Thought this was the proper place to ask.
Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
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- Dowi
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Anybody got suggestions on kalimbas not hugely expensive already equipped with a contact mic or something with a jack out? I just want to have some fun and maybe record some loops, nothing too fancy. So far I found this one (https://blackbirdpedalboards.com/produc ... c-kalimba/) but I'm sure there's a world of those out there, just don't know where to start.
Thought this was the proper place to ask.

Thought this was the proper place to ask.
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Ugly Nora
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
That's probably as cheap as you will find them (with mics and outputs) I'd imagine. I got some Hugh Tracey kalimbas from the shop below. They were like $150 though.
Also, if you change your mind, I think just slapping a contact mic on any old one would sound fine too.
https://www.kalimbamagic.com/shop
Also, if you change your mind, I think just slapping a contact mic on any old one would sound fine too.
https://www.kalimbamagic.com/shop
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Thanks! Got a really old one but it's super small and I wanted something bigger with a more extended range.Ugly Nora wrote:That's probably as cheap as you will find them (with mics and outputs) I'd imagine. I got some Hugh Tracey kalimbas from the shop below. They were like $150 though.
Also, if you change your mind, I think just slapping a contact mic on any old one would sound fine too.
https://www.kalimbamagic.com/shop
- MrNovember
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
That Blackbird one is actually really tempting. I've never seen one at such a good price. I'll have to keep it in mind if/when I'm ever ready to buy one
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Just for you Nora:Ugly Nora wrote:When do you expect to have the new material released?
https://soundcloud.com/mushroomsinshampoo/early-blossom
I have no idea if or when that track will be on our next album... we tend to record about twice as many tracks than we release, so it might not make it to an album if we can't find anything else for it to go with. I'm still not sure about the percussion... but my son likes it, so remember this was his idea about what pop music is!
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Does that mean I'm not allowed to listen to it, moid? 
…...........................…psychic vampire. wrote:The important take away from this thread: Taoism and Ring Modulators go together?
Sweet dealin's: here
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Yes that's how I've recorded my kalimba - something like this:Ugly Nora wrote:That's probably as cheap as you will find them (with mics and outputs) I'd imagine. I got some Hugh Tracey kalimbas from the shop below. They were like $150 though.
Also, if you change your mind, I think just slapping a contact mic on any old one would sound fine too.
https://www.kalimbamagic.com/shop
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ammoon-acousti ... microphone
I just placed the different piezo discs around the body of the kalimba and then plugged the other end into some effects pedals
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Go for it ChankChankgeez wrote:Does that mean I'm not allowed to listen to it, moid?
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
…...........................…psychic vampire. wrote:The important take away from this thread: Taoism and Ring Modulators go together?
Sweet dealin's: here
"Now, of course, Strega is not a Minimoog… and I am not Sun Ra" - dude from MAKENOISE
#GreenRinger
- Heraclitus Akimbo
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Yeah, that actually looks like a higher-quality kalimba than the cheapie ones used for these "bent" versions: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/4952937 ... at_1&bes=1 (and then you can use your own effects anyway)MrNovember wrote:That Blackbird one is actually really tempting. I've never seen one at such a good price. I'll have to keep it in mind if/when I'm ever ready to buy one
Although there is some beepy-boopy fun to be had there:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyynEOKBeeI[/youtube]
solo (mostly ambient): https://heraclitusakimbo.bandcamp.com/
duo (electroacoustic vibration exploration): https://wenderlypark.bandcamp.com/
trio (tapes/voice/clarinet/synth/poems): https://ourwaytofall.bandcamp.com/
band (spontaneous kosmische): https://stargoon.bandcamp.com/
I also help co-ordinate Okta, ILF's collaborative community ambient project: https://okta.bandcamp.com
duo (electroacoustic vibration exploration): https://wenderlypark.bandcamp.com/
trio (tapes/voice/clarinet/synth/poems): https://ourwaytofall.bandcamp.com/
band (spontaneous kosmische): https://stargoon.bandcamp.com/
I also help co-ordinate Okta, ILF's collaborative community ambient project: https://okta.bandcamp.com
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Ugly Nora
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
I think it sounds great! I like the drums because it is not some normal beat, it is kinda chaotic and I think it fits the song well.moid wrote:Just for you Nora:Ugly Nora wrote:When do you expect to have the new material released?
https://soundcloud.com/mushroomsinshampoo/early-blossom
I have no idea if or when that track will be on our next album... we tend to record about twice as many tracks than we release, so it might not make it to an album if we can't find anything else for it to go with. I'm still not sure about the percussion... but my son likes it, so remember this was his idea about what pop music is!
What dont you like about the drums? You could always tweak them a bit to suit your tastes more.
I'm sure the song also sounds good without the drums, so maybe you need to pull rank on the boy an remove them if you dont like them. Either way, I think the song is really good and I would definitely release a version of it that makes you both happy. Or maybe 2 versions, one for each of you!
My opinion.
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Heraclitus Akimbo wrote:Yeah, that actually looks like a higher-quality kalimba than the cheapie ones used for these "bent" versions: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/4952937 ... at_1&bes=1 (and then you can use your own effects anyway)MrNovember wrote:That Blackbird one is actually really tempting. I've never seen one at such a good price. I'll have to keep it in mind if/when I'm ever ready to buy one
Although there is some beepy-boopy fun to be had there:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyynEOKBeeI[/youtube]
That's actually interesting, never saw one of these before! anyway i'm more oriented in grabbing a good standard one and then process it through the entire pedalboard.
Probably gonna grab a blackbird when i hhave some spare money in the next month.
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Thanks. The drums are growing on me. My son likes all the music we play to constantly change (I try to sneak in some repetitive minimalism when I can, but he's more maximalist than me!) which is why even though I showed him we could draw a perfect repeating drum pattern in Ableton he decided to play it live for teh whole track. It's more interesting, and it helps that neither of us is particularly good at keeping to time... so let's call it a style insteadUgly Nora wrote:
I think it sounds great! I like the drums because it is not some normal beat, it is kinda chaotic and I think it fits the song well.
What dont you like about the drums? You could always tweak them a bit to suit your tastes more.
I'm sure the song also sounds good without the drums, so maybe you need to pull rank on the boy an remove them if you dont like them. Either way, I think the song is really good and I would definitely release a version of it that makes you both happy. Or maybe 2 versions, one for each of you!
My opinion.
- Heraclitus Akimbo
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
Did a duo improvised set with a friend who has an impressive set of four Happy Apples. These were good fun to get the contact mics on.


solo (mostly ambient): https://heraclitusakimbo.bandcamp.com/
duo (electroacoustic vibration exploration): https://wenderlypark.bandcamp.com/
trio (tapes/voice/clarinet/synth/poems): https://ourwaytofall.bandcamp.com/
band (spontaneous kosmische): https://stargoon.bandcamp.com/
I also help co-ordinate Okta, ILF's collaborative community ambient project: https://okta.bandcamp.com
duo (electroacoustic vibration exploration): https://wenderlypark.bandcamp.com/
trio (tapes/voice/clarinet/synth/poems): https://ourwaytofall.bandcamp.com/
band (spontaneous kosmische): https://stargoon.bandcamp.com/
I also help co-ordinate Okta, ILF's collaborative community ambient project: https://okta.bandcamp.com
- Dowi
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Re: Glockenspiels/Singing Bowls/Gongs/Bells/Array Mbira
It sounds like a tasty jam.Heraclitus Akimbo wrote:Did a duo improvised set with a friend who has an impressive set of four Happy Apples. These were good fun to get the contact mics on.