Hammered Dulcimer: Difference between revisions

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'''Plugging a Hammered Dulcimer into the L1 Model I Power Stand'''

For those of us who love acoustic instruments plugged in, yet have no pre-set waiting to greet us in the Model I list, plugging direct into the Model I may pose a special challenge. Such is the case with ''hammered dulcimer (HD)'' with built-in pickup. The HD plugged direct amplifies not only the dulcet notes, considerable ring, and harmonic range, but the 'thunk', i.e. percussive noise of the hammers as well.

For those of us who love acoustic instruments plugged in, yet have no pre-set waiting to greet us in the {{Model I}} list, plugging direct into the {{Model I nl}} may pose a special challenge. Such is the case with ''hammered dulcimer (HD)'' with built-in pickup. The HD plugged direct amplifies not only the dulcet notes, considerable ring, and harmonic range, but the 'thunk', i.e. percussive noise of the hammers as well.

While a hint of 'thunk' is natural to the instrument, a persistent, atonal 'THOK THOK' can rather get on one's nerves. Also, in the spirit of sound reinforcement, we want to make the most of the airy, ethereal qualities of a fine instrument of wood and steel.

Short of a Model I or T1 preset to address the issue, this article presents an outboard gear solution that has worked for several years now for our band, an acoustic Celtic trio. Since our HD player also plays fiddle with an attached ~~mic~~, we applied the same set of gear to that as well.

Short of a {{Model I nl}} or {{T1}} preset to address the issue, this article presents an outboard gear solution that has worked for several years now for our band, an acoustic Celtic trio. Since our HD player also plays fiddle with an attached microphone, we applied the same set of gear to that as well.

In a 4 space SKB x-rack (shallow), I put in top-down order:

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* Furman power conditioner

In back (inside the box), the preamp's dual audio outs (one per side, i.e., one out for the fiddle, one for the HD) are plugged into the inputs of the dual EQ, whose outputs are in turn plugged into the inputs of the dual compressor/limiter, whose outputs go direct to Channels 3 and 4 on the L1 Model 1 power stand. The three units' power cords are plugged into the Furman, so there is but one power cord to plug in to our band power strip (next to to the L1's, of course).

In back (inside the box), the preamp's dual audio outs (one per side, i.e., one out for the fiddle, one for the HD) are plugged into the inputs of the dual EQ, whose outputs are in turn plugged into the inputs of the dual compressor/limiter, whose outputs go direct to Channels 3 and 4 on the {{Model I nl}} power stand. The three units' power cords are plugged into the Furman, so there is but one power cord to plug in to our band power strip (next to to the L1®'s, of course).

Plugging in and gain/output:

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 '''Plugging a Hammered Dulcimer into the L1 Model I Power Stand'''
-For those of us who love acoustic instruments plugged in, yet have no pre-set waiting to greet us in the Model I list, plugging direct into the Model I may pose a special challenge.  Such is the case with ''hammered dulcimer (HD)'' with built-in pickup. The HD plugged direct amplifies not only the dulcet notes, considerable ring, and harmonic range, but the 'thunk', i.e. percussive noise of the hammers as well.
+For those of us who love acoustic instruments plugged in, yet have no pre-set waiting to greet us in the {{Model I}} list, plugging direct into the {{Model I nl}} may pose a special challenge.  Such is the case with ''hammered dulcimer (HD)'' with built-in pickup. The HD plugged direct amplifies not only the dulcet notes, considerable ring, and harmonic range, but the 'thunk', i.e. percussive noise of the hammers as well.
 While a hint of 'thunk' is natural to the instrument, a persistent, atonal 'THOK THOK' can rather get on one's nerves. Also, in the spirit of sound reinforcement, we want to make the most of the airy, ethereal qualities of a fine instrument of wood and steel.
-Short of a Model I or T1 preset to address the issue, this article presents an outboard gear solution that has worked for several years now for our band, an acoustic Celtic trio.  Since our HD player also plays fiddle with an attached mic, we applied the same set of gear to that as well.
+Short of a {{Model I nl}} or {{T1}} preset to address the issue, this article presents an outboard gear solution that has worked for several years now for our band, an acoustic Celtic trio.  Since our HD player also plays fiddle with an attached microphone, we applied the same set of gear to that as well.
 In a 4 space SKB x-rack (shallow), I put in top-down order:
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 * Furman power conditioner
-In back (inside the box), the preamp's dual audio outs (one per side, i.e., one out for the fiddle, one for the HD) are plugged into the inputs of the dual EQ, whose outputs are in turn plugged into the inputs of the dual compressor/limiter, whose outputs go direct to Channels 3 and 4 on the L1 Model 1 power stand.  The three units' power cords are plugged into the Furman, so there is but one power cord to plug in to our band power strip (next to to the L1's, of course).
+In back (inside the box), the preamp's dual audio outs (one per side, i.e., one out for the fiddle, one for the HD) are plugged into the inputs of the dual EQ, whose outputs are in turn plugged into the inputs of the dual compressor/limiter, whose outputs go direct to Channels 3 and 4 on the {{Model I nl}} power stand.  The three units' power cords are plugged into the Furman, so there is but one power cord to plug in to our band power strip (next to to the L1®'s, of course).
 Plugging in and gain/output: