Favorite Overheads?

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frist44

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If money were of no issue and you had your choice, what would you pick for overheads?

Brandon
 
If I had the dough, I'd probably opt for some AKG 414's. Or some Neumann KM84s
 
I usually use a Royer SF-12 (stereo ribbon), or sometimes a spaced pair of Earthworks QTC-1s. I'm not too impressed with the 414s on OH, but have gotten good results in the past with AudioTechnica 4050s.

Scott
 
frist44 said:
If money were of no issue and you had your choice, what would you pick for overheads?

Brandon
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If money wasn't an issue, I'd be in microphone heaven.
 
:D I've had very good results with SM-81's, and CAD EQUI 300's.
 
SM-81's... I've been using them for years with great results. They're very accurate and consistant.
 
Probably a pair of Earthworks SR-77's.


I've heard some exceptional drum tracks recorded with them -- well, actually a lot of exceptional things, period. :D I like the idea of something very flat and accurate for that sort of thing.
 
Chess, I have a pair of 71's and to tell you the truth, I like the way AT-4033's sound better.
 
Anyone use a pair of BLUE dragonfly's on O/H? I have one dragonfly and was reading on rec.audio.pro that a few people consistently use them on overheads. I thought that would be an interesting combination because of the mid scoop inherent to the mic's frequency response.


Brandon
 
chessrock said:
Probably a pair of Earthworks SR-77's.


I've heard some exceptional drum tracks recorded with them -- well, actually a lot of exceptional things, period. :D I like the idea of something very flat and accurate for that sort of thing.
Click to expand...
I would go for, rather than the SR-77s, Earthworks omnis like the TC30K. The Behringer ECM8000s are Earthworks omni knockoffs, and I love them as overheads. Imagine what the real thing would sound like (imagine cominginsecond drooling like Homer Simpson).
 
frist44 said:
Anyone use a pair of BLUE dragonfly's on O/H? I have one dragonfly and was reading on rec.audio.pro that a few people consistently use them on overheads. I thought that would be an interesting combination because of the mid scoop inherent to the mic's frequency response.
Click to expand...

Now that would be interesting.

Looking at the frequency plot, you've got that dip in the midrange, starting right around 400-500 hz continuing right on down to 800 hz -- right about the range I usually like to cut several db's on the snare.

Then it's got this serious peak going on at around 2 - 3 khz . . . again, a general area I consider a defacto boost for a little added beater click and snare crack.

Then there's another dip going on around 5-7 khz -- Hmmm. Yet another area I like to cut in order to tame hi-hat hash.

And as if that weren't enough, there's a little added meat between 80-100 hz (kick drum territory) and a little air at the top . . . only instead of the crappy 12 khz that most of the cheaper mics go for, it's at a much safer 14-15 khz range.

In summary, you have a mic who's frequency respose curve looks very similar to the EQ curve I use for drum overheads.

The only thing I would be scared of is BLUE's infamous off-axis response. As is the case with BLUE's in general, you'd have to play with it untill you find the sweetspot -- which isn't so bad with vocals or guitar, but on drums it can be a challenge.

My guess is that if you find the sweetspot, you might just have the ideal drum overhead mic, here . . . could save you lots of time EQ'ing -- or you could be looking at the nighmare OH mic, depending on how much time and energy you have to fiddle around with it.

Trackrat: That's interesting you mention the AT4033's. I've always been intrigued with how they might perform . . . it seems logical that a mid-sized diaphragm might be sort of a "best of both worlds" scenario for drums. I was going to say that right up there along side the Earthworkds would probably be the KSM 32's (another Mid-size diaphragm electret model) -- very natural sounding with super-tight focus and well-controlled bass.
 
If money were no object..Coles sound like a cool option maybe Royers or a pair 251's Thru a API AHHHH...But now I use KSM44's
Which I like alot.. also AT 4033's work for me pretty well



Don
 
track rat,

what are you using for overheads in the recordings you have on nowhereradio.com?

I like the sound of the cymbals on them. they sound nice and smooth.

Brandon
 
My guess is that if you find the sweetspot, you might just have the ideal drum overhead mic, here . . . could save you lots of time EQ'ing -- or you could be looking at the nighmare OH mic, depending on how much time and energy you have to fiddle around with it.
Click to expand...
Luckily those dragonflys have the swivel head. Without that, the fiddling you'd have to do would be almost intolerable.
 
cominginsecond said:
Luckily those dragonflys have the swivel head. Without that, the fiddling you'd have to do would be almost intolerable.
Click to expand...

What would really be cool is if they could have somehow rigged it to swivel horizontally as well as vertically. :D
 
for me... expensive: 414's for M-S OH's, TLM-103's (very good in my humble opinion), inexpensive, u gotta love oktava 012's, at least I do.
 
I'm wondering, how do you deal with TC30K as OH, beign that they are omni, aren't you suceptible to more phase problems than those from using cardiod patterns...more even when its not a dead room?

I was wondering, I've heard pretty cool things about those behringer ECM 8000 mics, for so cheap, they seem to be a bargain. Is there any place were they sell them as matched pairs?
 
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