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Model 2 fits soundhole without modification of guitar.
Review on acousticguitar.com/newgear
also reviewed in Acoustic Guitar magazine (March 2010)
features: 2 microphones mechanically (not electronically) out of phase to reduce feedback 2 year battery life model 1 has easy installation tool
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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to a_arnold)
Yeah, I saw this too. I don't know how much better a mic needs to sound. I'm wondering about feedback in a live setting. Does anybody here use a Miniflex?
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to a_arnold)
These have been around for some time now I had two student models fitted with them about 5 years ago They sound great - The phasing of the two mics reduces feedback significantly and gets rid of the low mid and bass problems They sound best through a Pa or two way speaker system From recollection Jason Mcguire used these in preference to the Baggs system Good price as well They have that internal mic 'boxiness' sound - no avoiding that with any product that goes on the inside .
I eventually sold the guitars and now use a dpa 4099 But the new owners love the system
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to Guest)
quote:
ORIGINAL: AlVal They have that internal mic 'boxiness' sound - no avoiding that with any product that goes on the inside .
I eventually sold the guitars and now use a dpa 4099
Me too!
Yep agree totally. For an internal mic, the system is really good, and better than say those Fishman systems with internal mics/USTs blends where you can only get a tiny amount of mic gain before feedback (I actually had a Miniflex installed with a Fishman system already on the same guitar).
But yeah its tough to avid the boxy thick mid rangey sound with internal mics and to my ears not better than the best of the surface-mounted transducer based pick ups.
Posts: 15854
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to Blondie#2)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Blondie#2
quote:
ORIGINAL: AlVal They have that internal mic 'boxiness' sound - no avoiding that with any product that goes on the inside .
I eventually sold the guitars and now use a dpa 4099
Me too!
Yep agree totally. For an internal mic, the system is really good, and better than say those Fishman systems with internal mics/USTs blends where you can only get a tiny amount of mic gain before feedback (I actually had a Miniflex installed with a Fishman system already on the same guitar).
But yeah its tough to avid the boxy thick mid rangey sound with internal mics and to my ears not better than the best of the surface-mounted transducer based pick ups.
we use fishman's all the time, super loud with no feedback if you not afraid to blend piezo. A lot has to do with your PA, but all things considered good quality it's not so hard to eq out the "boxy" nasal sound. http://youtu.be/EzVmz5g9nYs that's fishman 50/50 piezo/mic believe it or not. Here a bit warmer sound same set up: http://youtu.be/7SwG1pymrkw These are not near as loud examples as when we do the rumba band thing ... it can get super loud and if you know what you are doing, zero feedback.
Posts: 15854
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria
That sounds pretty good, Ricardo. You have the blend system into a normal guitar? Preamp on a belt-pack or something?
Conde A26 meets jigsaw (gasp), many years ago. never regretted it ever since... she's my amazing workhorse, so fun and nice to have a real quality instrument with power to boot.
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to Stu)
quote:
Man! That black guitar!? i can't say I like the aesthetic. What made you get that?
It's made of carbon fiber, man, so it's indestructible and does not get affected by humidity/temperature changes. Also, the neck comes off, so it becomes a carry-on for easy travel.
It's a travel guitar, yeah, but I do play it quite a bit. It's just an instrument that I don't worry about, you know? It stays outside on a stand, always within reach, with no humidification concerns. If I bump it / smack it, nothing happens. It's indestructible.
Posts: 15854
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to rombsix)
well external mic is superior, however you have it far away. That won't work for guys that play with palmas and screaming cantores like I do. . So likely to get more gain I would bring it close to the hole (if that is were sound comes out strongest on that damn thing!).
The internal mic is much warmer. Too warm, or rather those basses are ringing on too much (unless you have a compressor doing that). I would roll off that low end on the internal mic. Obviously the convenience of an internal mic is the huge selling point.
When I play live these days, if I am not doing the sound myself, I would use my Conde A26 (blanca) or A25 (negra) with a mic, close to the hole. If I am doing the sound I will do as earlier videos show, the A26 plugged in. Lately I am cool with like 90% piezo since I had the bone saddle changed (it is more balanced then it used to be), and that 10% fisherman mic is working great with hardly any feedback and natural attack and golpes. I don't even roll off much bass anymore with the EV monitors I am using. I have also used the negra with the vocal mic (Shure beta 87A), and gain very close to the sound hole and roll off a lot of bass to get a natural loud out put. I still don't like compression on live guitars and vocals, it is so annoying to me when engineers sneak it on as if you won't notice.
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to a_arnold)
Greetings & saludos!
On ALL of my gigging/performing guitars [ including my Ramirez (student model), Andalusian Guitar, both of my Aparicio guitars, & one of my Cordobas) have the 2Mic endpin model (the one that needs batteries replaced every 2 years), and a Fishman UTS Peizo (passive) and also the Schertler RESCOIL (passive).
The Fishman is used via a Sennheiser XSW-D connected to my AER or via my Bose S1 Pro (with it's on board wireless) depending on the gig location and needs. The FISHMAN is very Peizo/plastic sounding (no suprise) but gets TONS of volume and I have the AER or Bose pointed to the BACK of the stage (NOT the audience) and it really fills the room when I a lot of volume. Of course, the AER sounds MUCH better, but the Bose is surprisingly good!
