How to mute an external Schertler signal (XLR)

[Rob Gerety]

Any suggestions how to mute the signal from my Schertler Dyn between tunes - for warming up and tuning etc.?

[mandowilli]

I just ordered one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product

It will require cutting an existing cable and soldering it.

[foldedpath]

Rob, what's the first thing you're plugging the pickup into? If it's a mixer, just run an insert cable (1/4" TRS) into the channel insert on the mixer, with breakout 1/4" mono cables on the other end. Plug those into a tuner pedal and you're all set. I do that with my StroboStomp tuner, but it will work with any tuner pedal that mutes the signal. You could also use an A/B switcher to kill the signal.

There are stomp boxes designed to mute mic signals between the mic and a mixer, but I haven't had good results with them. The ones I've tried either leak signal when muted, or have a "pop" when the signal is interrupted. You're working with a low-level signal there. So, send it to a mixer, and after it's beefed up to line level (or close), you can send it out to a tuner pedal and back to the PA.

[mandroid]

Yup those Nutrik switched mic cable ends do the job .

Clean and simple.

I sit close to my AC 60, most of the time.. hit the mute button, on it then.

[rynando]

Proco makes a "power mute" that will do what you need. These will work with a microphone and won't produce any popping. Here's one that has an on-off light and can be momentary or latching:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...ELAID=26018559

The passive ones are cheaper however the on-off LED is a nice feature.

[Rob Gerety]

Good ideas. I like the idea of a foot switch. I'm going straight into a mixer. Usually across the stage however. I'd like to have a foot pedal. Maybe something I could also use with an external mic on a stand from time to time when I mic my instrument. But I know you need to find a good one. I just now noticed that Orchid makes a foot pedal to mute mics - here is John's description of the stock unit -

"This is a design for use with balanced microphones (dynamic or condenser types) – and has been supplied to the UK Distributor of DPA (very nice) microphones, which are widely used with violins, cellos and other instruments.

It is powered from the applied Phantom from the mixer, which is fed onto the microphone (essential for the DPA and other condenser mics, but won’t harm your Schertler in any way) – and has silent muting, a tuner output (present all the time) – and a stage amplifier output, which mutes with the main output to the mixer. A red LED shows when muted.

$95 (USD) including carriage to the US."

Orchid makes good stuff. Very high quality components and quiet. I might give that a try. I just ordered a mutable DI/Preamp from them for guitar and maybe they could throw a mic switch in the same box. I'm told that the switch system Orchid uses is 100% silent.

[mandowilli]

I also have a Roland AC-60 amp and when using that I use a Boss FS-5L latching foot switch that mutes the amp and its direct out.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...FZRa2godYTfSJg

[Rob Gerety]

Does that work with a mic?

[Gene Korte]

....... or keep it simple and use the Planet Waves cord with the built-in on/off switch. I've been using this cord for a number of years when playing with our church worship team. It eliminates the banging noises when returning the mando to its stand or tuning up using a clip-on tuner.

[Gene Korte]

Sorry. Jumped the gun with my response. I now see that your connection is XLR vs. mine with a built-in Schertler. My bad.

[mandowilli]

If your connection is 1/4" then it would be an easy thing. Just get a simple a/b switch and don't plug anything into the b side. When you hit the switch you are muted.

[mandowilli]

Does that work with a mic?

Do you mean does the AC-60 work with an xlr connection?
If so, the answer is yes. It has 2 inputs, one xlr with phantom power if you need it and the other 1/4".

[mandroid]

And, the XLR input in the AC60[or 90] is Duplex type,
so a TRS balanced 1/4" cord works as well as the the XLR microphone cable connector.
Schertler [c-dyn-s] in the Mix has a TRS jack in it.

[Tbone]

Looks like this should do the trick:

http://www.amazon.com/Rolls-Micropho...pd_sim_sbs_e_2

[Rob Gerety]

Do you mean does the AC-60 work with an xlr connection?
If so, the answer is yes. It has 2 inputs, one xlr with phantom power if you need it and the other 1/4".

So you go from Schertler to Roland with XLR - and where does the mute switch go in the chain? Are you taking XLR from the Roland to the mixing desk?

Yea, that Rolls would work. The Orchid has some more features - but it also cost twice as much. Just depends if you want the extra features I suppose.

[mandowilli]

If you are going to use the mic foot switch it has to go before the amp input so that it will mute the amp as well.
I go xlr from the amp to the board.
For now I am going to use this in the cable from the schertler to the amp.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product

[mandroid]

anyhow

A) there's one, a button, next to the amp power switch ..

B) the F end of the cable one, is plugged into a Microphone without a switch.
or the end of the cable attached to the Dyn Pickup .
if you are out of arm's reach of the amp button, and using a mic cable anyhow ..
Neutrik NC3FXS XLR Female with On-Off Switch .. it's just another cable end.

External PU plug goes in my pocket, plugged in to a mic cable
just happens to have that ring switch on it.

[Tbone]

Looks like this should do the trick:

http://www.amazon.com/Rolls-Micropho...pd_sim_sbs_e_2

Hey everyone, I picked up one of these rolls mic switches for about $55 shipped priority. Had a chance to use it last week at a gig, and it worked great! No complaints. Now if I could just get our banjo player to use one....

It's only been used once, but so good so far.

[mandowilli]

tbone, any noise when you engage the mute on that unit?

[Tbone]

Nope, not that I noticed in the mains or the in-ears.