The best combination for high volume

[kerabe]

Hi,
talking about combination of conga drum, heads and microphone - what can produce the highest volume? I'm of slim constitution and I had problems with my hands which tends to return. Sometimes, even with good technique, I am afraid that I will break my hands...

What's your best experience?

Kerabe

[Light Seeker]

Simplest way to get high volume is to turn up the mic. :p
Also, fiberglass conga with fiberskyn head is going to be much louder than wood/rawhyde, but you won't get that nice warm tone. I play in a 12-piece band with a drumset and a full brass section, and I've recently made the switch from a wood/rawhyde set of low-end Meinls to a fiber/fiber set LP Originals, and what a difference it has made! Those drums really cut through the mix.

[CongaTick]

kerabe,
light seeker is absolutely right. the fiberglass drums will cut through--and with mikes, even moreso.

[Tonio]

Just semantics, but you turn up the pre amp, not the microphone.
I agree, fiberglass congas cut through better than wood congas.

Don't kill your hands, play at good safe levels and know your dynamic range.

T

[bongosnotbombs]

Fiberglass is louder, also not all artificial heads are the same,
they are usually louder than natural skins, but now they make these Nuskyn and Fibreskyn heads and some others each one with different sound volumes, I have'nt played them all but the smooth white artificial heads are very loud and easy on the hands.

The other head types are supposed to be more like natural skin and such, there's plenty reviews on them here and there.

an get your own PA system, bigger than everybody else's! :p



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1193340186

[akdom]

Technique gives volume...

But if you play in a band, I have to admit that percussionists tend not to be considered as they should and whoever makes the mix sets us way too low... also, raise the level of your 'return' speaker (do not know the name in english).. the speaker that's on stage so that you can hear you.. Sometimes, the mix is good but we cannot hear what we play..

B

[bongosnotbombs]

I'm pretty sure what your talking about is called a monitor.

[kerabe]

Thanks a lot.
I knew about Fyberskyn heads and I knew about fiberglass drums but I am not sure if the combination sounds like congadrum yet...
By the way - what is ''PA system''? I have never heard that.

[akdom]

I'm pretty sure what your talking about is called a monitor.

Yes, thanks, a monitoer.. pfff sometimes my english get locked and I miss some words... Not easy when you speak several languages..

Thanks

B

[bongosnotbombs]

Kurabe, are you not a native english speaker?
No insult intended at all...I forget there is a very international
membership here.

PA is a "public address" system. What I meant to say is get bigger speakers than everyone else in the band, so you can always turn yourself up louder!

a little bit of a joke, but a little bit serious too.

oh, and all my congas are fiberglass, they sound like congas.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1193933549