or pure piezo. Not a crazy experimental usage, but gives nice results. I plugged my archtops loaded with piezo contact mics on the top plate (no udersaddle) directly to them into one channel and a magnetic pickup to the channel. Old Ampeg amplifiers use to have rather high input impedances for the standards. Other need to see higher impedances to perform right. As I said before, some are intended for 1M Ohm inputs.

Anyone think 1Mohm isn't enough impedence? I'll eventually find out once I plug the thing in, but just trying to get the heads up.Īnyone think 1Mohm isn't enough impedence? I'll eventually find out once I plug the thing in, but just trying to get the heads up. My Mackie Onyx board has a 1Mohm input impedance on channels 1 & 2 (with the guitar button pressed in). I've been meaning to mess with piezos for a number of years now, and that thread triggered something in me - maybe it was all the DIY talk about mounting the PZM. Otherwise it'll sound harsh no matter how you EQ it. It has to be able to handle the ultra high impedance of the piezo. IME, the thing that matters most (next to the piezo placement on the vibrating surface) is the device it plugs into. You're talking about cymbals though so you may have a different result. and a dozen times in recording, where, in my own use it's not half as good as a mic. That said, I've used a piezo transducer many hundreds of times performing live, where for me it's been a godsend. You realize, no doubt, that a PZM mic (a microphone mounted on a flat surface to avoid reflections from that surface) is nothing like a piezo transducer, which picks up the vibration of the surface itself (except that they're both attached to a surface). I checked the manual, and the instrument buttons on channels 1 & 2 present a 1Mohm impedance. I did exactly what the article criticized, lol: hooked up a piezo to a 1'4' cable. Question: How do you mess with impedance? Didn't realize piezos were so extensively used!

PIEZO DISC FULL

If you cover the piezo in Plastidip you have yourself a hydrophone too - for some interesting FX - hit a cymbal and dip it in a bucket full of water while it's vibrating. ** And Yeah - no rules on mic placement or how you attach them to objects.

PIEZO DISC HOW TO

It explains why contact mics sound muffled/tinny etc.and how to get the best results out of them. I often record with contact/piezo mics, both on instruments and out in the field - I found this article/blog explaining the impedance issues most helpful. What experimental setup can you think of with a piezo disc? What's the best way to attach a piezo disc? Double-sided tape? Putty? Again with the cymbals AND other sheets of metals, run white noise through and try to make an IR (getting the 'reverb' of the cymbal/sheet).Attach a disc to a large ride cymbal, hang it in front of a loudspeaker, play a beat, and record.Here's some out-the-box things I'm looking to do (super experimental): Does anyone have any experience recording with piezo discs? I would love some tips, uses, experiences, etc. We're in the process of recording a Hip-Hop album, and I wanted to do all sorts of weird, unconventional nonsense. When I placed it on my throat? It came alive - albeit muffled, but that taught me these little discs are contact mics. I screamed in it while holding the disc, and you could hear almost nothing.

I ordered a bunch way back when from ebay, cut a 1/4' cable, wired the leads to the piezo, and tried to record. I don't have much experience with piezos, but what I do know is that they're contact mics - and also tweeters in old boom boxes. This thread about using a PZM mic for a grand piano inspired me to start this thread here about piezo discs and recording.

Piezo disc