what is the recipe for an amazing sounding triangle?

[runrunrun]

i recorded some triangle for a few songs i am working on and the tone sounds pretty good. (KM84 > PM1000 > Digi 001)

the hits are fairly consistent, but not as even as i would like them. ive been playing with compression and minor gating, which definitely helps, its just not quite there yet.

i am contemplating picking the best hit and copying it for all of them, but im not ready for that yet. anyone have any other suggestions?

[djimbe]

If the triangle is a fairly steady part, or at least regularly comes and goes in a single song, I prefer NOT to pick the best single one and drop it everywhere. That usually sounds to "mechanical" or "generated" or something to me. Not organic like a real triangle. You tried to get 'em all the same and didn't quite make it, right? Welcome to the triangle...they can be like that. Instead of finding the best one, I look for the crappiest two or three, and replace those with one of the keepers; sometimes the same keeper, sometimes several different of the keepers. I try to work with the flow and mood of the song so the edits sound more like part of the performance than an edit or a 'dub.

If the part is spare, and the triangle is just a single hit for emphasis, then maybe you can get away with using the same one. Distance between hits in a song really helps with the "copy one everywhere" approach...

[pantone247]

Instead of finding the best one, I look for the crappiest two or three, and replace those with one of the keepers; sometimes the same keeper, sometimes several different of the keepers. /quote]

good advice

if you do end up cutting pasting, try and find a few hits and arrange them in a row, if you then have to copy or loop this do it in 3 or 5's or 6's, not 4's or 8's cause I find (if your songs in 4/4) you start getting a loopy pattern off them, rather then a natural feel

[ckeene]

Sidenote:

This sounds really retarded, but do you have a good sounding triangle? There's a big difference btw a cheap 9 dollar guitar center triangle and a nice Grover or whatever. The cheap ones sound really muddy in comparison

[joeysimms]

i recorded some triangle for a few songs i am working on and the tone sounds pretty good. (KM84 > PM1000 > Digi 001)

the hits are fairly consistent, but not as even as i would like them. ive been playing with compression and minor gating, which definitely helps, its just not quite there yet.

i am contemplating picking the best hit and copying it for all of them, but im not ready for that yet. anyone have any other suggestions?

haha! For some reason I assumed this thread was a put-on..


I would say just practice a bit getting the hits more consistent. I don't agree with cutting and pasting. What fun is that?

[xusr]

This sounds really retarded, but do you have a good sounding triangle

It's so true, though. Black Swamp also makes fantastic triangles. They're not cheap, but they are the real deal. Also, check out the beater you are using; it could help to go lighter or heavier, depending on the capability of the percussionist.

[runrunrun]

i used a cheap triangle that sounds pretty good, im sure a more expensive one would help but its not a real high priority right now.

i think i might do a little cutting and pasting as per djimbes advice. thanks for the tips.

[earth tones]

No doubt about securing a quality source to begin with. I was reluctant accompaniment to a lesser mortal who still shops at guitar center (just kidding), where I experienced first-hand that which is the "guitar center triangle". I am not sure what series of harmonics should be expected from a triangle, however, the tone emitted was all over the place. A filtered derivative of white noise...absolutely unusable musically. I would also start with a decent instrument.

[drumsound]

Don't forget the where you hit the triangle and the space you play it in make a ginormus difference.

[vvv]

I so wanted to post a picture of Ed Grimley...

[Bill @ Irie Lab]

Dear OOT,

In textbooks I've read on arranging for orchestra they relate that because of the unique harmonic series (up to pooch hearing only frequencies) of the triangle little thought need be given to it being heard in the densest arrangement. The amount of massed strings, horn blasts, kettle drum rolls, etc. that occur concurrently are of no consequence - the conservatory dude's way of saying "it'll cut through the mix".

This leads me to suggest (although I haven't tried it) that having the trianglist (?) play while tracking the drums wiould be picked up fine by the room or overhead mics.

Making it more organic to the percussion? I don't know; just thinking out loud. Not worthy to even be called my two cents.

Bill