Last September I was performing at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival and someone asked me, “How do you amplify your violin to get such a natural sound?”
I get that question a lot online, but this time, I had everything set up in position to shoot a quick video showing you exactly what I use. It’s actually quite a simple set-up.
The video explains how everything works together, and you can also follow links to the exact equipment I use along with some alternative options depending on your situation.
It all begins with the pick-up on my violin which is the Baggs Bridge made by LR Baggs:
LR Baggs 4/4 V10 Transducer Mounted Bridge With Side Mount Jack Vwws
It’s a transducer style pickup that is embedded in the wood of a high quality violin bridge with a side mounted 1/4 inch jack, also known as a carpenter jack. This all needs to be installed by an experienced violin luthier, because the bridge will replace your old bridge and needs to be custom carved to fit your violin.
The Baggs Bridge has no on-board pre-amp so you’ll need a piece of gear to boost the signal a bit before going to your PA mixing board. I explain two options here:
Option 1 (which I use when playing at outdoor festivals)
A wireless transmitter which boosts the signal and sends it magically through the air to the corresponding receiver:
Audio-Technica AEW-4315aC Wireless Dynamic Handheld Microphone System – Band C (541.500 – 566.375 MHz)
For some reason on Amazon it is only available with the additional hand held mic. Unless having the mic as another option looks like fun, I recommend getting a better price for just the Audio-Technica 4000 Unipak transmitter and receiver by calling these guys: http://www.northernsound.net/
And this is the unique cable that will plug into your violin and into the unique jack on the Audio-Technica transmitter pack:
Audio-Technica Guitar Input Cable for Wireless Systems
Option 2
Staying with an entirely cabled system. If you don’t really need to hide cables (as in a Renaissance Faire setting), you can save a lot of money and get a slightly better sound this way. When I’m playing indoors on a small stage and don’t plan to run out into the audience and dance on tables while playing, I use a 1/4 inch instrument cable like this:
Rapco Horizon SEGL-10 StageMASTER 10-Feet Instrument 1/4-Inch Straight Connector to Right Angle 1/4-Inch Connector Low Noise Shielded Cable
I like having the “right angle” connector to plug into my violin because it’s less visible and hugs the side of the violin instead of sticking straight out of the violin under my left ear.
Then simply plug the other end into a DI box or preamp. I use this one, also made by Baggs:
LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I.
Whether you send your signal to a wireless receiver, or plug right into a DI box, you will use an XLR cable to take the signal to the mixing board or amp:
Rapco Horizon SMM-15 Club Series Microphone Cable 15-Feet
This covers everything to get you from violin to the board. If you’re putting together an entire PA system, and are curious about the rest of the PA gear that I use with my band Circa Paleo, here ya go.
We use this board:
Allen & Heath AH-ZED-22FX 22-Channel Mixer with USB Interface and Onboard EFX
JBL powered front speakers:
JBL EON 515XT Lightweight 2 Way 15″ 625W Self Powered Speaker (Each)
And a sub woofer for the drums and bass:
JBL EON 518S Portable 18-inch 500-Watt Self-Powered Subwoofer
For new players, I hope this helps you to get out there and start performing!
If you already amplify your violin, please let us know your fave gear in the comments below.
Thank you.
Did you notice any change in tone from putting in the new bridge? I play orchestra with my acoustic and small gigs with an electric, but I would much rather do something like your set up.
Thanks! PS you should post more 🙂
Good question. I noticed the same temporary changes that you would notice any time you get a new bridge installed. It takes some playing hours breaking it in to get back to the same warm sound. Beyond that I’ve found the bridge quality and resulting sound quality to be the same. The side-mount carpenter jack mounts very similarly to a chin rest, only touching the very edge. I guess it’s possible that could change the vibration slightly, but I certainly can’t tell the difference on mine.
Jenny,
This was great info. I was not sure how you were able to make your violin sound so fantastic but mystery solved. I was wondering if you’ve seen this guy (Bryson Andres) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPYGeELPpno he uses something called a loop pedal http://www.amazon.com/Boss-RC-3-Loop-Station-Pedal/dp/B004J27QXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400503340&sr=8-1&keywords=boss+loop+pedal+rc-3 a small device that lets your single instrument sound like several at the same time. If you watch his left foot closely in his YouTube video you can see that his foot trips the pedal when he sets up his rhythm beat, then his melody, then he plays his song. AMAZING! Thanks for the video demo, very helpful indeed.
