UKULELES, MUSICAL EQUIPMENT, BACKPACKING AND RECORDING GEAR, PLUS TIPS AND ADVICE
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The elegant CloudMusic TT12 Tenor uke is the the ‘bigger one’ of the #GoingNorth Adventure.
Very important that, on composing-adventures to have an instrument with more resonance, something that really rings. I actually write differently depending on which ukulele I’m playing. With this one I can enjoy simple chords more and I have more space for intricate solos and rhythm in songs about embarking on icy escapades !
Let me unpack the name here real quick: T is short for Tap Hua Xin, which in Chinese, means Mahogany. The top is mahogany (gets a T) and the front and back is also mahogany (gets another T). So TT.
Number numbers: a 1 will indicate solid wood, and a 2 signals laminated wood. So TT12 means that the top part is mahogany (T), solid wood (1), and the side and back of the uke are mahogany (T), laminated wood (2). So step right up TT12 !
“A Tenor in Akureyri”, three-part opera
This one is for those who have a bit more space in the backpack, or at home. But there’ll be more space for your fingers too, and there’s such a great comfort that comes with that, especially on this really enjoyable fretboard.
If you’re up for exploring said fretboard, from bottom to top, getting your fingers on one of these is a good whim. Your fingers will thank you, as you embark on quite a trip, even staying at home: notice how your playing, and your appreciation of what you play will stealthily change for the better.
Take the tenor leap of faith.
VIEW THE TT12 ON THE CLOUDMUSIC WEBSITE available only in concert size at the moment.
Quite the view-ke
The CloudMusic TT22 Soprano is the soprano uke of the #GoingNorth adventure ! TT22S for short.
My TT22S got a bit of a Iceland makeover at the Rejkjavik school of arts
Let me unpack the name real quick: T is short for Tap Hua Xin, which in Chinese, means Mahogany. The top is mahogany (gets a T) and the front and back is also mahogany (gets another T). So TT.
And here with a little binary language, a number 1 will indicate solid wood, and a number 2 signals laminated wood. So TT22S means that the top part and side and back of the uke are both: mahogany, laminated. And the it’s S for small. Err no! Soprano!
The TT22 at the wheel!
This little fellow actually has quite the resonance. A balanced warmth of sound, and playing comfort that would easily rival much pricier competitors.
I’m guessing it was designed with loving homes by the fireplace or fun nights out on the beach in mind. But actually it did impressively well in a crammed van and outdoors, in the harsh low temperatures of Canada and Iceland !
Soprano on the beach
The ukulele helped me right and record some of my favourite songs of the trip, like l’Instant, or By the Banks of Ontario Lake:
It even took a dip with me in the most delightful outdoor baths one could imagine, and came out absolutely fine. Refreshed even.
This ukulele model is also the one CloudMusic has donated to the ‘Ukulele Kids Club’ which forwards these to hospitalised kids all over the world. As a teacher I keep recommending it to students, and it’s been very special seeing them with the same special model a TT22S, that accompanied me on the Wint’ry roads.
Get your own CloudMusic TT22 here:
Living on the road, you really pay attention to every 100g that must be part of the adventure. And as I share Podcasts and recordings with you during these travels, I need a decent USB mic that won't take over half my house (i.e. my Backpack).
The Varna Episode of the Podcast, Bulgaria, was recorded with the Samson USB Go mic
And the Samson portable mic does just that! It takes a tiny amount of space, is extremely light and enables me to record and share content with you from the road. I use it for the recordings of the Ukulele Road Trips Podcast, and also when recording arrangements to add to my musical videos filmed with a camera.
It's about the size of a thumb and folds nicely back into it's little stand. As you can see from the picture, it's really easy to place and to get the direction right. And all you need to plug it in to your laptop is a small USB cable.
The Samson Go Mic is also equipped with a practical clip, if you’re into clipping things. Most of the time, I put it down in front of the guests of the podcast, no too close to my laptop. And then we get chatting! The base of the Go Mic means its clip is also designed as a tiny clip, which folds back neatly around the mic when you’re done.
Most often, I just put it down in front of the Podcast guests, not too close to the laptop to avoid getting the noise of the cooling system, and then, we get chatting! That simple.
Depending on the type of recording you are doing, the Samson Go Mic also enables you to choose between “cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns” - which in non-expert speak, means that you can choose to record the whole room, 360° (omnidirectional), or direct your recording towards a specific source of sound (cardioid).
You can also choose the -10dB setting if a sound source is really loud. (very good for the ukulele, if you’re recording really up close).
This mic has also enabled me to record loads of instruments and voices straight to my mixing programm on my laptop, on the go! A lot of my Bulgaria Album even, was recorded in Hostel in Bulgaria, with the Samson Go Mic.
