guitar - sm57 vs small diaphragm condensers

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seriousturtle

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okay, this has probably been addressed several times, but i can't find this exact subject anywhere. i keep hearing how the sm57 is THE mic for acoustic guitars. what i want to know is, how much more money would it cost for a small diaphragm condenser that records acoustic guitars better than the sm57? and what is it?

~the turtle
 
Sm57- *THE* mic for acoustic guitars????? I don't know about that. Check out the AKG C1000s ($200.) This mic is good for acoustic guitars as well as many other things.
 
I don't recall EVER hearing that the SM57 is THE mic for acoustic guitars.... it is a classic for mic'ing guitar amps....

For acoustic instruments, a small-diaphragm condenser is typical...

Bruce
 
what is the cheapest small diaphragm condenser that mics (records) acoustics better than the sm-57?

~the turtle
 
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I've tried the SM57 on acoustic guitar, and it isn't that good. Like Ritz said, the AKG C1000s is much better, at only double the price. The Rode NT1 is also better at more or less the same price as the AKG.
 
As the other fellows have suggested,the SM57 reputation for miking electric guitar cabs is huge.
But accoustic is another kettle of fish.The reasoning behind the small diaphragm condensor is it can handle the transients more quickly than its big brother,and so will capture more of the subtle details.
As to your request for an el-cheapo small condensor,check out a class of mikes known as electret condensors.They are recognisable by having an onboard battery to supply the condensor with the DC voltage it needs to work.Prices start under $100.
As to brand,get a lot of suggestions but ultimately trust your ears over advertising copy.

Tom
 
AT 3537

My good friend bought a AT-3537 omni pattern small diaphragm condensor. It's better than my NT1 for acoustic guitar and vocals he says. Will be going down to test that claim soon.
 
hey, are you talking about the AT 3527??? i don't think AT makes a 3537

~the turtle
 
I have used EV 757s for years to mic acoustic guitar -- they are good neutral-sounding dynamics -- but as soon as I got my hands on a Shure SM 81 I knew what I was missing. More high end, more "air", sounds more like an acoustic than an electric.
But at the same time I discovered lots of little echos and reverbs in my room that the 757s didn't hear! It's like everything else in recording: you can't just substitute a condensor for a dynamic. depending on your recording medium you may need to rethink your whole approach & technique to get clean recordings.
Currently I am using the SM81s and a pair of Audio-Technica 4033s onto Cool Edit Pro thru an Alesis board and I am going to be forced to treating my whole space to get rid of the reverb! Sometimes I long for the simple days of tape and dynamic mics....
My playing partner records onto tape with a AT electret condensor (don't remember the model) and while it's not an SM81, for the price (about 1/4) it's pretty good. You can get an e.c. for about what an SM 57 costs, after all. And it will record other instruments better than the 57. Save the 57 for loud sources like drums and amps.
John
 
Go buy 2 Octava MC 012 small diaphram condensors and record your acoustic in stereo. They are $150 each at Guitar Center and sound better than anything else I have used. I have a C-1000($200) which is good and an Audio Technica AT-4033 (Large diaphram-$350) which is also very good, but nothing comes close to the Russian made Octava's. Trust me, it will be the best $300 that you will ever spend on mics.
As far as the 57's on acoustic, yes they are "the" mics to use-"the worst" that is.
 
"the worst"???

there are quite a few people who have different opinions about sm-57's than you have.

~the turtle
 
I have two Oktava's MC012's that I was using for overheads and I tried to use them for acoustic guitar, but they left me feeling a bit think and cold. So I used my vocal NT2 and I like the sound of that a bit better.

Then I pulled the SM57's from in front of my guitar amp (I didn't feel they captured the full sound I wanted) and threw the MC012's in front of that - now those were GREAT for electrics.

RB
 
i have an NT-2 myself, and thought that there was a LOT of bass on an acoustic. i thought that stereo miking it with an oktava mc-012 would help create a nice mixed sound.
what do you think??

and how do you get your own icon in this webpage? jeez, i can't figure it out.

~the turtle
 
AKG...

If you can get hold of a used AKG 451 (eb is necessary) then buy it... They are lush sounding pencil condensors and you will surely be happy with the sounds. They are a capsule design so you can screw of the serious end of the mic and replace it with different polar patterned capsules cardioid is the one that may suit the situation best although consider a hypercardiod if that's what it comes with. Shotgun attachments are long and easy to detect, you don't want on of those really!! If you can afford two then get two and double mic the guitar (one on the front board below and behind the players right hand and one towards the hole from a distance near the nut end of the guitar, pan them around and you'll sound lovely!!). Nothing is written in stone so try all things like over the shoulder of the player facing a hard wall, experiment...!

I suspect you could get a bargain although most people wont be selling as they are too sweet. Don't forget though that a condensor mic requires Phantom powering which is provided on most audio desks or in a seperated regulated 48Volt DC power supply.


Geeb...
 
Turtle-

I like a large condensor on an acoustic guitar if it's your primary instrument on the song (that is, basically just vocal and acoustic guitar and no bass guitar). Yes, it's bassier, but you need something on the bottom or people will tell you the song sounds like something is missing. Especially since you don't want to spend a bunch, why not try fooling around with mic placement (say, 8 inches away at an angle above the sound hole and little closer to the high strings) with your NT2, and also adding a little air with high eq?
 
couldn't agree with you more slim. i love the nt2 on the acoustic, but i want a SDC for two reasons:

1. to pick up the rhythm of the strumming (high end stuff)
2. to stereo mic the guitar

~the turtle
 
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