Gurls Guide to Amplification /

Deborah Henson-Conant

Table of Contents
1 Basic Concepts
11
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

11

Why Amplify?
Quickstart Guide
Zen and the Art of Sound Systems
What is Signal Flow?
Converting Sound to Signal
Adding Effects to the Signal Flow
In Other Words...
Amps & Speakers: Combo/ Separate
Whats in a Name? Aliases & Pop Quiz

2 Build Your System

21

Convert - Connect - Amplify

22 Convert - Vocal Mic, Lapel Mic, Pickup
23 Connect - Cables
25 Amplify - Basic Combo Amp
26 Start Small: 3 Simple Sound Setups
27 Basic Add-Ins: Pre-amp, Distortion
Pedal, Looper
28 Daisy-Chaining Effects
29 Wireless Connections
30 Gurls Guide to Getting Gear

3 Get Ready!

33

Getting Sound OUT of your

Instrument & INTO an Amp
35 4 Ways to transform sound to
signal / What is Front?
36 Turning Acoustic Harps into ElectroAcoustic (Installing a Pickup)
37 Hip-Harp Amplification Kit
38 Electric Harps
39 Amplified Acoustic versus Electric
40 Electric Harp Anatomy 101
42 Birth of an Instrument: The Baby Blue
43 Solid-Body Electric Harness Harps
45 A Bit about Headset Mics
46 What About Midi Harps???

4 Troubleshooting
48
49
50
52
53
54
55
56

47

How to Think
What to Do
Common Problems
Feedback
My Favorite Fixes & Feedback Loop
Pet Peeves / Dumb Things I Did
Troubleshooting the Daisy-Chain
Labeling

5 Expanding

57

Building a More Complex Sound System

58 More Complex PA or Sound System
60 The Direct Box
62 Advanced Cable Knowledge: Stereo
Cables & Insert Cables
63 Speaker Cables vs Instrument Cables
64 Cables In & Out of the Mixing Board

6 WorkingWellwithOthers 65
66
68
69
72
75
78
79
80
82
84
85

Random Conceptual Stuff

Documentation
Tech Rider Example 1
Tech Rider Example 2
Sound Check in Action
Bring a Demo CD
Signalling the Sound Engineer
Monitors
Unusual Circumstances
Notes on Recording Sound
Recording an Acoustic Harp

7 Reference
88
94
97
98
101
102
103
106
107
108

87

Glossary
FAQs
My Own Checklists & Stuff
Tech Packing
Sound & Tech Setup
Gig Packing Checklist
Harp Tech Checklist
Sound & Stage Setup w/Orchestra
Lighting Setup w/Orchestra
Tech Setup for Trio

Anecaidn otes
StoriIfeI sDi&
d It All Ag

6
Amp
21 My First
t & Explore
en
rim
32 Expe
s
Amplified Harp
34 My First
t Crews
Pi
&
s
rp
Ha
st
38 Crash-Te
e Baby Blue
Instrument - Th
42 Birth of an
ne Tuner Trick
57 Mighty Fi
eck Poetry
76 Sound Ch
s
79 Signal
-Out
82 The Drop
Vu
j
De
82
, Please
84 Speak Up
w Harp
/ Vision of a Ne
ick
Tr
86 Treble
ations
96 Good Vibr

2010 Deborah Henson-Conant, All Rights Reserved worldwide. May not be copied, distributed or otherwise posted or shared without prior written permission.
If you have this file (or a printout) and didnt pay for it, you deprive author & publisher of their rightful royalties. Please pay for your copy by purchasing the download at http://www.HipHarp.
com or email info@HipHarp.com for directions on how to pay for your copy. Thank you! - Deborah Henson-Conant