3 ?s: mic; recording keyboard voices; & stereo micing

[mbouteneff]

This message board has been invaluable to me thus far -- thanks for everyone's help!

I currently have:
- Cakewalk software
- a Delta 1010LT soundcard
- SM57 mic
- Yamaha DGX202 (used mostly as controller)
- no preamp, just the ones included with the soundcard
- I'm recording vocals, electric guitar (Fender Champ 25 amp), and acoustic guitar; the rest is software generated

Here are the 3 quick questions:

1) I've read here the SM57 is great for amp recording, the Studio Project mic is great for acoustic guitar, and the MXL V67 is great for vocals (out of $100 mics). I'd like to buy one large condensor for vocals vocals and acoustic guitar, I guess -- is either an obvious choice?

2) Can you record "voices" in a keyboard to a harddrive without sticking a mic up to the keyboard? (using the headphone jack, for example?)

3) can you stereo mic with two non-matched mics? Or is that just a bad idea..?

Thanks for any advice you have!

 

[Jeyan]

1. SM57 is an all purpose mic, you can use it for Vocals and guitar miking.
2. I dont understand what you mean by "sticking up a mic to keyboard" are you trying to mic the sounds coming out of a keyboard speaker or are you trying to sampling? Yes, you can use the head phone/lineout outs to record the keyboard to your computer, connect your keyboard lineout to the soundcard line in. Does that answer your question?
3. You can use non-matched mics for stereo recording, not a big difference in a general home studio. When you build a "real" big budget studio with quality as the first preference, go for the matched pairs.

 

[mbouteneff]

Thanks!

Jeyan,

Thanks for your reply!

I realize SM57 is all-purpose, but was under the impression that a large condensor mic is far better for vocals and acoustic guitar? Maybe not.

Regarding the keyboard question, yes, your answer answers my question!

Thanks for your help,

-M

 

[AlChuck]

The general wisdom is that dynamic mics are great for miking high sound pressure sources -- guitar amps, bass drums, snares -- where high-end detail is no so important. They are also used on stage because they typically can take more abuse than condensors can without crapping out.

Condensors typically have a higher frequency response so are more suitable to recording sounds with a lot of material in all parts of the sound spectrum, especially in the high end. They excel at capturing acoustic instruments, voices, and so on with a lot of detail, and also in capturing the ambient refecletions in a good acoustic space that add air and spaciousness to a recording. They are not used as much on stage because of the inherent fragility of the mic element.

 

[mbouteneff]

I see

Thanks Alchuck. What you explained definitely clarifies things. I have an SM57, but I think I'll get a large condensor mic in addition to it. Now I need only decide between an SP B1 and an MXL V67G...I'm currently leaning towards the MXL. Thanks!

-M