How can you tell...

[James Argo]

...You're going to capture a live performance. Not stage, just studio or bassement. Kinda like recording friend's band live garage session. There's many kind of mic, but... hey, none of those mics you find familiar. None of them... they look in good condition, some are vintage, some are newer, but for sure, NONE of them you recognize. What one's purpose, what other's for. You ask 'em, they don't know jack. They thought you're the man. They all look like... microphone... not sure which for what... you have to mic the drums (Kick, Snare, Toms, Overheads, etc...) Bass, Guitars (Electric & acoustic), Vocals & backing. So, with no clue, you'll have to pick which goes where... what will you do ? How can you tell if ones go where ?

[crazydoc]

I've had that dream too.

[Richard Monroe]

No problem, James. First I plug them into something that provides phantom power, and find out if they need it or not. I try them first without it, so I don't fry the nice vintage ribbon mics.
Then I take 2 that are small and skinny that need phantom power, and put them up as drum overheads. I take the shortest, fattest mic that doesn't need phantom power on kick. Mics that don't need phantom and have heavy external grolls are placed on snare, toms, and cabs. I plug the bass player into the board. Fuck him, he doesn't need a mic. Seeing as how this garage band is going to play all at once and make lots of noise, I give the lead singer the coolest looking mic with a heavy grill that doesn't need phantom and pull him off the board along with the bass player.
Then I take all those old looking mics and anything that needs phantom power or has an external power supply, and explain to the band that the mercury used in vintage tube based circuits causes impotence after repeated exposure, and Federal regulations require me to dispose of them in an environmentally friendly fashion. See, it can be a good dream or a bad one, it's just how you look at it.-Richie

[Track Rat]

Just to amplify on Richie's excellent post, you then tell the band that all those old nasty mics that say "RCA 77DX" must be disposed of in an environmentally safe way and that you'll take care of it for them.

[DJL]

Uh, a band with a bunch of old vintage mic's that they know nothing about? What all do they have, will they sell? Here comes the vultures

[James Argo]

Exelent advices Richie... THANKS !!!
I bookmarked this page !! Sometimes basic quick hints help avoiding disasters... and open up vultures !!! I can tell...

But wait a minute... they all look similiar... kinda like SM58 in shape but I know they're not... no such skinny nor fat ones... None need Phantom... how can I tell ?

[Richard Monroe]

OK, James, first swipe anything with a serial number, and anything that says "Made in Germany", or for that matter, any other country in Europe. Then stick them in front of the lead singer, one by one, until you find the one that causes you the least pain. Distribute the rest in front of the drums and cabs, because the truth is, there is likely not that much difference between all thos cheap dynamics. When you listen to each track, if it sucks, chuck that mic and put up something else.-Richie

[James Argo]

Thank's alot Richie... I'll check 'em out. I'm sure many newbies here need to know your infos...


Jaymz