Hi,

I play electroacoustic harp. Here is the one I play:

The Blue

I am no stranger to amplification but I have a question.

The instrument has a series of piezo arrays arranged in 4 channels. As shipped they are all passive. I am considering changing the bass channel to magnetic pickups (probably P bass).

Can the T1 manage these signals without additional preamplification?

A good friend tours with a Panaray system, and about 500 pounds of additional equipment.

Basically we would LOVE to lose a ton of processing gear and be able to travel much lighter if possible.

Thanks!

Hi, blueharp! Welcome to your first post on this forum!

quote:

Originally posted by blueharp:
The instrument has a series of piezo arrays arranged in 4 channels. As shipped they are all passive...Can the T1 manage these signals without additional preamplification?...

Is yours really blue like shown in the picture? Really interesting ... I've not seen one "live" before.

I looked at the technical document for the electronics (PDF download), and it looks to me like the T1 ought to handle the 3 primary bands of pickups (Hi, Mid, Low) really nicely ... 3 XLR cables to the T1, and you're all set to control the balance to your "heart's content"! (... or, better, to your ears' "tingling pleasure" ... ).

The only potential issue might arise if you wanted to mix in some of that 4th soundboard pickup channel. You'd have to convert the XLR output to 1/4" for the T1's channel 4/5 input. The T1 may have enough gain to handle it, but, at worst, you might need a small single-channel box between that 4th output and the T1; it wouldn't need to be fancy, just a straight pre-amp. The T1 can handle most any other "processing" you'd like to do.

quote:

A good friend tours with a Panaray system, and about 500 pounds of additional equipment. Basically we would LOVE to lose a ton of processing gear and be able to travel much lighter if possible.

Just think: A Model II L1 with 2 B1's, a T1, the harp, maybe one more piece of electronics the size of your hand (4th channel preamp), and 4-5 cables (besides power cords).... you can tour in almost any vehicle which can carry the harp!

One additional thought: If you sing, speak, or have occasional "guest instruments/soloists/vocalists" perform with you, I would get a second T1 to use for them (with the optional external power supply!). The output of that second T1 would be connected to the analog input of the L1.

The first T1 would be dedicated to the harp -- and the 2nd T1 could also serve as a backup.

Hi Dan!

Thanks for responding so quickly!

I am really impressed that you took the time to read the technical information on the website. What is cool about Camac is that the CEO is a hot Jazz harp player and he is married to one of the best harpists in the world - so they actually use the products they make.

The version of the harp I have is slighly different cosmetically - some touches of gold here and there - but it is most definately blue. Knida brings a whole new meaning to "blues harp" (everyone groans at the bad pun).

The output jacks are actually locking 1/4" jacks rather than XLR. Camac tried XLR for a while and decided not to use them. I rarely use the soundboard pickup as it "quacks" too much for my taste is renders the instrument really suceptible to feedback.

As I mentioned I am considering changing the 4th channel to magnetic pickups mounted near the 12 lowest bass strings. Hopefully the T1 channel 4/5 would be able to manage them.

quote:

Just think: A Model II L1 with 2 B1's, a T1, the harp, maybe one more piece of electronics the size of your hand (4th channel preamp), and 4-5 cables (besides power cords).... you can tour in almost any vehicle which can carry the harp!

I do think of it! I have played electric/amplified harp since the early '90s. Unfortunately in the past it has required quite a bit of outboard processing to sound acceptable. Frankly I got tired of moving a rack of processors normally used by a full band and a PA. I'm not getting any younger

I never considered the possibility of using a second T1 for additional channels. Interesting...

Now I just need to get my hands on one to try out...

quote:

Originally posted by blueharp:
... I rarely use the soundboard pickup as it "quacks" too much for my taste is renders the instrument really suceptible to feedback....

When you get one, try some of the guitar Presets on that soundboard channel ... guitars have to deal with that piezo quack, and there may be a preset that makes that soundboard channel useful to lightly supplement the main 3 channels of pickup as they are.

LOT's of things to play with, between having 4 instrument outputs, Bose Presets, zEQ, Parametric EQ, etc...!!

1/4" connections, of course, are not a problem for the T1 on any channel, either.