ecm8000

[shackrock]

after reading a bunch of past posts about these things..just a few questions specifically.

1 - would 2 ECM8000's perform better then SM58's as DRUM OVERHEADS
2 - would they perform better then SM58's as VOCAL MIC's
3 - I have a mx800a (beheringer) mixer with phantom power on it...Does phantom power get turned on EVERY mic track? I mean, I will have:

ATM pro25
sm57
2 ecm8000's

all simultaneously.

i can use XLR or 1/4" plugs (if phantom power only runs on XLR maybe)? bascally - will it ruin my other 2 mics if i have it turned on while using all 4? what am i supposed to do in this situation?! ha.

thanks

 

[chessrock]

1- absolutely, yes.

2- probably not.

3 - as long as you turn the phantom power off before plugging and unplugging your dynamic mics, it won't hurt anything.

 

[rtzstudios]

1. Two ECM8000's will definitely be better than two 58's.
2. Kinda depends on the voice.
3. Phantom power will go to all of these mics but won't hurt them.

 

[rtzstudios]

chessrock,

Unplugging mics while phantom power is on will not hurt them. It's always safer to if you can remember, but It won't hurt them if you don't.

 

[chessrock]

I say never tempt the phantom power gods. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[shackrock]

so to be safe, always plug in and out any and all chords BEFORE turing phantom power on?

in addtion - it will just work on the mics it should work on? it "knows" how to do it? ha.


also now i have a number 4 & 5.

4 - acoustic guitar? better then an sm57 i suppose yes....ha
5 - how much better on overheads? drastically!? haha. i hope, if so it's worth the 70 bucks i'd say. do they make cymbals and toms sound good? i use only 4 mics for my set.

 

[chessrock]

4) It might be, but I really don't recommend the ecm8000 for accoustic guitar unless you like the sound of your room. If your room sounds kick ass (wood tiles, high ceiling, etc.), then you'll love it on the accoustic.

If not, then I'm afraid you'll probably listen back and wish you had used an mxl 603 or even a 57 instead of an omni-directional.

On drums, it will be fine, as your signal-to-room ratio won't be as much of an issue if you close mic. Ha ha. Signal-to-room ratio. I made a new term.

5) Yea, drastically. Like night-and-day / wow-I-can't-believe-it difference.

 

[Hard2Hear]

The great thing about an omni is there is no proximity effect, so when micing acoustic, you can put it REALLY close to the guitar. You don't hear much of the room this way, at least I didn't when I did it.

H2H

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Good call, H2H- I'll have to give that a try. My room isn't the greatest for much other than a cardioid mic. I like the sound I get from the ecm8000's, but the traffic noise is too noticeable for me. Yuck.

(I live close enough to a major road that I have to do some fun tricks to keep it out of my recording...)

I'll give the omni's another try soon.

Chris

 

[chessrock]

I've tried everything, and I still get too much of the sound of my yucky room. Makes my accoustic tracks sound like the home recordings they are. Once I get all the sound panels installed, I'm sure it won't be as much of a problem.

Upstairs is a whole different story. When my roommate leaves for the weekend to visit his girlfriend, I love pulling out the 8000's and trying them out in various parts of the room. My living room/kitchen is very big, wide, and open with 16-foot high ceilings and hardwood floors. Sounds like the big, warm loft that it is. That is when the 8000's really shine. Unfortunately, I don't think my roommate wants that converted to a recording studio any time soon. So it looks like I'm stuck with the basement for now.

 

[heylow]

All I can add is.........


DUDE! Just get a pair!
They're great bang for the buck and very useful.

Vocals can actually sound really great with them but it's more of an effect sound...you wouldnt want an album full of that sound, I wouldnt think. They are great as overheads...especially if you take some time and experiment.

Like someone said, if your room sounds OK you can get ome cool acoustic sounds and it also shines as a second guitar mic picking up ambience. Just put a 57 or whatever on the speaker and walk around about 6-8 feet in front of the amp. When you find a spot that sounds good, stick the ECM where your ear is....its cool


heylow

 

[detuned6]

get your ecm's now!

someone on this board siad they heard behringer discontinued them!

 

[Tom Hicks]

I have also been told not to hot swap mics.

 

[battleminnow]

Someone at Guitar Center told me they discontiued them, and that was October, so tread lightly with that info.

Pete

 

[safarisound]

I have used the ECMs for several sessions and the mics just keep getting better. With carefull placement these guys pick up all the drums in a very uniform manner. I use a 57 on snare and a Beyer LD condensor on kick, and only blend in enough to give them definition. I am not saying you will be getting a Grammy or anything, but they have outperformed some more expensive mics on certain applications. If you can get a set...get them!

 

[shackrock]

nice

good to hear - my only problem is that they are so incredibly skinny looking. how the hell are those supposed to fit onto a normal boom stand/mic clip?

ha

 

[Speeddemon]

How would the ECM8000's work on a elec. guitar cab? Or would the SM57 shine there?
Right now I only have an SM57 and a Sennheiser e609.

 

[Lame Thrower]

good to hear - my only problem is that they are so incredibly skinny looking. how the hell are those supposed to fit onto a normal boom stand/mic clip?

They come with their own widdow baby mic cwips. They're fucking adorable!

 

[chessrock]

How would the ECM8000's work on a elec. guitar cab? Or would the SM57 shine there?
Right now I only have an SM57 and a Sennheiser e609.

I'd think if you love the sound of your guitar and amp, then the ecm's would be a great choice. They're just very accurate and neutral-sounding . . . won't get in the way of what is already a good sound, if that is your aim.

 

[shackrock]

here's another quetsion.

go to 8thstreet.com and thier are 2 different item numbers (of the same thing).

one has "measurement" or something in the title. can't find any other differences - what IS the difference? ha.