Has anyone had any experience with recording harmonica to DAW software? I have a basic set up - Windows laptop running Ableton Live 11 Intro and a low price USB microphone by Mackie. I imagine it is a fairly simple process - sit in front of the microphone and play - but any hints and tips would be appreciated.
2 Likes
@jeffw,
I tested some on the laptop under Windows 10 and 11.
Among those that are partly bought, I like to use Audacity. Itās fairly easy to use, works well for the most part, and itās free.
With the microphone you have to see what your claim is. I started out with a very inexpensive one and now use the Shure 55H Series II, plus a small Behringer amp.
The short video I posted here the other day was only recorded with my smartphone.
Take the time to research and compare prices is important. Otherwise you buy more than one.
2 Likes
Thanks. Iām going to stick with what I have at the moment. I have a paid for version of Ableton and want to see how it goes with the Mackie microphone before trying others. To start with Iāll experiment with things like sound and volume levels when recording, how close to have the harmonica to the microphone, trying out multi track recording e.g. I use midi keyboard controllers and a midi wind instrument controller so mixing midi and audio tracks. Iāll probably try recording with my Android phone also.
3 Likes
You are on the right track @jeffw. Thatās exactly how I approached it on the PC.
I use my cell phone depending on what Iām recording for. The quality is of course better on the PC, but the time required is also significantly greater. I donāt know your microphone, in the end you have to be satisfied.
I think the better and safer we play, the greater our demands. 
4 Likes
Youāre on the right track there. Itās all about experimentation. 
2 Likes
I recorded some harmonica the other day, it came out well. I just treated it as a vocal, 4 to 6 inches from the mic, with a foam pop filter on the microphone.
I wasnāt using any hand techniques though, and that may change things, I imagine some compression might be needed to maintain an equal volume if youāre using hand wah etc.
Iām using cheap condenser microphones, Neewer 700 and 800s, and got great results.
For that āliveā sound, where youāre holding a mic in your hands while playing, a dynamic microphone would be a better choice, but I havenāt tried that yet.
2 Likes
Just for future reference, playing the style where you treat it as a vocal we call "acoustic"playing and the style where youāre holding a mic in your hand we call āamplified.ā
Amplified playing will sound best played through some kind of bullet mic or a Sure SM57 INTO AN AMP, and then mic the amp. Although you could probably achieve an acceptable result plugging a hi gain bullet style mic straight into an interface and using some kind of amp emulation plugin.
For amplified style playing if itās not a bullet style mic, 57ās are probably the go-to because theyāre easy to cup, and getting a really good seal on a mic is part of what makes it break up and give it that dirty sound.
But yes, condenser mics are very common for recording, or ribbon mics are probably even more preferred if you happen to have one.
Itās all about experimentation though. Sometimes the strangest things turn out the coolest results!
2 Likes
Thank you for the advice. Iām highly unlikely to play āliveā so experimenting with recording using my condenser microphone is the way forward for me. I had wondered whether some sort of filter might be a good idea. Anyway I will give it a go when Iām home from the mountains! By the way I brought with me my trusty Lee Oskar and Hohner Rocket but have not treated the local sheep to an acoustic show as yet!
4 Likes
Two types of pop filter.
I use these most timesā¦
ā¦but you might need this type if youāre really playing hard.
I recommend trying a free plugin called TDR Nova. It will even the volume out a bit using it as a compressor (for the easiest use, move the blue line to -3), and by using the high pass filter, you can get rid of any unwanted hum. It can do much more, but just using those two functions will improve the sound, without you hearing any āproductionā going on, itās very transparent.
4 Likes
I donāt use a pop filter when I record harmonica because Iām generally like 2-3 feet away, and even it I were closer I donāt think Iād ever generate enough air pressure to be problematic (like the plosives on a āPā when someone sings.)
But yeah, Iām with you @Dave_Dunn I always put a high pass filter somewhere between 60 and 100 Hz to take away unecessary rumble.
And Iāll sometimes use a compressor to even out a little bit of dynamic range.
4 Likes
I had also tested in advance with a simple microphone with a filter and was hardly satisfied.
