microphone recommendations: violin, viola, acoustic guitar, tenor vocal, baritone...

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sathyan

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I've been recording with a pair of Nady SP5 unidirectional dynamic mics into a Yamaha mixer. Editing and mixing is done in CoolEdit Pro. The final mix is created for two purposes (1) distribution by MP3 and (2) a possible demo. Therefore, audiophile quality is not needed but I want a warmer sound.

I am looking for recommendations for microphones to use for the following instruments at the stated maximum price points. My mixer has phantom power so either dynamic or condenser is fine. The violin/viola and trombone are most critical at this point.


Violin/viola - $200

Acoustic guitar $75

Dobro $100

trombone $200

tenor voice $100

baritone voice $150


if a particular microphone will fill more than one stated need, budgets can be added.


how important is it to record these in stereo (and thereby double the spending)?

Is the Behringer MIC100 tube preamp any good? (in terms of producing a warmer sound)


thank you for your help,

Sathyan
http://inkmusic.org
 
Please do not cross-post...

I find it hard enough to find the threads I'm following in the 'todays posts' view, don't like email notification...anywho...

Maybe a pair of MXL 603s and a pair of MXL V77's would come in under budget ? Stereo recording would be nice here if you have a nice acoustic space to do it in, and these two pairs should give you some nice options.
 
My mistake...

...you did not cross-post, you posted the SAME THING THREE TIMES !!!!! :D
 
Re: My mistake...

PapillonIrl said:
...you did not cross-post, you posted the SAME THING THREE TIMES !!!!! :D
Click to expand...
Really.......delete the other two please. Geezzz......
 
And begin by spending some time using the *search* function here for budget mics--you'll find many answers to your questions, and more. To ask is good; to first search and then ask is golden.

Good luck,
J.
 
i do lots of classical instruments, and have used many many types of mics. you need to give us a better idea of what you are doing - are you trying to record this group as an ensemble, or are you multi-tracking/overdubbing? if you are tracking as a group, you might be better off using one pair of good SD condensers as a stereo pair in ORTF out about 8 feet, rather than trying to individually mic each instrumetn with marginal mics. if you are multi-tracking, again, a single good mic or pair will suffice for all of your apps much better than a variety of cheap mics.

do you have a good room, or are you struggling with a bedroom or something else? at any rate, the prices you mention are not going to buy you any of the mics that a professional would use on string instruments, horns, or serious vocals. i use pairs of schoeps cmc64s and akg c480s for most studio based acoustic work, with an occasional pair of km184s. all three of those mics will also do a wonderful job on vocals. the least expensive mics i have found that will do a credible job on a variety of acoustic instruments are the gefell M300s, though if you have a decent preamp you may get away with akg c391b's or rode nt5's. if you have a very nice space to work in, check out the DPA 4060s - they are omnis, about $350 each, and are superb for close micing stringed instruments and are used regularly for all types of vocal work on broadway musicals.
 
I think a lot of what you're doing could be handled pretty well by an Electrovoice RE-20 . . . including the vocals.

Maybe throw a decent small-diaphragm condenser in to the fold. Those will run anywhere from $100 for an MC012 to $600 + for something like a km184, etc. Nothing wrong with getting a stereo pair, as you were asking about. Highly recommended if it's in the budget.

And ditch the Behringer idea. Don't worry about getting a "warm" sound out of a mic pre. Worry instead about getting clean and/or accurate. Warm can come later, when you have more of a budget, as well as a clue as to what you're trying to do.
 
yo,

AT4033 for violin, guitar, dobro, etc. Does and excellent job, and worth having two of these.

Studio Projects C1 for vocals, and trombone. :) (yes, its an excellent trombone microphone)

You can pretty much do anything with that setup. If you cant get the sound with the C1 the AT4033 will probably do it and vice versa.

Danny
 
"i do lots of classical instruments, and have used many many types of mics. you need to give us a better idea of what you are doing - are you trying to record this group as an ensemble, or are you multi-tracking/overdubbing? "

recording a single track at a time and multi-tracking in the mixing software







if you are tracking as a group, you might be better off using one pair of good SD condensers as a stereo pair in ORTF out about 8 feet, rather than trying to individually mic each instrumetn with marginal mics. if you are multi-tracking, again, a single good mic or pair will suffice for all of your apps much better than a variety of cheap mics.

"do you have a good room, or are you struggling with a bedroom or something else? "


in a bedroom so I'm not interested in retaining room acoustics



"at any rate, the prices you mention are not going to buy you any of the mics that a professional would use on string instruments, horns, or serious vocals."

that's what I was afraid of.
thanks
 
Re: microphone recommendations: violin, viola, acoustic guitar, tenor vocal, baritone...

sathyan said:
I've been recording with a pair of Nady SP5 unidirectional dynamic mics into a Yamaha mixer. Editing and mixing is done in CoolEdit Pro. The final mix is created for two purposes (1) distribution by MP3 and (2) a possible demo. Therefore, audiophile quality is not needed but I want a warmer sound.

I am looking for recommendations for microphones to use for the following instruments at the stated maximum price points. My mixer has phantom power so either dynamic or condenser is fine. The violin/viola and trombone are most critical at this point.


Violin/viola - $200

Acoustic guitar $75

Dobro $100

trombone $200

tenor voice $100

baritone voice $150


if a particular microphone will fill more than one stated need, budgets can be added.


how important is it to record these in stereo (and thereby double the spending)?

Is the Behringer MIC100 tube preamp any good? (in terms of producing a warmer sound)


thank you for your help,

Sathyan
http://inkmusic.org
Click to expand...
Dude, don't waste your money on a bunch of cheap crappy mic's... save up your money and get good mic's instead.
 
Re: microphone recommendations: violin, viola, acoustic guitar, tenor vocal, baritone...

sathyan said:

Violin/viola - $200
Acoustic guitar $75
Dobro $100
trombone $200
tenor voice $100
baritone voice $150

if a particular microphone will fill more than one stated need, budgets can be added.

how important is it to record these in stereo (and thereby double the spending)?
Click to expand...

I'd want a pair of SD condensors. Stereo is an inportant tool in your arsenal. And a nice LD.
If you cover all the instruments with three mics, you have $800+ to play with? You should be able to come in way under that.
Wayne
 
Yeah....what mixsit said.......
Don't worry about the guys saying you can't get anything good so don't bother.
Instead, look at what mixsit, darnold and chessrock said and just buy a couple or three mics. You said if a mic can have multiple uses that'd be ok. Well they can have multiple uses so use that $800 on a few good mics and you'll be fine. ;)
 
"in a bedroom so I'm not interested in retaining room acoustics"

A small room (oops, any room :) ) will have an effect. You might just tend to work a litle closer in general and make use of deadening, but experiment. (An open closet is a natural bass trap to help balance a room.)
But what I really wanted to mention is, don't give up on those nice diffuse dining and living rooms, and that natural small chamber- the bathroom.
That's why God invented 30' mic cables.
:D :D
 
A U-87 would likely cover all these bases pretty well with one mic. A pair of SDCs would also be nice on your instruments. I'd check out the Josephson C42s or the Neumann KM-184s.
 
A U-87 would likely cover all these bases pretty well with one mic. A pair of SDCs would also be nice on your instruments. I'd check out the Josephson C42s or the Neumann KM-184s.
 
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