Stompbox idea using headphones

[slide496]

I came across this idea for a stompbox, which I want to check out - thought I'd share it if members are aware - my apologies for redundancy.

Fits my stompbox budget as I have the components.

[Deleted]

I like it - I might try it.
TT

[Michael Messer]

I have used headphones as microphones for many recordings, they can sound great. I used to have a pair of Air Canada ones that I recorded loads of stuff with.

Stick the headphones on to a guitar and you have a pickup.

Shine On
Michael

[bluefolk]

Cool.Thats got my brain ticking.

Ive used headphones on a guitar before too,did it to get an idea down (rec) before i lose it.

[slide496]

Here's a rough soundtest of a home made set up that I think I can work with for tapping with the headphones - its different than the way the youtube demo shows.

The soundtest is here :
soundcloud.com/lilhat/tap-test

I tap on the board and took the muffs off the headphones, double taped them to the board like a stethescope.This is the set up:






I hope there's some merit to this!


H

[zak71]

That's a really nice natural sounding foot tap for something that's going through an amp. Good job!

It sounds to me like the ball of your foot. I'd be really curious to hear how well your setup picks up a thumpier/bassier heel sound.
If you have some time over the weekend, could you try recording some more with a Fred McDowell style left-foot-heel thump on beats 1 and 3, and right-foot taps like you're already doing on beats 2 and 4?
(left heel - right tap - left heel - right tap)
If that thing can pick up two distinctly different foot sounds, you have a real winner there.

[Michael Messer]

Harriet, that sounds great!

Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

Hi Zak 71,

THanks for the positive feedback - you are correct that its the ball of the foot.

It can pick up distinct sounds, that I am sure of since I went through a bunch of shoes.

I play with one leg hiked up in classical position so it won't work up the way its set uo for left -right.

If you're supposed to be able to do that with tapping though I guess at some point l'll work on a second setup

My Best,
H

[slide496]

Thank you, thank you MIchael!

My Best,
H

[zak71]

Sept 12, 2014 17:04:19 GMT slide496 said:

If you're supposed to be able to do that with tapping though I guess at some point l'll work on a second setup

Oh no, I didn't mean you're  "supposed to" - you're supposed to tap your foot in whichever way allows you to center your groove and feel physically locked in with what you're playing. Tap your foot in whichever way is most physically comfortable for you!
What matters is that it really sounds like a foot tapping on wood to me, and not some weird indistinct electronic thump.


Playing with one foot elevated in 'classical position' for prolonged periods of time left me feeling like I'd been kicked in the kidney the following morning.
I don't think my spine likes the "elevated foot" thing very much.
Do you ever get lower back pain from playing that way?


I stomp two-footed, hence my question.
Sometimes when I busk with the string band and there's no washboard player, my left heel hits a kick drum pedal facing backwards, which hits a suitcase that's wedged between the pedal and the stool I sit on. My right foot taps on on a washboard which lays on the ground. The result is a "boom-clack-boom-clack" kind of sound.

Attachments:

[slide496]

Hi Zak71,

I don't know what makes it sound like that just glad it does- the board is bamboo.

No I don't get back pain - I had some issues with my left leg that doing this aggravated so I stretch, excercise and walk to offset the cause which is too much sitting in general.

Thanks for the pix and the information. Cool set up!

My best,
H

[bluefolk]

I find i get a bassier tone with my slippers/moccasins on.But it sounds good !

Might try it some time.

[slide496]

Other features are you can split the two headsets and work with it using 2 different materials if you tap with 2 feet - Zak71 shows an example of that, its portability and it also can be controlled soundwise with amp knobs. I am ok with the sound I got so far as being good with the stella.

I uploaded a youtube of it for members who don't or can't use soundcloud and might be curious - sorry for the playing mistakes!



Best,
H

[zak71]

If you're into Jessie Mae Hemphil, here's another foot percussion idea that works if you stomp single-footed:





You could always just lay a tambourine on the side of your stomp board for a little extra jangle.
In later years Jessie Mae just tied some kind of small brass bells to her ankle when performing (I only saw her once, in 1991 or 1992, and from what I remember she had bells, not the tambourine).



You also hear it on her studio recordings where she isn't backed up by a band:

[slide496]

Looked all over awhile back for the foot tamborine she's wearing with that curve - ever see one like that? Wonder if it was made for her or a style that's no longer made - the ones I found all had a straight side.

I also found a small one which I was going to wear across my toes but it hurt and didn't jingle half the time. Feh! Maybe I could tape that to board.

Foot Tambourine:
meinlpercussion.com/products/Product/show/653/650/

I like the idea of a shaker for sound as companion to the foot for two foot.
Foot Shaker:
www.musiciansfriend.com/shakers-rattles/meinl-foot-shaker