I always wanted to know how to do this and, what to use.
You really explained this very well. Thanks Jenny
You’re welcome 🙂
Hi Jenny!
Thanks for posting the video… I like finding out what my favorite musicians are using. The Baggs bridge is a great sounding pickup, and it makes it easy to convert your violin to an electric without any alterations.
Here’s a short video of one of my semi-solidbody electrics going together… I made this one for Krista Solars, and she wanted a clear, balanced sound that would really cut through the noisy places she was playing. (I also built it strong enough to hold up in a bar fight!) I made a solid maple bridge with no cutouts, and built a piezo film pickup into the top, under the bridge feet. That’s Krista playing it on the sound track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgIkLiicmc8&feature=em-upload_owner
– Thomas Miller
thank you so much for this!
great help. We use violins/fiddles in parades and need a similar system.
Great! Glad it helped.
Thank you Jenny for this video, very kisses from South America, Santiago of Chile !!!!!.
Our family sends you lots of hugs and greetings that are a great artist.
Regards Jenny.
Marcelo Burgos H.
Santiago de Chile
20/05/2014 08:43 am
Thank you! Sending warm regards to you and your family in Chile!
Jenny, I’m Marcelo; a question I have 40 years and am self-taught learning to play the violin. Gradually I’m taking melodies but would appreciate if you could send me your beautiful theme “Shikee, Shikee Baba” in the musical notes do, re, mi, etc.. to touch this issue with my violin, of course when you can.
I know you travel a lot around the country and it is very busy here in chile we are in winter and it gets a little cold, but my family and I will send you a hug and tell you to listen to your music and your group Circa Paleo though either by youtoube is our pleasure to hear it.
Of course also we send a big hug to each of the excellent musicians that make Circa Paleo and sister, how beautiful is to deliver music to the world, thank you very much Jenny and when you can send me the request, I will be personally very honored!! !.
sincerely,
Marcelo Burgos and Family.
Santiago de Chile, May 20, 2014
2:25 p.m.
I play fiddle in a punk rock band that also has bagpipes so the stage sound is very loud. Over the years of trying to figure out how to hear myself and be heard (and still sound like a fiddle)I have come up with the following rig:
I use a Fishman V200 pickup run into a Red-eye Pre amp. That pre amp then runs to the main sound board. I also run line from the pre amp into a Behringer Xenyx 502 mixer board and from that I run a Shure SE215 ear monitor which I just wear in 1 ear so I can hear myself.
I really appreciate the Red-eye it seems to preserve the violin sound really well. My dream is to go wireless but for now I just dodge cables and hope for the best 🙂
Thanks for sharing your rig! What’s your band??? I usually play with a cabled system for indoor stuff and music festival type stages because it’s a lot more practical in many ways. Dodging cables can sometimes be easier than dodging wireless interference, depending on the geography. I say enjoy the sweet sound of hard wired goodness and only go wireless if you really have to or have a great techie sound guy to help you mess around with finding frequencies in different places on tour.
I got a cheap elecrtic violin and then spent a bunch of money fixing it up and learning how to be a violin tech. it was worth it and the cheap electric is great. both with and without amplification
Wondering if you would mind sharing your “typical” baggs DI settings (understanding that each venue may require some adjustments). Thanks!
Hi Dave. I would be happy to. I am away from my Baggs at the moment, so I will have to take a look and get back to you. To be honest, I’ve experimented a lot, and I’m not sure that I’ve settled on settings that I’m confident are the best.
Yes, it is difficult, I have found, to settle on a good consistent method to dial in the PADI, so I was curious if you have figured out a workable solution. Thanks for any advice you can provide!
I have a LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I. that I use for one of my acoustic guitars that I will be selling shortly. Thought about selling the LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I. but I will not be doing that now since I anticipate needing it for my violin one day. Thanks for posting this info!
Hi Geni– I’m not sure if they can install a Baggs Para DI on a violin. I have one of those on my guitar, actually, but it’s pretty specific for guitar. The Baggs Bridge I use is built right into the violin bridge already.