Different mic options for sax.

[saxopholus]

I heard a few very good tenor sax CDs recorded with an NT2. Seems to be a good match.

Funnily enough that is the other mic I have access to, but I have never been that impressed with the results, but then I wasn't engineering or post-producing the sound. I think that it is quite important that the person doing that is very familiar with where the sound is coming from (as you guys are saying) and which elements of the sound are most important (no honk please ). Still the NT2 is a great mic, had nice results with the flute with that, and it seems to record pretty much everything nicely with the right preamp of course.

 

[lumbago]

For live work, a SM57 or SM58. These mics are inexpensive, workhorses, and can double for vocals. I worked with a big band for many years that got by on SM58s live and not much else.

For recording, a condenser like a Rode NT-1A would be OK, or one of the Studio Projects mics.

 

[Michael Jones]

Very good points Michael, and sincere. But I thought you were a pianist? did'nt know you played sax too!! How's the studio comin?

Yeah, piano is my main instrument, but I also play sax (alto) and clarinet.
We're starting the sheetrocking in the new studio!

 

[manning1]

anyone remember countryman mics. ??
looked like bits of chewing gum. used years ago in this sort of app if i remember.
i wonder what happened to them.
gonna search net see if i find them.

 

[saxopholus]

Are you serious? C1? much too bright and thin. My favorite LDC sax mic is a Neumann M149, but you can't get that baby for $250

I'm not surprised someone mentioned the M149. Strangely enough the best preset I find with the Antares Mic Modeler for the sax, and most instruments, is the M149. Now It isn't a totally accurate test I'm sure, but it certainly got me interested in this one. Until I saw the price tho, £2500 new over here (approx $4375).

 

[Han]

Yeah, don't tell me. I've got only one M149, wish I had twenty of them.

Almost any sax sounds great on a 149. You must have one for a longer peroid of time to find out what a great mic it is, but to be honest, an MXL V77 comes close, at least the one I have here. I don't know whether or not there is much difference between different V77's

I was quite surprised as well about the MXL V69 on bariton sax.

A multi pattern mic though, will do you no harm, if you have a good room an omni can do miracles.

 

[saxopholus]

Yeah, don't tell me. I've got only one M149, wish I had twenty of them.

Almost any sax sounds great on a 149. You must have one for a longer peroid of time to find out what a great mic it is, but to be honest, an MXL V77 comes close, at least the one I have here. I don't know whether or not there is much difference between different V77's

I was quite surprised as well about the MXL V69 on bariton sax.

A multi pattern mic though, will do you no harm, if you have a good room an omni can do miracles.

Thanks for the tip, I've never come across the MXL range before. The V77 certainly sounds nice from the promo. Don't think MXL have been in the UK that long. Similarly Audix haven't been around long but the D series sound great live, very impressed.

 

[remco]

SaX mic.

I agree with han about the mxl's
The best sax i recorded was with a MXL V69 ME wich is a about 280 euro.

Remco

 

[Yasoo]

I was looking for info on recording a sax and found this thread.

The Sennheiser MD441 has been mentioned a few times. It's a little more than I wanted to spend. Does anyone know how the MD421-II would compare (about 1/2 the price)?

 

[Markd102]

Sax mics depend on the song and style for me. If I'm recording say a Motown style horn section, I'll use my trusty EV RE38 (less expensive and less well know cousin of the RE20). But if it's solo sax I prefer a LD condenser, and usually go for the V67 because I think the darkness suits the sax. But in all cases, positioning is everything. Experimentation is the name of the game.

But a mate of mine who has released two CDs of his sax playing in a Smooth Jazz style uses a CAD E200 (mid-size diaphram) through a preamp in his Yamaha 02R.
You can listen to some of his stuff here. http://www.mp3.com.au/artist.asp?id=1974

 

[Han]

I was looking for info on recording a sax and found this thread.

The Sennheiser MD441 has been mentioned a few times. It's a little more than I wanted to spend. Does anyone know how the MD421-II would compare (about 1/2 the price)?

The MD421 sounds a tad hotter than the MD441, which has a different low end as well. Compared to the 441, the 421 sounds a little boxier, just a little.

The 441 has an almost condenser like sound. The 421 MK2 sounds a little more agressive than the (grey) 421 MK1.

The 421 is less rejective than the 441, which is super cardioid.

Both the 421 and 441 are great mics.