What would you do?

[pezking]

I'm looking for inspiration - and am also interested to know what you guys would do with my mic arsenal.

I've got a session coming up (hard rock) and want to approach it differently to how I would usually.

I'll be recording drums, guitar cabs, bass cabs, and vocals.

Here are the mics I have:

MXL 990
MXL V77s
2 x AKG C1000s (with hypercardioid or cardioid pattern?)
Samson Qkit (kick mic, 3 tom mics and 1 snare mic)
T-Bone MB75 (SM57 copy - but I put an SM58 transformer on its output)
4 x Takstar PCM6100s (v cheap cardioid condensers - see eBay)
Samson Q7
Shure PG57
Shure SM58 - very thin sounding, think its coil is dead.
Shure SM48

The drummer of this particular band has a bunch of mics too:

AKG drum kit set (maybe 4 x C418? 2 x C1000s D112)
Some SM58s (dunno how many)

What I want to know is:

1. What would you do with just MY mics? and

2. What would you do with all of the above?

Just to add: my interface will allow up to 16 simultaneous input tracks - I will be tracking each instrument separately.

[mrface2112]

the answer varies. how big is the kit, how many amps, and what's the room like? i assume this is "live" tracking?


cheers,
wade

[pezking]

Let's say it were a 5 piece kit. The room is fairly large but sounds quite good.

If you mean by "live" tracking that the whole band is recorded at once - no I'd be recording the drums first - then overdubbing the rest of the band

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by pezking

1. What would you do with just MY mics? and

2. What would you do with all of the above?

1. Probably sell them and get something better.

2. See above.

[noisedude]

Those C1000Ss will sound good on snare and possibly also on hats. Get the D112 on kick.

Then throw 57s and 58s round the toms. Try the Q7 on hats or toms too because they're actually quite a nice mic - neodymium element gives them that slightly more sensitive higher end that may or may not be what you want. Worth a try on vocals though.

I'm not familiar with any of those MXL mics but it'll be a lesser of two evils judgement in terms of OH mics and of course vocal mics. You may find one of your dynamics works better ... or you may not. Spend some time making takes with a bunch of different mics and the lead vocalist, then see what happens when you throw up rough EQ and compression as you might for your mix. You might be surprised by what you choose, or you might decide that a crap condenser is still better than a decent dynamic for your purposes.

Consider risking a condenser down near the kick for a different sound (less thud and more click, which might suit the style).

DI the bass for the main sound, mic'ing the cab might give you something extra but you won't know what you need till you hear the DI sound.

Guitar cabs, just get 57s or 58s near the edges of the cones, stick on your headphones, and rotate the mic till you've rolled off enough bottom end (this will help keep it out of the way of your bass and kick later on).

Let us know how it goes!

Nik

[pezking]

Originally Posted by chessrock

1. Probably sell them and get something better.

2. See above.

That's really negative - and imo misses the spirit of home recording.

Unfortunately I'm not in the position to be able to spend money on better gear so I've gotta get by with what I've got, or what I can borrow.

I've been recording with most of this setup (only recently got the V77) for about two years with excellent results. I'm merely looking for some pearls of wisdom, or a bit of inspiration to give me a different viewpoint and an alternative to what I usually do.

I appreciate that my mics aren't great but until I graduate and get a full time job (and pay off the tuition loans) it's unlikely I'll be able to afford much else. Hence making do with what I've got.

Noisedude: thanks for your comments. Not tried the C1000s on snare, but I'll give it a go; seems like a good idea. I only ever used the Q7 for band practice on vocals, or for talkback. Again I'll give it a go on toms. The MXL mics are lovely for the money - the V77 being a valve condenser and the 990 an LDC electret.

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by pezking

That's really negative - and imo misses the spirit of home recording. Unfortunately I'm not in the position to be able to spend money ...

Wait a second ... I don't recall saying anything about buying something more expensive.

I merely said "better."

And the two are not mutually exclusive. You asked what we would do, and I gave you an honest answer. I would take most of the mics you currently own ... sell them on ebay, and then take that money to buy "better" mics -- or more appropriately, "better for your situation." And I probably wouldn't have to spend a dime more than what I got for the mics I auctioned.

You asked ... and I answered. That's what I would do. Next time, if you don't want honest answers, then please make sure to mention that in your initial question.

.

[noisedude]

Originally Posted by pezking

That's really negative - and imo misses the spirit of home recording.

Unfortunately I'm not in the position to be able to spend money on better gear so I've gotta get by with what I've got, or what I can borrow.

I've been recording with most of this setup (only recently got the V77) for about two years with excellent results. I'm merely looking for some pearls of wisdom, or a bit of inspiration to give me a different viewpoint and an alternative to what I usually do.

I appreciate that my mics aren't great but until I graduate and get a full time job (and pay off the tuition loans) it's unlikely I'll be able to afford much else. Hence making do with what I've got.

Noisedude: thanks for your comments. Not tried the C1000s on snare, but I'll give it a go; seems like a good idea. I only ever used the Q7 for band practice on vocals, or for talkback. Again I'll give it a go on toms. The MXL mics are lovely for the money - the V77 being a valve condenser and the 990 an LDC electret.

I hated my C1000Ss for everything other than snare and occasionally guitars. Much prefered other things for OH, acoustic etc, particularly the Studio Projects C4s I've had for a few years now.

Have fun with what you've got and remember it's a hobby - don't go nuts with your money. And don't worry about Chessrock, he does what he does and you don't have to buy into it. He does have his moments but mostly he's more interested in winding people up and then playing innocent, so it's up to you whether you want to be side-tracked or not.

[pezking]

Originally Posted by chessrock

Next time, if you don't want honest answers, then please make sure to mention that in your initial question.

I appreciate honest answers; but constructive ones. Selling my mics and buying a bunch of kit isn't gonna help for an upcoming session; sure for future ones, but that's not what I asked.

Perhaps you could have suggested which mics you would recommend buying/selling. I'm not having a go at you, I just don't think your comments were at all helpful.

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by pezking

I just don't think your comments were at all helpful.

You asked the following:

Originally Posted by pezking

What would you do?

And I told you exactly "what I would do." Beyond the slightest bit of hesitation or second thought ... I told you what I would do.

Whether or not you find "what I would do" helpful is completely up to you, and how you choose to interperate or utilize my answer to your question.

.

[pezking]

Chessrock you seem to have a chip on your shoulder - just chill out. All I wanted to do was tell you that I didn't appreciate that answer; whilst it may be a good idea (in the long run), it didn't address the problem in hand. I accept that my gear isn't the best; but for now I have to live with it.

Which microphones would you sell, how much for, and what would you buy?

[mrface2112]

i'd use the V77 as an overhead (or in front of the kit--put it where it sounds best). put the 58's or the AKGs on the toms and the C1000 on the snare and maybe the 990 on the snare too. put the D112 on the kick. a c1000 might work on kick too.

as you said you're going to overdub the guitar and bass, just run them direct for the "live" tracking and concentrate on getting a great drum recording.

then for recording the guitars, i'd use one of the 58s and/or the V77 or maybe one of the C1000's. i'd still DI the bass.

i'd give the singer a 58 or something similar for scratch vocals, as he's prolly used to performing with one.

i'd leave the rest of the mics (the samsons, takstars, low-end shures, etc) in the locker. and like chessrock said, i'd really look at trading those in on something "better". i'm thinking an EV 408, sennheiser 421, sm7b, or maybe a 2nd V77......that sort of thing. you won't get a lot for a handful of samsons and takstars, but you can get *something*. i'd rather have one sm7 or re20 or V77 than a boatload of cheapie condensers. YMMV.


cheers,
wade