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The band wants me to build a French Horn Reflector. Nothing more then a 2’ x 8’ piece of plywood or other type of material 30” high sitting on the floor in back of the four French Horn players chairs. Anyone know of a site that has such a thing? It needs to be tilted back on an angle. I don’t know anything about them but I could build one if I saw one. If not, I’ll just build what I think it should be. Thanks for any info. Not knowing anything about then what I build on my own may not work.
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I've never seen nor heard such a thing, and I don't know why it would be needed. Four French horns should be able to be heard with no assistance. However, there is this product: SR-30 Sound Reflector Pelican Music Publishing has 1 remaining Sound Reflectors for sale at the price of $75.00 each. Due to the continued increase of plastic, Pelican Music is deciding to temporarily discontinue the sale of the sound reflector until less expensive materials can be found. If there is interest in the 1 remaining sound reflectors, please contact sales@pelicanmusicpublishing.com.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I haven't heard of this device but it sounds like a hard surface for the french horn sound waves to bounce from and to reflect out into the audience. To keep the sound reflections within the "sound" of the orchestra, I wouldn't have the angle too far from vertical. My guess is that the board probably needs to be around 10 - 15 degrees back from the vertical. This should reflect the waves slightly up and over the orchestra.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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*If you can construct it such that the angle is adjustable from the perpendicular (to floor) to about a 37 degree angle or so, that would be cool.
Wingnuts, washers and slotted pine support braces on each side would be one way to accomplish that easily enough. Sturdier support and possibly easier construction would involve drilling a series of measured holes in the braces at one end of each, bolt placement determines tilt position. Good job for the Carriage Bolt here.
Pay particular attention to the height of the thing, FH players seated, their bells are pointing back but actually rather low to the ground...
--Mac
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Matt,
At first one-member thinks it is because the Sax player’s sit in back of the French Horns and is too loud for them. Well that is one reason but no, the director tells me there is such a thing and is used in orchestras.
Noel and Mac, we are on the same wavelength. I am thinking just that. It will be adjustable. We can experiment somewhat that way. Also I have to make it lightweight and portable. The Music Hall is rented out all the time and we have to put things away. The legs will be hinged and fold up so we are talking about storing a 2 foot by 8 foot 30” high ¼” piece of plywood. Plywood may not work all that well so we can also experiment with different materials. Concert coming up this Sunday. It will be ready for them. Thanks for the help. Back to the shop….
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Yes, I didn't say it does not exist, only that I've never seen nor heard it. There can't be too much to it, if that link I gave you markets one as $75 worth of plastic. Sounds like a big Plexiglas panel.
Your alternate explanation is very funny; it's not to be a French horn reflector so much as a sax blocker! Such thoughts are usually reserved for the trumpet section...
Good luck with it.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Tell them to take their hands out of the bell, so we can hear them!
Actually I was thinking it was probably the percussion section in back that was complaining.. so the sax story made me smile.
Hire more French Horn Players; problem solved... or turn their chairs around - they are always stairing at the music stand anyway.
I actually looked at a couple hundred pictures of orchestras this morning trying to see what it was; not one of them had anything behind the French Horns Unless there happened to be a ledge or wall there that was part of the stage...
I'll have to ask at the parents music store this weekend. They supply many schools and Universities with instruments and accessories. Maybe they have heard of it.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Hire more French horn players? Perhaps there is stimulus money for that.
Bob, I've played in many bands where I played whatever instrument they didn't have, and that includes both French horn and tenor sax. There is nothing more boring in most concert band music than the tenor sax part. You count forever, play some off-beats, count forever again, play some whole notes. It's amazing, given how expressive the instrument can be, that this is the case in so much band music. The French horn parts were much more fun.
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Take their valves away and go old school. Hand horns.
Or buy them bell forward Baris, LOL
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Buy them some Conn mellophoniums, like the Kenton band used.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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The marching band I can no longer march in due to health issues (I do play the stand still stuff though), has about 12 sopranos 4 altos, 4 mellows, 3 baritones and 4 contras, all bell forward G horns. I sure can belt out high notes on a G horn LOL.
Add a 12C mouthpiece and I'm Maynard Ferguson, not.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Um, in the studio, we call this "reflector" just another Gobo...
Some Gobos have a hard side and a soft side. Turn it around and tilt it.
--Mac
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Back from the Concert and using the reflector. The band commented on hearing the French Horns. It did work well and will work even better when I correct the wrong info they gave me.
When they had me take measurements the French Horn chairs was on the floor. It was 31” to the top of the chair. When I build the reflector and took it to the concert the French Horn chairs where up on a platform 7 ½’ higher.
No big deal. All I have to do is change the two legs that hold the reflector and add 7 ½”. I did pitch it back 15 degrees. It seems to be just right. Now I know way you don’t see many of these things. Most bands just have the French Horn players turn their chairs around and face the back wall.
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