The SCHERTLER and 2Mic absolutely SHINE when plugged straight into a GOOD PA. Both the Schertler & 2Mic often don't need much EQ if the gain is kept low. The 2Mic has much more gain and prone to feedback when too much goes to the house PA. Both of them can be woofy sounding as the guitar's natural bass and mid frequencies (300 & 700) can really wreak havoc on some mixes, so High Passing works well as does the "Acoustic Resonance" of Boss' VE-8 & AD-1 have on board (along with their notch filters). The Boss' "Acoustic Resonance" circuit is similar to TC Electronics' "Body Rez" circuit and LR Baggs' "compressor" found on their Align/Session DI's. This "circuit" that seems to have been invented by Boss in their AD Preamp lines have been successfully COPIED by many and they really do help filter out some of the woofyness of the guitar which is particularly NEEDED and a MUST for the 2Mic particularly.
SIDE NOTE: I used to think it HORRIFIC to thin out my guitars beefy mid range, but, if you're playing with an ensemble, sometimes, the best way to be heard, is to minimize those frequencies. BUT, if you're the MAIN/ONLY instrument or playing solo, I rarely use the "Acoustic Resonance" circuits or cut my EQ. The Boss VE-8 singer allows you to have multiple PRESETS, so I have (multiple) settings that I can go between when I am doing a lot of STRUMMING/RASGUEADOS where the "Acoustic Resonance" REALLY helps as strumming with no EQ can sound bad. The Boss VE-8 lets you have one setting for dialing MORE "Acoustic Resonance" (for strumming, for instance), and then have another setting for picados and helps you sound HUGE if you need to. The LR Baggs Session, EQ, Compressor are also great!
The 2Mic also is helped TREMENDOUSLY with the AER Colourizer's Gain staging, and EQ processing. The 2Mic into theAER Colourizer to a PA is MAGIC! Yet, at some Churches/venues/halls, I'll just plug my Sennheiser XWS (or EW100) into the house PA and it sounds GREAT (as long as the GAIN is NOT too HOT). Having the 2Mic signal put through the monitors facing you WILL cause feedback! I find it best to ONLY put the 2Mic thorough the HOUSE and use a secondary pickup for the stage sound if need be.
The Sennheiser AVX (the mics that are meant only for LiveStream lavs) actually works GREAT with the 2Mic through the Bose or AER as long as the speakers are NOT near you. The compressor on the AVX will squash your 2Mic signal, but in a very musical way. I found this out when I HAD to use the AVX during LiveStream gigs during the COVID Pandemic.
Back to the 2Mic vs other pu's/mics. Yes, it is not usual to have 2 or 3 mics/pickups in your guitar, but if you want to sound AMAZING, you'll go through the hassle. It's good to learn your trade! Also, having a BACKUP pickup/mic running redundantly at the same time is a MUST especially when people are paying you to play their wedding, funeral, 15era. Your clients to do NOT like it when you're gear fails! I've found that out the hard way and NEVER AGAIN!
Anyone else use the Schertler, or a passive pickup with either the AER, or Bose, or do most of you only going into the PA?
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to Ricardo)
quote:
well external mic is superior, however you have it far away. That won't work for guys that play with palmas and screaming cantores like I do......
Very true! The "Acoustic Resonance" circuit on the Boss VE-8 and AD-1 and similar circuits help to EQ the guitar to tame the boominess/woofyness that internal mics naturally have and they help mics like the 2Mic, & Schertler RESCOIL to shine.
The LR Baggs is also wonderful, they do NOT work for palmas and tambors as it distorts and is too hot. For Classical playing, the Baggs Lyric is great. The 2Mic and Schertler SHINE for Flamenco playing when paired with Boss VE-8, AD-1, LR Baggs Session DI, or TC Electronics Body Rez!
Posts: 15854
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to DonMiel Flaco)
Stumbled across the idea of facing the monitor backwards (away from audience) one day. I was playing and had to increase volume a lot but was surprised how the piezo “quack” disappeared…at some point I looked back and saw my monitor was facing backwards! Good for guitar, but not vocals necessarily.
I have learned to “embrace the quack” over the years, what a headache relief. Countless classical snobs approach me and ask what mic I am using and I point out it is just an under saddle piezo, so they assume I have processed the sound on the board, which is flat. It is all flat, and sometimes I boost just a touch the MIDS (the opposite of what everybody else does) and that roundness supports the trebles in a way that removes the annoying quack I guess. But honestly it took years to get used to it, and somehow the results today are in my fingers coupled with this particular guitar (cordoba 1999 GK, but I also use the fishman problend in my Conde with even more natural sound).
External mic I like that vocal style mic best (87A is best but 58 is fine), stuck right in front of the hole, and I just roll off the bass until the boom stops. You can move a very tiny bit if you need a change of some sort, like more or less volume. The best is in school gymnasium when the teachers have those hand held wireless 87A mics with super gain and monitors in the ceiling so they can shut all the noisy kids up….my guitar sound is HUGE and powerful, and I only need to “EQ” by adjusting my position relative to the sound hole. I wish most sound engineers just started with THAT set up for acoustic guitars and dialed it back as needed. But no, they start quiet, and start notching essential frequencies, ruining the tone. Then they “fix” it by putting compression that you explicitly told them NOT to put on.
RE: Miniflex 2Mic -- new in-guitar mic (in reply to Ricardo)
Hey Caldo! Don Miel here. Yes, I agree, the piezo quack is actually very useful. I mean, listen to John Williams' recordings since he has started using the Lattice braced Smallman guitars in the 1990's. His guitars are so loud and ... well QUACKY! And double tops are too.
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Daniel Delgado at www.DanielDelgadoMusic.com Andalusian Guitar ... Aparicio Guitar ... Ramirez Guitar ... Cordoba Guitar ... AER Compact 60 ... Bose S1 Pro .... AER Colourizer ... Boss VE-8 Acoustic Singer ...
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never regretted it ever since... she's my amazing workhorse, so fun and nice to have a real quality instrument with power to boot. 
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