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Author Topic: Your own amp for border morris dance outs  (Read 8794 times)

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Tone Dumb Greg

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Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« on: May 01, 2018, 09:44:14 PM »

I'm looking for recommendations for a portable battery melodeon amp for border morris dance outs, especially festivals.
 
We have been using a single 100W battery powered PA through a battery powered mixer. This works OK and sounds great, but it's a pain to cart around, even with the aid of a converted golf trolley. We are thinking of switching to individual units, which seems to be how many sides operate.

Any suggestions welcomed. Needs to be loud to make a serious impact in noisy environments, light enough to cart around between locations and cheap enough to afford.
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Greg Smith
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oggiesnr

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2018, 10:11:37 PM »

Roland Street Cube.

The issue becomes how you mike up your box to utilise the inputs.  I use a small Berhinger mixer and feed into the mic/line channel.  Runs off batteries, somewhere between £250 and £270.

The other alternative is to get more musicians  (:)

Steve
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pikey

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2018, 10:26:52 PM »

Or get a Dino Bafetti Binci !!  >:E
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2018, 10:50:21 PM »

Roland Street Cube.

The issue becomes how you mike up your box to utilise the inputs.  I use a small Berhinger mixer and feed into the mic/line channel.  Runs off batteries, somewhere between £250 and £270.

The other alternative is to get more musicians  (:)

Steve

Sounds promising. I have a Behringer 1002b mixer already.

Even with the biggest line up we can muster (probably 10 or 11 including percussion) the extra impact when amped is remarkable. Most of the time we field less, though, and we have a number of quieter instruments we don't want drowned out. The PA set up lets us balance the live sound.
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2018, 10:52:48 PM »

Thank you for that Pikey. Maybe next time I win the lottery.
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Greg Smith
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Steve C.

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2018, 12:57:46 PM »

I tried the Roland KC-220 with my Streb.  It was super.  They let me try it outside in parking lot.  Maybe they were happy I was trying it outside in the parking lot.  Expensive, tho.  Got to think it over....
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Howard Jones

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2018, 02:06:49 PM »

How does this fit in with the need for an entertainment licence?  If I understand correctly, the exemption for small events (below 500) applies only to premises with an alcohol licence, or where the music is unamplified.

I must admit I'm struggling with the idea that a Border morris band might need amplification. Most of those I've come across can be heard in the next county.

Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2018, 08:53:58 AM »

How does this fit in with the need for an entertainment licence?  If I understand correctly, the exemption for small events (below 500) applies only to premises with an alcohol licence, or where the music is unamplified.

I must admit I'm struggling with the idea that a Border morris band might need amplification. Most of those I've come across can be heard in the next county.

I hadn't thought of that. Immediate thoughts are:

We don't mic up at every venue.
A lot of out dance outs are linked to pubs! I suppose I work on the assumption that their arrangements cover us.
A bit of extra volume at bigger events is what we are really after. We do a number of festivals, village events and country shows. These have amplified music in abundance. I leave worrying about licences to the organisers of these events.

Of the events we organise ourselves, our Tavistock Day Of Dance (AKA Pudsey Morris Day) is the only one that we carry the can for 100% and we have a licence from the local authority for this. I haven't looked at the details of the licence but I am fairly sure it covers us.

Knowledgeable advice always welcome, Theo permitting (:)
« Last Edit: May 03, 2018, 08:55:41 AM by Tone Dumb Greg »
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Greg Smith
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2018, 09:02:12 AM »

So far as my original post goes, thanks for the advice. I am going to give the Roland Microcube 10W GX a go. Met a few last night. They seem to have plenty of poke and are relatively cheap.
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

t-tone

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #9 on: May 03, 2018, 09:07:19 AM »

Easy to get it wrong with amplification, last weekend I saw a side with melodeon, fiddle and amplified mandolin. The mandolin wasn't especially loud, but it had the strange effect of making the other instruments inaudible, to my hearing at least.
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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #10 on: May 03, 2018, 09:24:13 AM »

A lot of out dance outs are linked to pubs! I suppose I work on the assumption that their arrangements cover us.
Never assume
Quote
A bit of extra volume at bigger events is what we are really after. We do a number of festivals, village events and country shows. These have amplified music in abundance. I leave worrying about licences to the organisers of these events.
Never assume
Quote
Of the events we organise ourselves, our Tavistock Day Of Dance (AKA Pudsey Morris Day) is the only one that we carry the can for 100% and we have a licence from the local authority for this. I haven't looked at the details of the licence but I am fairly sure it covers us.
Never assume

Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2018, 09:36:12 AM »

Easy to get it wrong with amplification, last weekend I saw a side with melodeon, fiddle and amplified mandolin. The mandolin wasn't especially loud, but it had the strange effect of making the other instruments inaudible, to my hearing at least.

Strangely enough, that's exactly what happened to us last night on our second dance. He had it turned well down for the first number. I said turn it up a bit. After the second dance one of the dancers came up to me and said the mandolin was all she could hear. Bearing in mind that, for the dance in question, as well as the mandolin,  we fielded two melodeons  (aux naturelle), two fiddles (lightly amplified), two drums and a couple of tambourines, one Piano Accordion and a whistle, I was a bit surprised.

The other problem we had was, that we had a (generally, very good), guest drummer joining in from the guest side who got a bit carried away on a few numbers in which he was the only one drumming and ended up well ahead of tempo. The musicians closest to him started to follow him and we ended up with two halves of the band playing well out of sink. I am wondering how to address this. Another reason for looking for the portable PA for myself, I suppose.

