Naiant X-Q

  • Thread starter Thread starter nate_dennis
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nate_dennis

nate_dennis

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I know a lot of people around here are fans of Naiant mics. I'm considering buying some just based on the recommendations. I'm looking at getting two X-Q mics for recording acoustic guitar. Do these do well for that application? Thank you for your insight.

http://www.naiant.com/xqspecification.html
 
now I know that I'm probably speaking from an ignorant position, one that is based on a lot of marketing, but they seem very small and almost "toy like" how much does that affect their ability to perform? I'm on a budget and I've heard a lot of good things about them, but how does their size affect their usability? Again, I know this is coming from ignorance, but I'd like to know . . . thanks again.
 
Thanks for your reply, and for not making fun of me for being an idiot.
 
nate_dennis said:
now I know that I'm probably speaking from an ignorant position, one that is based on a lot of marketing, but they seem very small and almost "toy like" how much does that affect their ability to perform? I'm on a budget and I've heard a lot of good things about them, but how does their size affect their usability? Again, I know this is coming from ignorance, but I'd like to know . . . thanks again.
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Their size may actually be an advantage. They are very accurate and life-like. All measurement microphones have small capsules and are the flattest mics around!
 
Well it's settled then. I'm getting two X-Q mics. The next question I have is this . . . . is paying the extra (I know it's not that much extra) to have them a "Matched pair" really worth it? What does it even mean? Thanks so much for all of your help. Also what is a "measurment microphone?"
 
I've been espousing the virtues of the X-Qs in a few threads recently without backing myself up -- here's a mp3 of a solo acoustic guitar using two X-Qs for stereo (just a scratch track - playing could be better, but you get the idea)



and for a wannabe-shootout, it's hard to come up with a mic in the same class, but I set up an Oktava MK-012 with an omni capsule and one X-Q. Coming up with equivalent placement is tough too -- at best, for me it means suboptimal placement for both mics -- anyway, they're about an inch apart from one another, both pointing directly at the 14th fret about 2.5 feet back from the guitar-- these 8 meg wav files so you can get all the HF:

http://www.recursor.net/X-Q.wav

http://www.recursor.net/MK-012omni.wav

Not bad, eh? The X-Q sounds fuller to me, but I like them both. The preamp gain is the same on both, but you might need to bring up the Oktava slightly, because I guess it's lower sensitivity. I didn't set up my full movable studio, which would have cut down on room noise, so you get more of that than you would if I were actually recording something for keeps. Actually, being at home with a bunch of kids/pets, I prefer close micing with cardioids, but when I want to use SD omnis, I pretty much just use the X-Qs.
 
hey antichef, on that first link, how far away are the Naiants?
 
I hate to say, but I don't remember - that was several months ago. I'm thinking they would have been fairly wide spaced and about a foot and a half away.

edit - it was about 7 months ago, and here's the setup (as tweaked by my materials clerk and engineer, who is pictured):

otherdog1-orig.jpg


I would have sat about where the camera is, so maybe 2 feet back? the sound hole from the acoustic would be about mid way between.


edit2:

sdelsolray said:
...and it makes them rather noisy.
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have a listen! you may be in the 95% of the population that has a better ear than I do, but I'm hearing a ton of mic noise
 
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What about using them for drum overheads, both in the studio and live?
 
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