How To: Miking Acoustic Instruments

Some of our competitors have been making a lot of noise recently about the level of real-time, personal support they offer.  Here at Shure, an announcement like that wouldn’t be news or advertising copy. We’ve been offering one-on-one customer service since 1933.

This strong foundation was built by Sidney N. Shure, the company’s founder.  According to Michael Pettersen, Apps’ head honcho: “His philosophy was that you do good for society.  You don’t lie to customers … ever. And building long-term trust is more important than the sale.”

The Shure Apps (Applications Engineering) Group is a cadre of eight product and audio pros with over 150 years of combined experience.  This team exists to provide technical guidance to Shure customers and prospective customers.

They’re the authors of Shure’s how-to booklets.
They are the archivists of the 3,300-question FAQ section of the Shure site.
They review every issue of Shure Notes to make sure we’re giving you solid advice.

But more importantly …

This month, we’re catching up with Crispin Tapia, part-time bassman and full time Apps expert.

It’s amazing to discover the longevity of the typical Apps engineer at Shure. What about you, Cris?
I’ve been at Shure for 12 years. It will be 13 in December.

And if I’m right, you probably took an indirect route to get here.
Since I picked up a guitar as a kid, I’ve always wanted to work in the music industry in some capacity. Rock star didn’t quite pan out. After a slight detour through “regular” jobs in city government, I combined my experience as a musician, my college studies in Audio Engineering. With a little luck, I landed a job at Shure. I started out in the Customer Service Department.

Michael Pettersen, who runs Apps, say that everyone here has a specialty in terms of his or her audio expertise and what they can offer Shure customers.   What’s yours?
My specialties are more or less in the music performance and recording side of things. Mainly live sound, wireless systems, personal monitors, and recording applications.

Some of that probably comes from the fact that you’re still performing, right?
I am a musician. My main instrument is bass, but I also play guitar. Currently playing with Gino Sigismondi and Matt Koschak (fellow Shure associates) in a cover band.  That means we get to use Shure products in real world rock and roll situations.

You’re the lucky Shure Notes® Answer Man of the Month.  Got one for us?
Recently, with all that has been going on with the DTV transition and the 700 Megahertz band re-allocation, a lot of my time has been spent coordinating frequencies for wireless microphone users. I have also been assisting customers who are using the X2u XLR to USB adapter with various computer and software combinations.

Here’s an example:  A customer thought he had installed the X2u incorrectly. When plugging it in to his MacBook, the System Preferences window indicated that “the device has no input controls”.

“It’s hard to keep track of all the recording software available these days, but we work with the customer to get things set up properly.”

The customer mistook this to mean he would have no control over the monitoring level or input level. I explained that the X2u takes over the audio into and out of the computer and the software being used, and that it uses its onboard analog mic gain, headphone volume, and monitor blend controls to perform all the necessary adjustments.
Other times customers need help in selecting the X2u as the input device in their software. It’s hard to keep track of all the recording software available these days, but we work with the customer to get things set up properly.

Have a question?  Need to connect with the Shure Applications Engineering Group?
Call them at 847 600 8440, e-mail or visit the FAQ section of the Shure website.