I am looking for a way to say, "if you can't hear me, play quieter until you can, or shut up", without offending anyone. I think I'll just shout it lound enough for them to hear it clearly (:)
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Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #12 on: May 03, 2018, 09:37:55 AM »

A lot of out dance outs are linked to pubs! I suppose I work on the assumption that their arrangements cover us.
Never assume
Quote
A bit of extra volume at bigger events is what we are really after. We do a number of festivals, village events and country shows. These have amplified music in abundance. I leave worrying about licences to the organisers of these events.
Never assume
Quote
Of the events we organise ourselves, our Tavistock Day Of Dance (AKA Pudsey Morris Day) is the only one that we carry the can for 100% and we have a licence from the local authority for this. I haven't looked at the details of the licence but I am fairly sure it covers us.
Never assume

I wonder what could possibly go wrong. In my defence, m'Lud, we've been ok so far.
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2018, 10:09:42 AM »

A few years back we were asked by the Morris Federation to organise the Joint Morris Organisation's Day of Dance in Exeter, where morris of all descriptions from any of the 3 organisations ( Fed, Ring and Open ) could come, meet and dance.
Our worry was regarding the licence restrictions over using amplified music, in fact the then Fed President made the point when we took on the venture and warned us about allowing amplified music in the street.
My friends who I dance with chatted about this last Saturday when we ( me and Greg ) were at a day of dance locally and some were using amps. My friend who helped me organise the JMO Day of Dance said the licence regulations are now relaxed.

Greg - Regardless of choice of what amp etc. it might be worth clarifying the situation regarding amplified music as I've heard it's changed but only through hearsay.
Not sure if you're Open or Fed but someone there will know.
cheers
Q

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Theo

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #14 on: May 03, 2018, 10:20:22 AM »



The other problem we had was, that we had a (generally, very good), guest drummer joining in from the guest side who got a bit carried away on a few numbers in which he was the only one drumming and ended up well ahead of tempo. The musicians closest to him started to follow him and we ended up with two halves of the band playing well out of sink. I am wondering how to address this. Another reason for looking for the portable PA for myself, I suppose.


Sack the drummer!  He is not "generally very good" if he got ahead of the tempo in a gig.  Or have sufficient rehearsal with the drummer so that everyone can learn to play together.
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John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #15 on: May 03, 2018, 10:20:40 AM »

My response to a noisy audience, when I sing and play, is to do quieter songs. The more you up your volume, the more they up theirs.
Why do choirs and orchestras have their loudest bits at the back?

Sir John
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #16 on: May 03, 2018, 10:54:46 AM »

I've seen John's resolution put to amazing effect in a pub where the singer just got quieter and quieter until the rowdies realised they were just *so loud*. The embarrassment was palpable and let us get on singing in silence.
Not quite sure how it translates to dancing, but it's a great idea!
Q
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #17 on: May 03, 2018, 11:14:37 AM »


Sack the drummer!  He is not "generally very good" if he got ahead of the tempo in a gig.  Or have sufficient rehearsal with the drummer so that everyone can learn to play together.


Mmm. Can't argue with that but, by "generally very good" I mean that he is a very experienced morris drummer, who has played along with us on a number of previous occasions without problems and has always added to the music in a good way, rather than run away with it. Don't know why it was so different last night. but I think things were probably compounded a bit by having a bigger band, with some new musicians, this year  (new to morris, that is, they have a pretty good ceilidh band). Apart from the drummer we have been practicing together all through the winter and played a few gigs together, since Christmas,  and seemed to be pretty tight.

Morris is, very much, a social activity for us and we often have guest appearances from musicians we dance out with and vice versa. I wouldn't like to spoil that.
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Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #18 on: May 03, 2018, 11:24:53 AM »

My response to a noisy audience, when I sing and play, is to do quieter songs. The more you up your volume, the more they up theirs.
Why do choirs and orchestras have their loudest bits at the back?

Sir John

I've seen John's resolution put to amazing effect in a pub where the singer just got quieter and quieter until the rowdies realised they were just *so loud*. The embarrassment was palpable and let us get on singing in silence.
Not quite sure how it translates to dancing, but it's a great idea!
Q

That makes total sense in a "listening music" situation. I know exactly what would happen in a dance situation with our side, though. The dancers would start singingthe tune themselves and the band could go home (:) It's a funny thing, but it's really difficult to get most of them singing in the pub afterwards, but they're quite happy to do this.
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Greg Smith
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Theo

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Re: Your own amp for border morris dance outs
« Reply #19 on: May 03, 2018, 11:38:55 AM »


Sack the drummer!  He is not "generally very good" if he got ahead of the tempo in a gig.  Or have sufficient rehearsal with the drummer so that everyone can learn to play together.


Mmm. Can't argue with that but, by "generally very good" I mean that he is a very experienced morris drummer, who has played along with us on a number of previous occasions without problems and has always added to the music in a good way, rather than run away with it. Don't know why it was so different last night. but I think things were probably compounded a bit by having a bigger band, with some new musicians, this year  (new to morris, that is, they have a pretty good ceilidh band). Apart from the drummer we have been practicing together all through the winter and played a few gigs together, since Christmas,  and seemed to be pretty tight.

Morris is, very much, a social activity for us and we often have guest appearances from musicians we dance out with and vice versa. I wouldn't like to spoil that.

We all have an off night sometimes! 
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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