I recorded my last YouTube recording (Iāam sailing) with my Shure SH55 Series II. A few weeks ago I tested different distances here, from right in front of my nose to 2 - 3 feet. I stayed at that distance, clean good shot and it doesnāt bother me in front of my face.
Together with the Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD and laptop I am very satisfied.
4 Likes
Never played for sheep but did play for two highly amused donkeys in France.
5 Likes
Hi Robert @robertchartrand2104
Sounds like you might enjoy this Jason Ricci video ā¦ 
Regards,
ā Slim 
5 Likes
Thanks Slim. Donkeys toiled in the cotton fields and have a natural appreciation of the blues. Should compose a song like āmy baby has a nice assā. 
6 Likes
Whenever I record my harmonica or vocals to Reaper (my DAW), I use a Blue Snowball to record. It produces very clear results, if they are a little bit loud for my tastes. If you want that Chicago Blues soundā¢ļø, you can use an amp simulator VST like the one from Blue Cat Audio and mess with the presets to your tastes
5 Likes
Yep I think this is great advice @KeroroRinChou. Do you use an interface? Or does the Blue Snowball connect via USB?
1 Like
Itās a USB mic, so I just plug it into the laptop.
2 Likes
K. Awesome, thatās what I thought! Yeah thatās a great setup for others wanting to dip their toes into home recording to consider: The cheapest DAW you can find and the Blue Snowball will get ya up and running!
2 Likes
Thanks for all the tips. Plan to make a start soon - too many distractions at the moment! Interesting comment about the Blue Cat Audio amp. I already use that with various VSTs/plugins for guitar, wind controllers and keyboards - plus I also use the Blue Cat flanger, chorus and phaser. Iāll see what results I get from my Mackie microphone.
1 Like
Band lab is a free on line musicians and singers social media platform with now over 50million users worldwide instant publishing with copyright protection and lawyers who will fight for You it comes with a free in app editor DAW and mastering now dig this with Your bl account You will be eligable to download their Pro Quality standalone DAW Cakewalk which will accept almost any other available plugins vst instruments and modules works with win 8 and up comes witha variety of room templates and even a theme editor it is completely customizable is comperable to ableton pro tools any pro DAW youll need a win8 or newer computer i use my toshiba core i5 laptop it works with mac as well the bandlab app and editor come in a mobile version has a pretty good selection of midi instruments and amps and cabs and effects and Cakewalks selection of midis and effects amps cabs mics is crazy there is soo much to it you need a Good interface im using ik multimedia;s irig pro dual channel it uses usb bus power via supplied standard usb for laptop or pc or mac no drivers to download in most cases also comes with usb C and apple lightning connection Android mini all connected on the other end with a round 5 pin din propriotary plug at the device has two xlr/1/4 combo ports two 1/4 outs headphone jack will power from two AA batteries onboard if using ipad or cell phone or any 9v dc +c- wall adaptor or what i use is 9v ripcord stepped up usb adaptor from my volts.com about $20 i bought to power my pignose from an external aux powerbank or wallcharger etc on cellphone and ipad it is plug and play no hassles at all instant device recognition my laptop has some issues so it took a little work has two built in preamps for condenser type mics requiring 48v phantom power direct moniterin switchable preamps are too seperate volumes for monitoring two of them and seperate gain controls it came with amplitube five and all that stuff was a little pricey looking back id have bought without the downloads i just want the device amplitube tries to run my show just to look at an empty room because no way in hell am i going to buy all their pluggins to fill it they will try to hook you screw them it works Great with Band lab lol i also use an older focusrite saphire 6 usb pro interface that relies on bus power either one can set up like a dj rig directly to your amp for busking rig or just jamming without a digital device on bus conn. oh almost forgot the pro Dual comes with two midi adaptors and in outs as well and theres colored gain meter lights to warn you of any clipping too hope this opens up some possibilities for Folks btw they insist you use premium shielded cabling and i concur but i get by with unshielded cables tho they can be a little sensitive to interference from any cell signals an power connections that are too close
1 Like