Neumann KM 184: Good for recording the fiddle?

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chipwits

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I listened to a mic test at http://www.fxguidry.com/mictest1/ . The KM 184 sounds smooth, warm and pleasant. Wondering if this would be good for recording a fiddler that plays old tyme / celtic. Anyone here have experience with this microphone recording a fiddler (or a violinist even) ?

My MXL 991 just isn't cutting it. It is good for my guitar/vocals/mandolin though. I need to buy a mic for my fiddling. The MXL 991 sounds rough, metallic recording the fiddle. Wondering how the MXL V67G would be. But if the KM 184 is that much better, I guess I could save up for it.

I am using Soundblaster Audigy at 44.1khz/16bit, with an Alesis Multimix for the preamp.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

James
 
Perfect choice!

Hi,

I recently recorded my world music band's third album using the km 184 on my fiddle and flute and tin whistle. I love this mic, and it was the first time I have been happy with my fiddle sound. I experimented a lot with the mic position, and was in a room with floor boards - fairly live room. This is a very nice mic, though in a week or two I'll be able to compare it to the Peluso CEMC6 mics which are just over half the price. The mic also sounds great on acoustic guitars, very clean and sweet sound. Hope that's useful,

Dan
 
Yup, what he said, I even use it on vox occasionally though it can be a little too defined in some mixes
 
Thanks for the advice. I am gonna look into that 4033. Anyone know of a microphone test WAV/MP3 file for this mic? I would like to hear it.

Thanks again.

James
 
Km 184's are good sounding mics, but I too have noticed that they can be very bright, or even harsh sounding on a lot of sources. Personally, for many different violin players I would go to a sm81 before using a km184. I also don't care for the 4033's much either. I would prefer a 4050 in most instances. They are similar to the 4033's, but seem to have a smoother top end and a more "lush" low mid to them. Sometimes however I find 4050's to almost be too smooth and lacking in that high frequency "excitement". Back to the KM184's though.... In almost every instance so far I have preferred my 451's (vintage or reissue) over the km184's which is why I sold my 184's a few years ago. If you can get your hands on a KM84 though, thats the ticket.
 
MicroTech Gefell M300's are similar to KM184's but don't have the sharp high end. Some people have compared the MG's to the older KM84's.
 
If the violinist is playing more fiddle music, they will want to fiddle to cut through the mix a bit. That's where having a bit of brightness helps. I didn't find the KM 184 too bright at all. It had an edge to it that helped it be heard in the mix, above or through drums and acoustic guitar. My guitarist loved it on his guitar on a solo piece, though he does like a bit of 'sparkle' on the steel string. I've been recorded by different engineers and different mics, about 20 times, and it was only the last album with the 184 where I thought the recorded track sounded like my instrument without any eq.

I'm still waiting on the Pelusos, and will compare the 2 when I get them.

Cheers,

Dan
 
I've used KM184s on solo violin with good results, as long as you don't close mic. Spaced pair worked best for me, allowing the violinist some movement without image shifting.

-RD
 
I've had very good luck with the KM184's on violin and viola. I've never had the opportunity to use them on fiddle I know the KM84 purists pick on them a bit, but they have greatly improved my mic cabinet's capabilities.-Richie
 
I used my km 184 on steel string and nylon guitars and it is bright but I love the brightness.
 
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