cheap mics: great sound!

[antispatula]

I have been using my new MXL v67g a lot, and thought I'd share a clip with everyone, becuause I am quite impressed with the good sound one can get with such inexpensive equipment.

This clip is a grand piano. I've got an MXL v67g($99) and an MXL 991(probably $49). The MXL 991 is that SDC mic that comes as a combo pack with the MXL 990, and both together are I think $99ish.

Everything is run into an FMR RNP (can't rant enough about it, it's amazing)
into my soundcard, then REAPER. I've boosted the high end a few dB's, and it has some compression on it also. Panned hard right and left.

Here we go:

I'll try and get a guitar demo up too, I'm quite impressed with how good the
v67g is on acoustic guitar too!

 

[liv_rong]

that does sound pretty impressive for such low cost mics.

on anohter note, how do you set it up to have an mp3 host link that goes straight to the page?? might sound stupid, but ive been using soundclick, and its kind of a hassle.

thanks if you can answer.

and nice sounds!

 

[Micter]

I venture to say the piano sounds great. Meaning the source is a great sounding instrument.

 

[JPXTom]

It sounds pretty good..not a ton of low mid/low end though. Seemed a little bright to me.

 

[Han]

Great job! But.....I'm sure it would have sounded better with a pair of KM(1)84's, a pair of Schoeps or DPA mics, or LDC's like the M149.

The piano will even sound better after tuning it up.

But you've done a great job, really.

 

[cusebassman]

I've boosted the high end a few dB's

Seemed a little bright to me.

I know what you mean about the lack of low-end though - probably either placement or maybe you just need a second, LDC (perhaps) to capture the lows. What was your mic placement on that piano anyway?

Also, you said you were running the output from the RNP to your soundcard - what interface/soundcard might that be, out of curiosity?

Sounds good!

 

[antispatula]

on anohter note, how do you set it up to have an mp3 host link that goes straight to the page?? might sound stupid, but ive been using soundclick, and its kind of a hassle.

I own my own domain name

Also, you said you were running the output from the RNP to your soundcard - what interface/soundcard might that be, out of curiosity?

I used an Audiophile 192, which I like a lot. I switched from an EMU 0404 which I thought was a hassle with it's freaking intrusive software mixer.

It sounds pretty good..not a ton of low mid/low end though. Seemed a little bright to me.

Haha you're right, that probably happened through careless EQing, it's a bad habit of mine to boost the high end more than I should. I have no monitors at the moment and have to do everything through my headphones and I didn't have an amp, so I took these like 20 year old computer speakers that cost 5 dollars, ripped out the amp, wired it to a battery and a 1/4 jack and use that as a headphone amp. Everything sounds a little flat going through the horrid thing

I'll try to fix that then post it again when I post a guitar clip using the v67, thanks everyone for the comments.

 

[cusebassman]

I took these like 20 year old computer speakers that cost 5 dollars, ripped out the amp, wired it to a battery and a 1/4 jack and use that as a headphone amp. Everything sounds a little flat going through the horrid thing

That's ingenuity right there. I was sure any interface would have headphone jacks, but that's a PCI interface with a breakout cable, so yea... not much other choice, which is a pain in the ass. Very quiet recording though, frequency issues aside - impressive considering the thing you are monitoring through probably generates a bit of noise itself, so you wouldn't be able to tell what gain stage at which the MXL and pre would start generating internal noise... The RNP probably doesn't have much tho.

 

[antispatula]

That's ingenuity right there. I was sure any interface would have headphone jacks, but that's a PCI interface with a breakout cable, so yea... not much other choice, which is a pain in the ass. Very quiet recording though, frequency issues aside - impressive considering the thing you are monitoring through probably generates a bit of noise itself, so you wouldn't be able to tell what gain stage at which the MXL and pre would start generating internal noise... The RNP probably doesn't have much tho.

Well, being broke is the mother of invention!
And yes the little amp is quite noisey, it's as if I'm running everything through a very uncalibrated reel to reel, without the warmth. And it's not even stereo, so I have to listen to everything in mono untill I rip it to WAV and listen to it somewhere else

I've just realized how pathetic my situation is, I should really think about investing in some powered monitors.....

 

[chessrock]

I think your stuff is improving quite a bit.

My guess is that it probably has more to do with more experience and experimentation than it does with having more toys ... but then again, sometimes when we get some new toys, we're encouraged to experiment more.

With the piano sample, I just think it's a matter of putting another mic somewhere else where it will pick up more of the low end resonance, and then mixing that in with the other two Marshall mics you were using on this clip. The two mics you were using did a great job of picking up the highs and mids. You just need to find another spot to put a third mic, and you'll be in business.

.

 

[Robert D]

... it's a bad habit of mine to boost the high end more than I should. I have no monitors at the moment and have to do everything through my headphones.

Hi neighbor! Did you survive Pumpkin Fest? I stayed out of HMB, went down to Santa Cruz to escape the gridlock.
Hey, that sounds pretty good! I hope monitors are on your Xmas wish list, or are a near term plan if Santa doesn't come through. On the EQ habit, try to get into the habit of subtractive EQ. Instead of always reaching for the highs, change the highs relatively by decreasing lower frequencies. EQ cuts are generally more musical sounding than boosts.

 

[danny.guitar]

Piano sounds good, now post one of the ac guitar.