Fiddle Microphone?

[chipwits]

Possible to pay under $500 for a microphone to record my fiddling that sounds as good as mic's costing three times more?

If so, what should I get? Thinking ribbon microphone since my fiddling is sometimes "harsh". Should I just get an SM58? Or perhaps an inexpensive ShinyBox ribbon mic?

What preamp is good for a ribbon mic such as Shinybox? Want the most bang for the buck I guess. Perhaps a preampt that be good for condensors as well.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I was into all this about six months ago and forgot a bunch. But now I *actually* have run into some money to buy some stuff now =)

Chipwits

 

[Anfontan]

Most fiddlers I have played with use condensers, this is live though and you did mention a problem with a harsh sound, you might try the dynamic mic route.

 

[tangerine]

Try a countryman Lavalier with a decent wireless system

 

[Harvey Gerst]

Allison Krause uses a Shure SM81 on stage, and I've found it to work for fiddle studio recordings very well. It looks like Byron Berline uses an Audio Technica condenser on stage. I'll see him this weekend and find out what model he's using.

I also like the Behringer ECM8000, the Audix TR-40, the Oktava MC012, the Studio Projects B1 and T3, the MXL V77 and 603, and I think the MSH-2 might do a great job on fiddle as well..

 

[chipwits]

Ah you know Byron. I've spoken with him before. He's one of my favorite fiddler's and a bit of his style is evident in my playing. My all time favorite is Tommy Jackson, who Byron learned much from.

Chipwits

 

[Dan Micah]

Peluso?

Hi,

I use a km184 for my fiddle, which gives a natural yet smooth sound. I also have a pair of Peluso SD which sounds nearly as good and 1 of these could be in your price range.

Placement can do a lot to combat harshness. Try over the shoulder, pointed at body of violin ( I like left side) close to join of the neck. The further away the mic, the more body of sound.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[chipwits]

Yeah I've tried different microphone placing techniques. AKG C414 and MXL 990/991. All sound horrible.

It's not my fiddling cause I've had several people listen to me live and they agree it doesn't sound the same recorded.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

Ah you know Byron. I've spoken with him before. He's one of my favorite fiddler's and a bit of his style is evident in my playing. My all time favorite is Tommy Jackson, who Byron learned much from.

Chipwits

Yeah, I knew Byron from the old days in LA when he was hanging out with Doug Dillard in the early 60's.

 

[Farview]

I thought that the difference between a violin and a fiddle was the mic you used to record it. High dollar condenser for a violin, sm57 for a fiddle.

 

[hairylarry]

When I was a kid

When I was a kid I walked all the way to town to hear a guy play the violin. When I got there all he had was a durned old fiddle.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

I thought that the difference between a violin and a fiddle was the mic you used to record it. High dollar condenser for a violin, sm57 for a fiddle.

Not quite; it's also about how the instrument is setup. Most fiddlers use a lower, flattened bridge, which makes it easier to play fast runs and double stops. They also might move the bridge closer to the neck for a brighter and shorter scale. But mainly, it's attitude.

 

[DavidK]

Not quite; it's also about how the instrument is setup. Most fiddlers use a lower, flattened bridge, which makes it easier to play fast runs and double stops. They also might move the bridge closer to the neck for a brighter and shorter scale. But mainly, it's attitude.

Violinists have all their teeth and dont carry their instrument in a paper bag.

I am getting decent results with the MXL 990 if I cut the highs a bit. Its nothin amazing but it works.

 

[chipwits]

The following is my fiddling recorded with an MXL 991. Lots of effects and stuff added etc.. I suck at mixing so dont' laugh. Anyways I need a better sound than this. (btw the mandolin playing me also with a 4 string mandolin i bought from a garage sale for $25 - recorded with a $50 mic). Playign rhythm guitar. Piano, bass, drums are computerized. (drums with a set of multiple samples for each piece; samples dynamically and randomly selected at playback (every beat) by FL Studio to attempt to make the drums sound more "realistic"). Oh the banjo rhythm is fake too obviously hehe.

 

[PhilGood]

Allison Krause uses a Shure SM81 on stage, and I've found it to work for fiddle studio recordings very well. It looks like Byron Berline uses an Audio Technica condenser on stage. I'll see him this weekend and find out what model he's using.

I also like the Behringer ECM8000, the Audix TR-40, the Oktava MC012, the Studio Projects B1 and T3, the MXL V77 and 603, and I think the MSH-2 might do a great job on fiddle as well..

Hot damn! I've always wanted to know about micing fiddle, 'cause I haven't done it yet but will need to soon. Where's the usual mic placement? Overhead? Over the shoulder?

 

[tmix]

Chipwits,
I record a lot of violin (and fiddle!) using Kel hm-1s. They sound really nice because they are a darker sounding mic. A pair cost me around $200.

 

[Dan Micah]

Placement

Hot damn! I've always wanted to know about micing fiddle, 'cause I haven't done it yet but will need to soon. Where's the usual mic placement? Overhead? Over the shoulder?

I'm extremely fussy about my violin/fiddle sound, and the happiest I've been is when I set up a mic (km184) fairly high - 3' above the instrument and walked around it playing with good headphone cranked. Turning 15 degrees changed the sound hugely. I'd suggest setting the fiddel player up with good headphones turned up loud and move the mic until the player likes their sound, then record a sample. It's so much easier to get a sound that you like first, rather than trying to fix it with eq.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[chipwits]

Dan, will I hear a world of difference with that KM184 vs. my MXL 991? My 991 sounds harsh and metallic. Like the difference between AM radio and FM? heh

 

[Dan Micah]

Probably a huge difference, but then the price is also hugely different. I tried a lot of sdc until I chose the km184. The Peluso CEMC6 is very close, just not as smooth. About half the price, and you can add different caps - omni, hyper etc. I didn't find the Peluso until after I'd bought the Km184. I have some samples, but I'm only on dial up...

Cheers,

Dan

 

[DavidK]

The following is my fiddling recorded with an MXL 991. Lots of effects and stuff added etc.. I suck at mixing so dont' laugh. Anyways I need a better sound than this. (btw the mandolin playing me also with a 4 string mandolin i bought from a garage sale for $25 - recorded with a $50 mic). Playign rhythm guitar. Piano, bass, drums are computerized. (drums with a set of multiple samples for each piece; samples dynamically and randomly selected at playback (every beat) by FL Studio to attempt to make the drums sound more "realistic"). Oh the banjo rhythm is fake too obviously hehe.

First off, nice job!!!

Personally, I think you would get a better sound if you made a high freq. cut and backed up about a foot away ( from where you are now) from the mic. The mic is picking up a lot of surface noise right now, merely moving away will help. The sound quality on the mp3 is actually decent, its all the surface noise that is the problem.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

My usual mic positioning is above the fiddle, 18" to 36" above.