Budget ribbon / condenser mic to pair with sm 57 - metal guitars

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prince_21

New member
Hi everyone! I'm currently using an sm 57 + behringer xm8500 with a steinberg UR 22 audio interface to record my mesa boogie mark III combo. So far I have recorded lots of interesting clips using various positions. However, I ve been thinking of getting a budget ribbon or condenser mic to make my sounds "fatter" or sth like that. There is nothing wrong with the sm 57, but I have the feeling that there is sth missing. Anyway, what's your opinion on the mxl R144? Please make some more suggestions. Also, I live in Athens, Greece so it might be difficult to find some brands here (cascade fathead etc)
Here are some of my clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73hTmv0PHaw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKPiW7Hab0g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDB36Hh5JRQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRx_aQwTWmQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ytCre6dUtA
 
I actually record a lot of guitar cabs with a ribbon and a sm57, usually to separate tracks so I can adjust the blend of the 2 mics later.

My favourite is a fathead style, but I have used a MXL R40 (the early R144) with good results as well (I own 2 x R40's). For the price (I don't know the price in Greece but cheapish in Australia and I have bought one from the US) I would try it, however give it time as a ribbon sounds a lot different and your 1st impression maybe not to like it, they grow on you.

Alan.
 
witzendoz said:
I actually record a lot of guitar cabs with a ribbon and a sm57, usually to separate tracks so I can adjust the blend of the 2 mics later.

My favourite is a fathead style, but I have used a MXL R40 (the early R144) with good results as well (I own 2 x R40's). For the price (I don't know the price in Greece but cheapish in Australia and I have bought one from the US) I would try it, however give it time as a ribbon sounds a lot different and your 1st impression maybe not to like it, they grow on you.

Alan.
Click to expand...
Thx a lot for taking the time answer! I've also been offered an old AKG 222. I know that this is a vintage dynamic mic. Do you think it would be any goof paired with the sm 57? Thx!
 
Superlux R102's go pretty cheap... Can be quite dark sounding but takes EQ well.
I sold mine to pay for an MPC500 (which I hated and sold) but it was a useful mic.
It's a phantom powered ribbon mic.
Sounded quite good on acoustic guitar.
 
You don't have to use a ribbon or a condenser. Two dynamics go great together. Put one at a bright placement, put one at a fatter placement, blend the two.
 
prince_21 said:
Thx a lot for taking the time answer! I've also been offered an old AKG 222. I know that this is a vintage dynamic mic. Do you think it would be any goof paired with the sm 57? Thx!
Click to expand...

I love trying all types of mics on all kinds of sources and it may sound great? But it won't sound like a ribbon which was the original question.

If you are looking at mic combinations, I usually use:

Ribbon + SM57
Ribbon + 421
SM57 + 421
Large Condenser (too many to mention just which one I feel like at the time) + SM57 or 421 or ribbon.

Get the Idea, try things out depending on the sound you want, but an SM57 and a ribbon is a good start and will give very good results.

Alan
 
Thank you everyone for answering! The truth is that so far I ve had nice results when blending different mic positions using a single sm 57 and sometimes a cheap xm8500. The reason I want to get a ribbon / condenser mic is because I have the feeling that the sound would be "fatter". Also, I am planning to invest on a nice isolation guitar box - the box of doom so do you think that I could use both an sm 57 + condenser / ribbon inside the box, or that wouldn't work?
 
My favorite combination with a 57 was a sennheiser 421 for metal. The 421 seems to have everything the 57 doesn'the and vice versa. I don't know how much they are where you live.
 
Isolation boxes tend to sound a little goofy. There is no way to get enough sound absorbing material in the box to make up for the size, without making the box bigger than would be practicle.
 
I just got an outrageously good deal on an MXL R80. So far I've only tried it on a Dobro and a resonator uke, but it really has a really pleasant sound on those sometimes harsh sources. It (or perhaps an eventual upgrade to a better one) will definitely going to be a go-to for resonators, banjos, anything that tends to needs EQ to tame the inherent brightness with condensers. I'll be tracking electric guitars with it next week, and try to remember to come back and give an impression of it.
 
I'd scrap any idea to use the 222 on a guitar - they're not brilliant at anything musical. Metallica used to use Audio Technicas inside the flightcases at one point, so if it was good enough for them playing live, with their budgets, I doubt there's too much point guessing on what the end result is going to be with modest mics. I'd guess it's just a case of trying a few suggestions out.
 
Tadpui said:
I've been seeing more and more of the Fredman technique using a special clip and 2 SM57s:

Fredman SM57 Clip – Wilkinson Audio

The metal guys seem to swear by this or the SM57/MD421 combo that Farview mentioned.
Click to expand...

Haha, I use a mic technique similar to that all the time for keeper tracks. One mic for bright, one for dark, blend to taste. Works great. I might even buy that fancy little clip thing.

---------- Update ----------

Farview said:
Isolation boxes tend to sound a little goofy.
Click to expand...

And this ^^^^^
 
sounds way to bright to me ... imo try the 57 on the front and mic the back with the other

crank this loud,watch till the end ;)


















3:56 :D
 
btw,the box of doom i thought sounds the worst of the iso cabs ive looked at ...


heres a good comparison ... the silent sister breathes so has a waaaaaayyyyy more open sound than the demeter



 
prince_21 said:
The randall one has received the worst reviews and after watching and listening to some samples IMO the box of doom doesn't sound bad at all. Quite the opposite I would say... Also, all reviews I've read are positive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_nZMPLyWLg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0QOD2CbbbI
Click to expand...

nothing in those 2 vids thats gonna give you a hint of what your gonna get into your interface ... this one does




van halen might not be the best subject matter for a test :D .. but it does show the difference between a breathing box and a sealed unit ... watch all videos many times then make your mind up :)
 
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