Is a small diA. condensor my best option?

[bostonfan2]

Hey guys,
I am currently recording a taylor 310 with a S.P. C-1. others and myself are happy with the sound, however its sensitivity is causing me
to look at other options, would a high quality small condensor be as sensitive
as what i have now? ive tried dynamics for this and wasnt happy with the
sound, but i need something where at least a player can breath normal
without every little thing being picked up . thanks !

Bostonfan2

 

[SteveMcB]

An SD condensor will probably be just as sensitive to noises like breathing...
Getting something with a hypercardioid pickup pattern may be useful, but still, you may well run into the same problem. Controlling breathing, movement, and clothes (or not!) noise can really be a problem. The high end boost of the C1 may make it worse though.

The sensitivity to other noise is one of the tradeoffs for the enhanced top end response and sensitivity to the sound you're actually wanting to record, of condensors.

One suggestion is maybe try a Sennheiser 441 - dynamic but with extended frequency response, hypercardioid (not cheap though!). Also, you could try different positioning of the mic, maybe some sort of absorbent material (eg auralex mounted on music stand) between your head and the mic.

But I suspect you're still gonna have to work on that breathing if you want a decent recording...
Good luck,
Steve

 

[sdelsolray]

Hey guys,
I am currently recording a taylor 310 with a S.P. C-1. others and myself are happy with the sound, however its sensitivity is causing me
to look at other options, would a high quality small condensor be as sensitive
as what i have now? ive tried dynamics for this and wasnt happy with the
sound, but i need something where at least a player can breath normal
without every little thing being picked up . thanks !

Bostonfan2

Get used to it. Just about any condenser is very sensitive to sound, that's its job. It can hear better than me.

Actually, with better condensers it gets worse. I'll always remember how Ty Ford described the Neumann TLM103, "It's so sensitive, it can hear the thickness of the paint on the walls."

A proper, quit recording environment, along with mic etiquitte, will solve things.