I thought I'd drop in some of my thoughts before revealing the results, although most of you are going to figure out a bunch of them after hearing my thoughts. Still for the final reveal, I'm going to wait until Craig can rate them for us. For those of you who did the listening..... kfhkhkfhkh
When auditioning these, I tend to go with my first impressions and run with it. Like I said earlier, good instrument, good player - and it's hard to go wrong.
For the inside kicks, there were a lot of surprises for me. One was an old standby that seldom sees any use anymore - #1. I thought it full bodied, but still "clicky". #2 surprised me. A popular "referal" on GS. Too thin for me. I think it needed a different placement. In terms of me finding something that I can mold and sculpt into what I want exactly - I think #4 gives me the most raw material. I believe this is Craig's fav. Sounds most like the kick in the room. I've been using mic #5 for quite awhile. I'm still happy with it's sound. It's pretty funny when you hear the mic solo'd by itself isn't it!!
Outside kick - i could use any of these and get what I wanted. During the session #4 was a clear standout to craig and I. I think maybe it's down in level a bit and that's why no one is choosing it. The bottom on that mic is TIGHT!!! With Kick #2 who needs a subkick! heh If I wanted huge bottom, I'd probably choose #5 as it's a little more "controlled" than 3. The tube mics really "bloom" out and get phat on the low end. Poor #1, a venerable 30 year classic for this application.
I still like it, but it's not my first choice. Really, any of these mics have the goods. You can easily tell they don't have the "sculpted" EQ curves that the dynamic (inside) purpose built kick mics have.
Hi Hats. I gotta agree with Junior. #2 has a sweetness up top. Not too bright, but easily brightened up if needed. #1 is a studio staple for HH's. #3 had a cool "distant" vibe. It's obvious that it's the "ribbon" of the bunch. One of these days I'm going to use it and break out the EQ!! #4 has a weird ringy HF overtone that I don't like, but I've used it many times on dull sounding hats to good effect. I almost sold mic#5. It's thin, but often a nice sound. I'm going to keep it, unless Craig steals it from me.... Mic6 has a nice colored crunchy sound. Well, maybe crunch is the wrong word. With the OH's that were up, I don't think I would use this mic, but solo'd I really like it and would definately use it. Upon second listening it was obvious to me that 7 & 8 were LDC's. They just aren't as "fast" as the SDC's. For better or worse.
Snares. #1 is often my go to mic - a politer version of #3. #2 carries some weight doesn't it? I'd go to that for big ballads. #3 - the reigning king of RAWK. For good reason I think. I've wandered all over the map on snare mics, and I do believe I'll be coming back to my roots next time around!! #4 is nice. maybe too nice?? Jazz or ballads would be a good call for this one I think. Not my first choice, but a great mic. #5 - thinner and more rejection. Just what's needed sometimes. I use it alot for side of snare. #6 - open and constricted at the same time??? That was my opinion. #7 - fast, open, bright. A winner in my book. And an unbelieveable bargain. #8 - big daddy!!!!
Probably need the pad in as it's on the edge of blowing up. This mic will not go in front of MOST drummers for fear of it being destroyed, but it was cool!!! I totally dig #09. Tube compression on the snare!!!! I'd pad this one down next time also though.... Sorry about #10. I think it's a solid, solid candidate right alongside #7. (Both SDC's)
Toms:
Stick definition and Bloom on the bottom - that's what I'm after. #1 has it in spades!!! kfhkh #2. Barely OK. Kinda "flappy" for me. #3 - I might pull these out for a jazz record and try them. Pretty retro sounding. #4 - a solid contender. Not as much stick definition as 1, not as much bloom as 5, but a good blend. If it wasn't a tom heavy piece of music and was very busy - they could be the call. #5 a solid call. Just not my first call anymore. #6 - Richards favorite if I recall. Very affordable. Nice balance of stick vs bloom. Definately useable - especially where the tom's don't need to "cut" so much, although I'm sure EQ could get them cutting. #7 - nice call for ballads or Steve Gad type sparce / open fills. An expensive option though, but one that has probably more "EQ potential" than most of the other options. Solid. I'd like to try #8 with 421's on the bottom heads - THAT just might be the ultimate. Great stick definition and articulation, but not enough on the bottom for me. 421's on the bottom though with those and look out!!!!!!
Overheads -
ugh, I know this is going to be dificult. A lot of personal taste seems to come into play here.
Some like #1. Those USED to be my goto OH's. They are inexpensive and have a nice large "size" to them, but I don't like the imaging as much as I used to. #2 - I WANTED to like these mics SOOOOO much. They were so bottomy that I put in the HPF. Then they were too thin. EQ may salvage them, but that's a different session. Can't go wrong with#3 used on tons of records. Sounds like I have some phase issues going on tough which is strange as their placement is the same. Maybe one got bumped??? #4 another great. Sweeter than #3 for me though. Used on a zillion records.
#5 - ATTITUDE. That's what I'm talkin' about!!! My favorite.
#6 - nice, balanced. Not too agressive, balanced. Great! Very cool on the cymbals. #7 - Nice retro sound. Again, studio staple. #8 - Cymbal TAMER!! but still nice open sound. Just begging for some EQ. With EQ this is a serious contender. Serious meat going on there. #09 - Same mic as #2 but in fig8. I'm not giving up on this mic yet!!!! #10. OK. I think I'm getting spoiled by now.... heh #11 - same mic as #6 but in a different position. I like the #6 position better. #12 - same mic as#7 but in fig8. I like 7 better. #13 - you guys seem to like this one. I can't argue. Great imaging. Great balance. WYHIWYG - what you hear is what you get. Not much hype - just the facts! I'll be using this mic more!!! #14 I'm not a big mono OH guy although I know some of you are that's why I did it. A solid contender. Wish I'd run this one in Stereo, but I;ve had a PS cable go missing.... #15 - what a GREAT sound. I REALLY wish I had two of these mics. Love the snare. Man....crying now.
"Hey honey can I borrow a couple thou...., I just need ONE more mic" LOL #16 - This mic gets recommended constantly on GS for OH. Wish I had two....
OK - Off to Room Mics now. For those who missed my "method" and WHY I was point the NULL at the kit instead of the direct capsule at the kit, see my response above to Xenon.
#1 - mr Retro. Great vibe. #2 Nice, but a little too "midrangey" for my tastes on the room. Could be good for some songs with big bottom though. #3 There is a new sherrif in town. And he's got the goods. Big bottom, great mid definition, smooth top - my fav!! #4 - I tell ya, I'm gonna like this mic no matter what I have to do.
A little to much definition for my tastes in this application. #5 - too bright for me. #6 - OK - too bright. #7 - Interesting. Good balance. #8 - "the King" in stereo. Need to play with the placement a bit I think. Only so so here. #9 - My wannalike mic with the null facing the drums. Ick #10 - Same mic - cardiod - facing the drums this time. Getting better....but..... #11 - For those of you who prefered a stereo room image just a little further back than the OH's, this seemed to be the fav. me? I'm going back to #3.
OK. That's it for now....
Any thoughts??
bp
Thanks for all the great pics. Just one more quick question: how do you have the toms panned? They sound great in the stereo image.
