Acoustic Guitar Mic(s) - $300 range

[Fpstudios]

I'm looking for some mics to record solo acoustic/vocal arrangements (mics for the acoustic only, i got a KSM27 for the vocals). I want to get a nice full sound so I was thinking 2 mics would be best. I've been checking out MXL603s but I was concerned they might be too thin for sparse arangements. Also checked out KSM109s, but have read mixed opinions. What do you guys think?

Signal Chain as of now:

Aardvark Direct Pro Q10 Preamps/Da conversion > Behringer T1952 > Sonic Foundry Vegas

 

[Track Rat]

At 4033's. They can be had around $300 a piece.

 

[warble]

CAD M179 would be nice choice (I have one). Multi-pattern, great mic with nice freq. response. I've heard ac. guit. tracks with it and was pleased. That'll run you about $169 to $200. Do a search in these forums for that CAD mic - lots of good feedback. Right up there in sonic character with higher priced mics - including the AT 40xx mics.

 

[sdelsolray]

If it's $300 for a pair, look at the Studio Projects C4 or the Octava MC-012.

If it's $300 each, then the Shure SM81 or stretch a bit for the Josephson C42 or a used pair of Neumann KM184.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

What guitar? And what style of playing?

 

[Fpstudios]

Takamine EG530 with Elixer 13s... singer/songwriter sparse arrangements (rhythm guitar with a pick)... the sound i have now is like tinny/cheap im using nady cm-88s. Also tried ksm27 on the guitar wasnt too happy with that either.

 

[Big Kenny]

You will be diggin' the sounds of two oktata mc012's. I do! The Sp's or the marshalls should be good too.

 

[ozraves]

In the $300 range...

I'd say a pair of Oktava MK012

or an Audio-Technica AT4040.

 

[Fpstudios]

OK guys well i think im sold on the octavas. Just one concern is that will I be able to get a full enough sound with 2 small diaphrams, or should i be using a larger diaphram with double tracking, or larger + smaller combination. I know its a matter of opinion but what do you guys think. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[ozraves]

If you can be patient for about a week then I can post up some tracks of the MK012 versus the AT4040 and then maybe a combo setup of some sort.

 

[sile2001]

Actually, small diaphragm mics work really well on acoustic guitar. Small diaphragm doesn't mean that it doesn't pick up low frequencies well. Check out the folowing link:

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=4091&alid=-1

Listen to the version with the SM81's. Those will be somewhat similar to the Oktavas, but with a slightly flatter response. As I understand it, the Oktavas have something of a midrange boost to them (which isn't altogether a bad thing). I had them in an X-Y stereo pair about 6 inches away from the fretboard, aimed more or less at the 12th fret. I just got these, so I'm still learning how to best use them, but this was my first shot recording an instrument other than drums with them. The SM81's generally go for $300-$320 new.

 

[patsplat]

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=4091&alid=-1

grrr...that's the second page today on nowhere radio where this message pops up "Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The file is either corrupt or the Player does not support the format you are trying to play." It doesn't seem to have problem on clips that have the mp3 option as well as hi fi,lo fi.Anyone else having this problem when clicking lo fi or hi fi or is it just me..??

 

[chessparov]

My understanding is that the "fullest" sounding is with ONE microphone,
by using an omni to capture the acoustic guitar/vocal at the same time.
(Harvey and anyone else feel free to correct this belief)

Anyway, it worked "pretty well" for both of the Everly Brothers.
But then I'm also a fan of mono for this kind of stuff.

Chris

 

[StevenLindsey]

I'm more and more happy with the AT4040 on my acoustic. The 603 has been put on the shelf for the time being.

 

[mshilarious]

My understanding is that the "fullest" sounding is with ONE microphone,
by using an omni to capture the acoustic guitar/vocal at the same time.

Haven't tried that, sounds interesting though.

I have used an omni close-miked on a guitar with another mic on vocals. That gives a good natural sound, but it lacks presence compared with the SM81 approach (the omni I use having a high end falloff).

With the 81's try backing up a bit from 6". 2' is more ideal for a natural tone if you have a decent room. And I mean decent, it doesn't have to be great, it just can't be horrible. Real close on the 12th fret is going to give a trebly tone which is good for cutting through a mix but I wouldn't describe as full.

I don't know where the idea that SDCs aren't full sounding compared with LDCs. Maybe that's because cheap SDCs are tinny? That is definitely not the case with the SM81. The difference between an SDC and LDC is not at all like the difference between a 10" speaker and a 4" speaker. See Harvey's giant thread for detail.

 

[sile2001]

grrr...that's the second page today on nowhere radio where this message pops up "Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The file is either corrupt or the Player does not support the format you are trying to play." It doesn't seem to have problem on clips that have the mp3 option as well as hi fi,lo fi.Anyone else having this problem when clicking lo fi or hi fi or is it just me..??

I've been having a similar problem...Winamp just won't actually play the file in the m3u. If I copy and paste the location into FooBar2000, it works just fine. Go figure. Anyway, I went ahead and turned on the mp3 download, so you should be able to hear it now.

 

[DJL]

grrr...that's the second page today on nowhere radio where this message pops up "Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The file is either corrupt or the Player does not support the format you are trying to play." It doesn't seem to have problem on clips that have the mp3 option as well as hi fi,lo fi.Anyone else having this problem when clicking lo fi or hi fi or is it just me..??

Yeah... I've had that problem also.

 

[Big Kenny]

I have tried the single mic in omni with little success. It's great for getting ideas down but I miss the eq and compression control later because whatever you do to the vocal affects the guitar and versa visa

 

[sile2001]

I have tried the single mic in omni with little success. It's great for getting ideas down but I miss the eq and compression control later because whatever you do to the vocal affects the guitar and versa visa

Heck, for just getting ideas down i plug my Taylor straight in and slap a '57 on a stand and sing my lungs out. Doesn't really matter how it sounds

 

[Bodhisan]

MXL603S -- using one would be just fine. Nice, big, detailed sound. Of course, work with the placement.