mics for live stereo recording

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mixmkr

mixmkr

we don't need rest!!
ok...I have a friend asking... LOL! ha! really!!

wants to know what TWO mics would work best for recording live performances from out in the crowd area.. peferably in an X/Y config.

Plus... I suppose a little mini mixer or a decent two channel pre to go with it. I sold him a DAT really cheap, and he wants to keep the rest under $300 if possible. We aren't talking "get the best"..we are talking UNDER $300.

Since this is out of my expertise (cheapie mixers and/or Chineese mics)...I'll submit this to the infamous mic forum readers and clinicians.

I DO have one MXL2001...but we all know that reputation, whether I like the mic or not!

My cheap mics are the 57 and 58's...(and the 2001!). NO MXL603's, ECM8000...etc. I did buy an ART TubeMP once...sent it back the same day. Thought it was a POS. So...pleeze exclude thinking about a pair of those. Otherwise I have stuff like RE20's, 4033's, m160's 451's, etc...nothing REALLY expensive, but more mid level.

so...looking for a cheapie pre (or mixer) and some Chineese(?) mics? Anything half decent?...or 3/4 decent?!!
 
I've seen tapers at Dead/Phil/Mule shows using Octava MC012's in X/Y.

Cheap battery-powered pres are gonna be a problem, if I'm correct in assuming the purpose is to record "bootlegs" of national touring acts............

Best setup I've seen so far is matched TLM103's into an Apogee MiniMe into a portable DAT.
 
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This would probably be one of the few applications where those $40 Behringer reference mics might just do the trick.

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=2248&Category=Microphones


If it's going to be a loud performance where the SPL handling will be severely tested . . . or a very quiet one where self-noise could be an issue, then I'd forget about it and go instead with a couple of Oktava MC012's or Marshall 603's.

Then pick up something like a DMP3 to plug them in to, and you should be set.

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=10268&Category=Audio_Processors
 
thanks Chess.... that's more in line with what I was thinking.. no solo pno recitals...and NO bootleg shit either. Just local groups, weekly jams and stuff like that. 110V won't be a problem either, so battery powered isn't needed. The DAT is a Tascam DA-20, so it will need juice also.
 
oh...and you think the DMP3 would be better than one of those little mini notepad kinda mixers...or a Mackie 1202 used? It might make things a little more "flexible" down the road...would be my thinking. A couple of powered speakers and ya got a mini PA too.
 
oh... and not just to talk to myself in my own thread!!

aren't the ECM8000 omni mics?? Probably not the best for sitting out front, unless you want a bunch of extraneous noise too...eh?..and not so good in an X/Y either.
 
I use 2 setups, which both work. If I have the room, I use 2 Oktava MC012's into an audiobuddy, which is powered by a small power invertor and a motorcycle battery. If I don't have room, I use a Sony ECMMS957 one point MS stereo mic. It's $300 exactly, runs on its own battery, is compact, requires no preamp- goes to a stereo line in and sounds very good. It will work fine with a DAT recorder.-Richie
 
Bootlegs are great, and the guys that do them provide a valueable service and archive of great live shows that would otherwise go unreleased.

www.furthurnet.org

These artists have all allowed their music to be recorded and distributed free of charge and liability.

Check it out. There's stuff there you won't find anywhere else.........
 
I've started using my Oktava MK012s in an X/Y while my band is practicing. I set them up and when something new pops up I hit record in SONAR to capture it.

I'm running them through a Behringer mixer as well but would definitely recommend the DMP3.
 
I use a Rode NT4 for such situations. Perfectly featured for such use.

The MK012 are extremely popular for an entry level mic among live tapers. If you can get them on a blow out deal, that's probably the way to go in that price range.

A step lower if you want to go cheaper, is the offerings from www.soundprofessionals.com or their competitors. I have a few for use when called for by situation.

A step higher is the venerable AT822, which are often around used.
 
mixmkr said:
ok...I have a friend asking... LOL! ha! really!!

wants to know what TWO mics would work best for recording live performances from out in the crowd area.. peferably in an X/Y config.
Click to expand...
Checkout a pair of Shure SM81's.
 
i've used my pair of MXL 603s's for this before and had pretty decent results. ran em into an maudio mobilepre, and it worked fine until i had problems with the mobilepre bluescreening my laptop.

i've also used a battery powered sony stereo mic before (an ECM 90_something), but it was the $100 one. turned out an ok recording. certainly not superb, but it was a recording, and that was the only one that made it out of the venue that night.

i've got a friend who uses a pair of mc012's into an maudio firewire 410. again, turns out pretty decent recordings.

i also have friends who run km84s, km184s, schoeps mk4vs, U89s (!?!) and a whole variety of preamps (mod sbm1's, minimes, loony v3s, etc) to record widespread panic shows (among others), but that's all considerably over that $300 pricetag. :D


basically, I would deem any mic that's "usable" as a drum overhead as "usable" for live concert micing. of course, YMMV. :p


cheers,
wade

PS--i think the room and the job the FOH engineer does has a much larrger effect on the quality of the tapes brought out of the venue......more so than the mics. better mics certainly raise the bar when everything else sounds great......but a shitty mix in a boomy room recorded with great gear is still gonna sound shitty.
 
I'd suggest looking into a pair of Studio Projects B1's.

I've had my pair for a little over a year, and I've really been pleased with them. I've used them on acoustic and electric guitars and an acoustic bass, overheads, various vocals, and various sampling jobs, and was really pleased with the way they've captured the sound.

I also used them last August to do a stereo recording of a 60's "garage band" reunion of a group from the pacific northwest called "the WAYDS". The B1s were arranged in a wide stereo pair in front of the band; they went into an ART DUAL MP stereo mic preamp, which went directly into a TASCAM DA-30mkII DAT recorder. They did a great job of capturing the two drummers, electric bass, digital piano (two players), two (electric and electrified acoustic) guitars, tamborine and three vocalists, all going off at the same time, outdoors, in front of 100 people. We used the shockmounts and windscreens too because of a slight breeze. The audio sounds remarkably realistic, detailed and clean. Even the audience noise sounds balanced and three-dimensional. The tracks were used to create a double CD of the live music for the band members, and also for the audio tracks for the video shoot that was used to create a "rockumentary" DVD about the band reunion, also as a keepsake for the band members, families and friends. Everyone (including me) was knocked out by what these two $80 SP B1s captured.
 
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