Live rock recording advice/tips?

[Richard King]

Thanks for the replies, guys! A couple of questions for "those in the know":

- What are some of your favorite live vocal mics? Ideally, they'd sound good, take a beating, and keep out the maximum amount of bleed, but I'd imagine that's pretty difficult to do.

- Computer-based, or something more like an HD24/hard drive-based system? Pros/Cons?

My live recording system is based around a pair of Presonus Firestudios and a Presonus Digimax FS. Those feed into Reaper as my recording software and all storage is being done in my computer hard drive. Vocal mics are whatever the singers normally use (usually ok) that I split between their live system and my recording system (sometimes instruments are also split if they use a good mic). I can split up to 8 mics with what I have. The splitter is made by ART and uses transformer isolation. Direct out from the splitter goes to me, the other out goes to live sound control. I own 9 mics that I use (of variable quality), most being large diaphram condenser types and a couple of small diaphrams that I normally use as overheads.

 

[Bobbsy]

Given my choice of vocal mics, I'd choose the Audix OM series. I use the OM5 and OM6 for most things, depending on the pattern I need and the OM7 in situations where stage bleed is a problem...the archetypal "singing drummer" for example. All three sound warmer and clearer than the 40+ year old SM58 design. However, since so many people others choose the SM58, some just specify that because "everyone" uses it.

The OM5/6/7 might not be quite as tough as the SM58 (I've never driven a nail with one) but they come darn close and perform extremely well.

That said, I can EQ an SM58 with my eyes closed. I just don't need as much EQ with the Audixes.

As for the HD vs. computer question, I use a computer. However, that's because I have one and it works. If I was buying gear from scratch, I'd probably go for the simplicity and reliability of the HD recorder solution.

Bob