Damien Rices Distortion Doodah

[andydeedpoll]

hey there.

I was just watching Damien Rice on TV, and saw he was using two mics... one for ordinary vocals, and one that to me (with my very VERY limited microphone experience) looked like an SM57 with a funny bit on stuck on the end... it looked like it anyway. you could see where the 'normal' bit of the mic ended (smooth metal and stuff) and where the, well, scratty bit started... I was intrigued, and wondered what it was... it sounded Awesome.

anyone have any idea what it is that he uses? IS it something clever attached to the front of the mic? or can you buy them? not that i would but i'd like to know...

thanks in advance

andy

 

[OneRoomStudios]

I was actually lucky enough to talk to him in person about that. He takes an SM58, removes the screen, and duct tapes part of a toilet paper tube on to the end. He then runs it through a Ratt distortion pedal. It's not too fancy, but it seems to do the trick, I love the way it sounds on his voice.


-Peter

 

[Wireneck]

Damien Rice isn't ringing any bells. Anyone want to clue me in as to who he is?

 

[paddyponchero]

Heh, I see peter beat me to it. I just saw Damien on ETV was about to come on and say it looks like a bunch of duct tape and cardboard ) I used to do a similar thing for a homemade voice modulator - a bit like a talkbox.

 

[andydeedpoll]

hehe thats Ace if it is

i was beginning to think it'd be cool if it cost him like 3K and was custom made by some clever mic modifier, but a bit of cardboard and some sticky tape is at Least a Zillion times cooler hehe

i might have to make one... im pretty sure even I could manage that

thanks!

 

[paddyponchero]

hehe thats Ace if it is

i was beginning to think it'd be cool if it cost him like 3K and was custom made by some clever mic modifier, but a bit of cardboard and some sticky tape is at Least a Zillion times cooler hehe

i might have to make one... im pretty sure even I could manage that

thanks!

All it's doing is closing off the mic to stop feedback, hardly a precise or scientific thing and certainly not something I'd pay money for but I'm sure some people would. I didn't like the gritty distortion from that pedal though.

 

[Wireneck]

who the hell is he? haha you guys ignoring me

 

[CanopuS]

Irish Singer/Songwriter, basically plays acoustic and vocal tunes, with the occasional backup (drums, female vocals). He's great!

 

[tollbooth]

hey mr deedpoll

if you are interested in that sort of sound, i know it's not quite as homemade as the duck&loo solution (which was fantastic!) but i saw the Polyphonic Spree live the other week and saw them using what looked a bit like the Rice device, but a bit more roadworthy.

After further investigation, it turns out to be called a Copperphone and is actually made by the Spree bassist, Mark Pirro (www.placidaudio.com) i think it's about $250 in the US. It sounded great on stage, and it can also be heard on the new Spree album 'Together We're Heavy'.

It was also the source of some consternation at an airport recently when another member of the Spree had his luggage held by the FBI after they found the mic and assumed it to be a pipebomb! The full story is on the Copperphone website.

I do quite a bit of this sort of vocal recording, though i tend to post process the vocal part with EQ and distortion patches etc but i was thinking about demo-ing the copperphone. If anyone has - could they let me know.

I can't put my finger on it, but there is something that really lifts Damien Rice's music above the norm of the plethora of singer songwrites - there's a real genuine feel of melancholy and whimsy on 'O' and it's an enviable production job. Some wonderful sounds and stunning performances.

 

[OneRoomStudios]

Agreed, especially if you see him live. He has a power that I have not seen in any other musicians. He was born to play. I've seen him three times now and had a few conversations with him. He's a stand-up guy and an all-around amazing musician. He deserves a lot more acclaim than he's getting.