Whistle miking

IanBCelt · Post by **IanBCelt** » Tue May 07, 2002 5:12 am

I have tried for years to get a straight answer from players and soundmen alike as to the proper placement of my whistle in relation to a microphone for the best sound. The players responses tend toward the fipple and the soundmen seem to favor the end (like a trumpet, I guess). Where exactly does the sound "come" from?

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Tue May 07, 2002 5:18 am

The fipple. I have seen many a player with the mic at the bottom and I can't hear the instrument.

Try this easy experiment. Play a note, and cover the "bottom" of the whistle. The note gets a bit strangled but is still there. Now play a note and cover the fipple. 'Nuff said.

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Tue May 07, 2002 7:07 am

When I read the subject I thought it said "Whistle Milking", which is probably the quickest I've gone off topic yet!

So, now we know how to mike a whistle, any ideas on how to milk a whistle?

Isilwen · Post by **Isilwen** » Tue May 07, 2002 7:30 am

I thought the same thing when I first looked at the heading!!!

Imagine my surprise....

DazedinLA · Post by **DazedinLA** » Tue May 07, 2002 7:53 am

too weird...I also first saw Whistle Milking, but went back, reread the title and lo, its Miking. hmmmmmm.

StevieJ · Post by **StevieJ** » Tue May 07, 2002 8:00 am

I don't know how to milk a whistle, but you guys are giving a good demonstration of how to milk a thread.

Barney-O · Post by **Barney-O** » Tue May 07, 2002 8:03 am

Just make sure you have your Fipple Guard II installed before you start milking to prevent splash-back in your face.

NOTE TO MANUFACTURER: Feel free to use this "duel purpose" idea for the Fipple Guard in your product promotions.

Keith

DrRichard · Post by **DrRichard** » Tue May 07, 2002 8:26 am

Depends on the situation. For stage work, I mike from above, mike pointing down toward the fipple.

For studio work, I use a good dynamic mike from above, pointing at the fipple, plus a large diagphragm mike off axis and mix to get the sound I want.

YMMV

but this works well for me!

Richard

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Tue May 07, 2002 11:00 am

IMHO, I'd mic a live whistle with a Shure SM-57 or a good condenser mic, near the fipple end. I would not use a SM-58 here.

In the studio, you have a different environment. Pressure zone mics (PZM's) can be wonderful. I plan on using 2 mics for recording my whistle. One SM-57 about 12" away from the fipple end and one SM-57 or PZM about 4 feet away; mix to taste.

Because low notes have lower volume than high notes, some folks like to use a limiter/compressor to even everything out.

Basically, it will come down to what sounds best to you. (Just my $0.02)

Good luck,
Gary

SINKING INTO THE SEA OF DEEP PONDERING> I wonder how a whistle would sound with stereo chorus/flanger/phaser/leslie? Hmmmm........

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Tue May 07, 2002 11:04 am

I wonder how a whistle would sound in the Sea of Deep Pondering.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Tue May 07, 2002 11:14 am

"I wonder how a whistle would sound in the Sea of Deep Pondering."

Kinda like new age music played backwards.... <G>

dd · Post by dd » Tue May 07, 2002 10:08 pm

[quote]
On 2002-05-07 10:03, Barney-O wrote:

NOTE TO MANUFACTURER: Feel free to use this "duel purpose" idea for the Fipple Guard in your product promotions.

ya mean we can milk them AND duel with them...dueling whistles?

DazedinLA · Post by **DazedinLA** » Wed May 08, 2002 5:44 am

Well, if you're gonna be duelling, I will admit that the FippleGuard will deflect a riposte better than my FippleShield. I'm obviously falling behind in the R&D race here. Time to get the development team another case of Mountain Dew...

WhistlerWannaBe · Post by **WhistlerWannaBe** » Wed May 08, 2002 6:04 am

and here I thought it was a new mystery...

I was sure it was milking too, and had never heard of our mysterious fluid described as milk before......

DazedinLA · Post by **DazedinLA** » Wed May 08, 2002 7:20 am

OK, here it is, FippleShield III, with optional milking attachment. Protects from sun, duels, and draws FippleMilk while playing.

http://www.geocities.com/dazedinla2002/ ... ield3.html