Help me mic a harmonica!!!

[Eagertone]

I've got a country/bluegrass session coming up and need to mic a harmonica. I was thinking it'd be most comfortable using a green bullet. Then audix came out with that new harmonica mic.

It's not a live performance, session only. So how do I get the best tone from a harmoinca?

I've got:
sp C1, B1
audix d1s, d2s, d4s, adx-50s
shure sm57s, sm58s, sm7
sennheiser e609 blacks and silvers

What's my best bet for micing technique and what mic to use?

 

[timboZ]

I would use a HI-Z mike like the Green Bullet into a guitar amp.
Then mic the amp with a 57 or the E609.

 

[mixsit]

Country/acoustic style or cupped in the hand?

 

[Eagertone]

I would use a HI-Z mike like the Green Bullet into a guitar amp.
Then mic the amp with a 57 or the E609.

That's what I was suggesting to the harp player. I've heard of a lot of guys prefering this.

 

[Eagertone]

Country/acoustic style or cupped in the hand?

acoustic country

 

[AGCurry]

The bullet-style mics are designed for the Little Walter style of blues harp, where the player holds it in his hand with the harp. This is NOT what you want for acoustic country-style harp.

Try the SM7 or the B1 first. You want a mic without harshness.

 

[freshmattyp]

Have the player stand back about 6-12" from the B1. Put the capsule about nose level, and angled down towards the harmonica.

 

[cavedog101]

Okay...this is a secret so if it becomes really popular I'm suing for rights.

Audix D1.really.

 

[deepwater]

Audix just came out with a Harmonica Mic called the Fireball I think.

 

[Richard Monroe]

I would put up a few mics, but I'm betting for that application, SM7 simply wins. Actually, I've had very good luck on more blues type harp plugging a Shure 55C (high impedence forerunner of the Elvis type mic, 1939-1946) into a POD Pro, then a power amp, a cab, and mic'ing the cab with e609 or SM7.-Richie

 

[mixsit]

Okay...this is a secret so if it becomes really popular I'm suing for rights.

Audix D1.really.

Really? Cool.
But just to be clear -cupped or acoustic again...

Wayne

Never mind. D1= thin/bright/small= cupped.

 

[sloop]

Harp mic

I recorded the harp on this piece with a Sennheiser 835 about 16" away from the mic. Any descent mic with a cardiod pattern should have similar results.

Listen to Sixteen tons--see if that is the sound you are going for.

http://www.recordingproject.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=13939&highlight=

 

[Angusdevil]

I've had really good success using a Beyer M88 in hand and miking the amp with a Sennheiser MD441. It gave a really big and full sound. Granted, they may not be what ya need but for honkin, it sounds great.

 

[cavedog101]

Yeah....cupped..For MORE agression..D2. For a BIG harmonica....D4 no cup just stand in front and wail!.Theres several harmonica tracks on our last album. The Neumanns and the AKG's and the others,(835,SM7,57,) just didnt get that sweet tone.This is not the blues grit btw, but you can do the hand-talk with it..only clean...Try it.Be amazed.

 

[AGCurry]

I've had really good success using a Beyer M88 in hand and miking the amp with a Sennheiser MD441. It gave a really big and full sound. Granted, they may not be what ya need but for honkin, it sounds great.

You're not getting it.

Country/acoustic harmonica is just the sound of the harmonica. It is NOT run through an amplifier. It is NOT played with a mic cupped in the hand.

 

[mrface2112]

i would treat country/acoustic harmonica the same way i would treat a vocalist. hang the right mic (determined after experimentation and based on what you've got available), put the player between 6 and 12in back from it, and let em rip.

i really don't see why that's so difficult.....


cheers,
wade

 

[AGCurry]

i would treat country/acoustic harmonica the same way i would treat a vocalist. hang the right mic (determined after experimentation and based on what you've got available), put the player between 6 and 12in back from it, and let em rip.

i really don't see why that's so difficult.....


cheers,
wade

Thank you. Bingo.

 

[kid klash]

i would treat country/acoustic harmonica the same way i would treat a vocalist. hang the right mic (determined after experimentation and based on what you've got available), put the player between 6 and 12in back from it, and let em rip.

i really don't see why that's so difficult.....


cheers,
wade

I'd go along with this too. The cleanest, most present harmonica tracks I've recorded were with an SM-57 positioned about 9"-12" away from the harp player, direct into the preamp, which went direct to tape (ADAT).

 

[Eagertone]

yeah. it looks like that's what i'm gonna do. that was the orriginal plan, and then i had all these people telling me to run it into a tube amp and mic the amp. i'm usually just into capturing the sound that's in the room (which would be just as though i were micing vox)

 

[nkjanssen]

Yep, try a good vocal condensor and get back from it further than you would for vocals.