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Has anyone else recorded with an electric violin?
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violincovers

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September 15, 2012 - 7:16 pm
Member Since: September 15, 2012
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Just wondering. Right now I'm recording on an acoustic violin on an iphone multitrack app. The sound quality is not that bad, actually (see video below for example), but I've been thinking about purchasing an electric violin for a while. I've never worked with amps before, though and don't know if I can record *directly* into a computer, so that's the only thing holding me back.

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Barry
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September 15, 2012 - 7:20 pm
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I dont have an electric violin , mines acoustic, but Im also a guitar player and I use this :

 

http://compare.ebay.com/like/3.....8;var=sbar

 

I can plug an electric guitar or mic directly into it. It excepts both 1/4 inch jacks and condensor style

There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart

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ftufc
SoCal
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September 16, 2012 - 12:17 am
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Hi Ip, I've been researching EVs for about 2 months and it's come down to a Bridge Aquila (which Oliver also has) and an NS NXT (I'm leaning toward this). 

And then I'm going with the Yamaha THR10; it's a great in-home amp with incredible plug-ins and jacks directly into your computer and comes with Qbase (simple version). 

I believe this is the cleanest, easiest setup for recording and small quarters,,, and it's portable (no a/c reqd).  Check it out.

Btw, just watched your clip, you're a terrific player.

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violincovers

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September 16, 2012 - 1:52 am
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Thanks, ftufc! I'll look into the models you mentioned. 

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DanielB
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September 16, 2012 - 5:03 am
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I record directly from my electric violin sometimes.

At the most simple, any electric violin with a headphone output, you can just run a cable from it to the input of the computer's soundcard.  Then adjust levels and away you go.

If it doesn't have a headphone output, you can use one of the little mini headphone amps they make for electric guitar that plugs right into the instrument.  I have a Vox "AmPlug" I have done that with. 

At the least, I would suggest getting a splitter so you can also plug in headphones and hear yourself while recording. 

So, yes, it can be done, either just as the violin comes or with a very little bit of other gear.  It won't be necessarily a great sound, but usable for recording, since you can add effects and etc after you record a track.

Electric violins are more fun with an amp, though, since you aren't just playing the violin, you also play the amp.  Hard to explain, but you'll figure it out fast the first time you jack into a guitar amp or etc.  An amp with at least some reverb and it definitely starts getting fun, and you can get some really nice and neat sounds.

For practice, I most often play my electric unamplified.  I can hear well enough unamplified or use the headphone jack if the house is being too noisy for me to hear well enough, and then I can walk around the house and not have to fuss with cables.

But yeah, you can definitely record an electric violin direct.  I can't say for sure they all sound decent that way, but mine is a very inexpensive electric, and it does.  So probably most do.

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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violincovers

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September 16, 2012 - 7:27 pm
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Thank you, DanieB!! Really helpful. Out of curiosity, have you (or anyone else) ever tried using an apple product (i.e. ipad/iphone/mac) to record from a live electric violin, plugged into an amp? If so, how is the sound quality? I'm a little worried that electric might sound too loud for an Apple product microphone. Or maybe there's a way to adjust the volume...

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 16, 2012 - 8:39 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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I've done it violincovers. You would not be happier with the sound that comes from an electric violin. Quite the opposite. On the other hand, you would love the sound that you could get using a great pick-up on your violin directly into any laptop or iPhone. Also, an electric acoustic violin is completely different and can be a fantastic choice for you. Solid body not so much unless you would like to work with effects.

You see the biggest problem in getting a good sound with the iphone is the built-in microphone. It is by nature of physics not possible to make a great microphone that is built into the product as opposed to protruding outside of it.
The best mic that we sell is the "Countryman Isomax II" but with that kind of microphone you must beware of feedback when performing close to an amplifier. Recording is no problem unless you have monitors pointing towards your violin at high volumes.
Next comes "The Realist" transducer or the Realist Electric Violin. Both are great and more or less trouble free.
After that comes the Barcus Berry Clamp-on bridge piezo pick-up, which, for the money can't be beat. Just need to make sure that you secure it really good so that there are no external vibrations. (We sell a Barcus Berry Electric violin that has a great reputation but I have not tested it yet)
The least expensive alternative is the Super-sensitive pickup which couldn't be easier to use. Slightly dark and hollow sound but very pleasant non the less.

Hope this helps.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Mad_Wed
Russia, Tatarstan rep. Kazan city
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September 18, 2012 - 4:18 pm
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I have the electric. Record it directly to PC. No problem. I use Korg AX5G - guitar signal processor for effects, though applications for that purpose are useful as well. Quite fun! =)

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