sound mirror

[Slugger]

Hi....has anybody truied out the sound mirror....do you have any feedback..

Thanks alot

[saxboy]

Hi Slugger,
I have been using them for a couple of years now. They are really helpful to hear your self in loud settings - tone and pitch all made more easy.
The design is pretty lame though. I have seen a few guys here on the West Coast with a better design that hooked to the back of the bell instead of the front, making it a must to remove before placing it on a stand. They also break pretty easy and guys can look down at you for using them if they think there not cool.
I keep one in each case and use them all the time live, unless the monitors are great. I often just have it out in case I can't hear as the band gets louder.
The sound off the bell is the sound you mic and amplify, so why not hear it yourself too?
SAXBOY

[colibri]

Sounds mirrors are great in amplified settings, especially when you're recording live. However you should use it for just that.

Some people like what they hear so much that they indulge themselves with having the sound mirror in front of them at all times, even while just practicing. Then their sound goes bye-bye.

[saxboy]

I don't think anyone should do anything "ALL THE TIME"

That would make us Music People to easy to figure out.

One thing I dealt with 10+ years ago...
You are the only one in the World that hears "Your Sound" like that. The entire World hears what comes out the bell with no internal confusion.

I put high value on getting the sound to the whole world I want. I put little value on how cool I think I am or fat I sound because Im standing on the wrong side of the horn.

I have students / players ask me comparative questions about sound and tone all the time. I walk them to a wall - any flat hard surface; and even the playing field for them to hear and compare.

I have had students get way too bright thinking they are getting my sound. Well, it might be close but add body resonance, internal and external hearing, standing behind the sax with ears facing either way =
You hear a muffled, none directional, room sound with your body resonating and feeling the sound all at once.

If that same student starts toward the presence and brightness a clean directional sound will provide; They are gonna have to sound like a BUZZ SAW to get the same tone from there position.
When I stick the student and Me on the same wall, it all makes sense for them = BIG TIME.

As far as practice with it? Why? I hear "that version" of my sound lots already and there are so many loud rooms or different surfaces (glass, plaster, wood...) to enjoy this week.

If Music is an Art Of Communication - The goal of Communication is getting the desired message, heard and understood, to the recipient/s.

I spent almost 1 year practicing and performing with my electronics for sax, using headphones at home to practice.
That was just a MOMENT of the 30+ years I have been at it and served a valuable part of AN ONGOING JOURNEY.

Enjoy the journey - learn along the way

saxboy

[JL]

Good stuff, saxboy! I haven't tried the sound mirror, but when I practice at home, I walk around and play in different places. Sometimes I'll blow into the corner for awhile, then into a flat wall, or a mirror, and then I'll walk into the middle of the room and blow out into empty space. Or go into a different room. Every change in position yields a different sound. What I try to do is get a good sound in all cases. I don't know if this really helps my overall tone quality, but it sure is fun. Cheers.

[dolphy]

I don't care for the bell mounted sound mirrors. I've got a "Note Bandit" sound sheild which attaches to my mic stand.

[MS]

Enjoyable and interesting thread. It sure takes time to learn what to listen for in different situations, and develop the sensitivity/ memory needed for some situations. I agree that you want the audience enjoying your playing, regardless of what you sound like up close. This can be a hard time for yougsters/inexperienced players to learn what to listen for.