Forum of the Saxes

JAZZY J · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Los Angeles

I recorded myself playing alto sax today, and found that during the recording, I could hear the pads, sounding off when they came in contact with the tone holes.

there was no one key in particular, every key did it, how do I get rid of it?

reisio · Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 177 Location: Florida

What model microphone did you use?
1. Did it have a film/screen over/in front of it?
2. Where'd you position the microphone in relation to your sax?
3. Don't suppose you were using a gate?
Do you ever notice your keys flapping about while you play, or only really on recordings?
What model sax do you have?
Are your fingers far from the keys when they're not pressing them?

JPSaxMan · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:42 am Post subject:

This can be a natural occurence. There's nothing wrong with your horn, it's just that maybe the pads are older and will make noise doing this. The pads and the key action could be noisy. The older a horn gets, natural noises start coming out of the key action. I've heard this a lot with Kenny G, who plays on Mark VI's. I remember on one song he did you could distinctly hear the keys flopping as he did notes. Not all of the keys do it, but when certain keys are pressed at the right time you'll get this. I've even had it happen with my new horn but that's because I was way too close to the mic and if I sneezed it would have been a blast from the past.

Reisio was asking how far away your fingers were from the keys prior to pressing them because if your fingers are "flying", they might come flying down on the keys causing a slamming noise (or the pad contacting the tone hole). No big deal, nothing wrong with the horn just something natural or something you're doing. Cool

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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

JAZZY J · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Los Angeles

Yeah, it was me alright, just had my new alto set up, the action is much softer than my old Vito, or my Martin C-Mel, so I caught myself slamming the keys.

all is well now, thanks for the input.

darby dylan · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 63

My teacher has had a new thing that under the pads the rubber things are this special kangoeroe ledder.
And now you don't hear anything.

Tully · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 170 Location: Woodinville, WA

Also, not to state the obvious, but be sure you don't position the mic too close to your horn!
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My sound clips.