Mic upgrade advice needed

[dejacky]

I simply want a setup that has a mic dedicated to a purpose so I can focus more on music (various forms of rock) rather than recording technique. Any help regarding this is MUCH appreciated.

PREAMP:

SMPro Audio Pr8 (modded) & 1 $300-$500 channel for
lead vox (haven't decided which preamp to get yet).


MIC COLLECTION:

Sennheiser e835 (main live vocal mic)
Shure SM57 (percussion snare)
2 Oktava Mk012's (percussion overheads)
MXL V77 tube LDC mic (vocal overdub)
Shure SM58 <--replace w/ SM58 beta? or use as E guitr mic?
Shure SM48 <--replace w/ dedicated kick drum mic? (~$200 budget)
AT3035 <--use as E guitr amp mic?

Possible dedicated kick mic options:
E/V RE20, Beyer M88, Shure Beta 91, Sennheiser e602, Shure SM7b

And lastly, what do I do with the SM58 and AT3035? Are these mics good for my uses or should I upgrade to something else?


RECORDED SOURCES:

Pacific FS unlaquered birch 5 piece drum set. (18x22 kick)
Lead Vocals
Eletric Bass Guitar (bass amp will be used during session)
Fender Twin Reverb guitar amp
Anything else


CHANNEL DISTRO:

#1-4) drums (2 overheads, bass, and snare)
#5) live vocals
#6) Bass guitar channel (recorded direct)
#7) Eletric guitar amp
# anything extra (backup vocals, 2nd guitar, keyboard, etc)

[chessparov]

Tell us what you like/don't like about the vocal mics you already have,
and you'll get better advice IMHO.

Chris

[dejacky]

The AT3035 does an okay job of capturing the kick drum bass and attack, but it's almost like a little too detailed and too much attack always comes through...plus it picks up other sounds more easily. The Shure SM48 will definitely be replaced, but I'd like it to be replaced by a microphone that will only be used for kick drum micing..and it must be good at it. So, I'm thinking a good dynamic mic will be better suited for the task. This mic doesn't have to be a "kick drum mic," it just has to be able to handle that task exceptionally well....so if a renowned mic used for vocals works great, that's perfectly fine.

[Richard Monroe]

That's easy- Electrovoice RE20. An exceptional kick drum mic that's also a renowned vocal mic.-Richie

[dejacky]

thanks richard. You and several other pro's have also recommended the RE20. The only problem is I'm trying to find one for less than $250. If I can't, it looks like the Sennheiser e602 is the ticket...although I've also heard good things about the EV N/D868 kick drum mic...I heard a rumor that the N/D868 was an RE20, but specifically tailored for kick drum applications. The only benefit of the e602 and N/D868 is that they are more economical for me.

[Richard Monroe]

Hell, for under $250, just get a kick drum mic- Audix D6 if you want punchy, AKG D112 if you like to mic bass cabs or standup. BTW- I don't get lumped in with "the other professionals". I'm an advanced amateur, and I try to always remember it. It's the only advantage I have. If I know something is true, I don't know enough to get it wrong in most cases. I think in 3 years I've become a pretty good tracking assistant and a fair producer, but all on an amateur level. We're at the poiint now where we're just beginning to take some paying work, mostly for simple things. We're doing our first live studio recording of a 4 piece in a week or so. We're set up to do folk, bluegrass, or chamber music. We've only recently attained enough mics, pres, cables, headphones, etc., to mic up a whole band in the studio. I think I'm going to have 12 simultaneous ins, plus talkback. Woo Hoo!
Sorry for going off on a tangent. I'm not annoyed or anything, but flattered that sometimes my ranting sounds like pro ranting. It's just that my technical knowledge of recording in general is fairly low. I'm a songwriter, not an engineer. I would like to do a little producing. We'll see how it goes.-Richie

[dejacky]

I actually don't like the Audix D6 mic sound. It sounds too hyped for my tastes .

[JohnnyMan]

Originally Posted by Richard Monroe

BTW- I don't get lumped in with "the other professionals". I'm an advanced amateur, and I try to always remember it. It's the only advantage I have. If I know something is true, I don't know enough to get it wrong in most cases. I think in 3 years I've become a pretty good tracking assistant and a fair producer, but all on an amateur level. We're at the poiint now where we're just beginning to take some paying work, mostly for simple things. We're doing our first live studio recording of a 4 piece in a week or so. We're set up to do folk, bluegrass, or chamber music. We've only recently attained enough mics, pres, cables, headphones, etc., to mic up a whole band in the studio. I think I'm going to have 12 simultaneous ins, plus talkback. Woo Hoo! ...-Richie

Richard,
Congratulations and good luck with turning "professional".
John

[Warhead]

Dejacky, according to an E/V tech I spoke with on the phone the ND868 is pretty much an RE20 eq'd for kick drum.

That Beyer M88 would work wonders on lots of stuff including kick.

War

[DJL]

Originally Posted by Warhead

That Beyer M88 would work wonders on lots of stuff including kick.

War

I agree with War, the M88 is a great mic... and I also recommand the Sennheiser MD421... the MD421 can work on just about anything and everything.