Live Kalimba Event Review: PA Engineer Shares Experience Using the MSP Contact Pickup

 At a recent kalimba event, the PA engineer kindly provided a review after using the MSP Contact Pickup on every kalimba that appeared on stage. Below is a summary of their setup and impressions from the event.

Pickup & Setup Details

Pickup Used: MSP Pickup (123sound.jp)

Mounting Method: Attached directly to the kalimba’s bridge and key area using the MSP’s internal magnet (see reference photo). No tools or modifications required.

Signal Chain:
MSP Pickup → DI Box (BOSS DI-1) → XLR Cable → Yamaha Mixer

PA Engineer’s Impressions

As this was a one-person PA operation with no rehearsal time, all equalizing and balance adjustments had to be done through headphones alone. Despite the challenging conditions, the audience feedback was positive, which was a relief for the engineer.

This was their first time mixing kalimbas using the MSP Pickup, and they noted that there was no feedback at all, and the pickup delivered a clear, focused tone that was easy to control in a live environment.

One observation was the MSP’s relatively high output. Increasing the gain resulted in a noticeable jump in volume, so careful gain staging was necessary.

Another point was cable resonance: if the pickup’s cable touched the kalimba keys, it sometimes caused unwanted buzzing. For players unfamiliar with using external pickups, the engineer recommended checking the pickup orientation and cable routing—similar to the attention required when positioning traditional microphones.

Final Thoughts

The engineer expressed how rewarding it was to support all the performers on stage. Seeing the players enjoy themselves and perform confidently brought a sense of satisfaction and joy to the entire team.

The event demonstrated that the MSP Pickup is a practical and reliable solution for kalimba amplification, even in demanding live settings.

| 123sound.jp (MSP pickup company site) | 123sound.jp SHOP |


#MSPPickup #Kalimba #LiveSound #PAEngineer #ContactPickup #StageSetup #InstrumentPickup #EventReview

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