new to condensors, mic'ing question...

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Hi_Flyer

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OK, I just recently purchased a Studio Projects C3 (actually I don't have it yet, its on its way) which has selectable polar patterns... I understand the basic difference between cardioid, omni and figure-eight polar patterns. However, I'm not sure which polar pattern to use for for a certain application, and I'm also looking for some general instrustions on how to use condensors...

So, if I'm using this to record a live band, and I want to use it as a drum overhead, what would be the best polar pattern? I'm thinking that I should be set to omni and put it over the drummer's head, does that sound right?

But this leads to my question, how do I mount a condensor? I got the shockmount and a good sturdy boom stand to go with it, and I know how to attach the mic to the stacnd and all of that, but specifically, which end of a condensor should you point at your sound source if you were using, say the cardioid pattern? I usually see condensors mounted upright, so if you were recording vocals, it looks like you're singing into the side of the mic, instead of the top like if it was a dynamic mic...

I would think that in my above example, using it as an overhead set to omni, that it wouldn't matter whether you had the mic pointing up or down, or even sideways for that matter, since it picks up sound from all directions, is this correct? Is it possible to put a mic upside down if its in a shockmount? I'm think probably not...

I know these questions might sound dumb, and although I've done some research, I have no "hands on" experience with these types of mics so, please help!
 
If you use it in "omni" mode as an overhead, you're going to pick up lots of room bleed. Cardioid mode will cut this down a bit. In cardioid mode, you want the front of the mic (usually the side with the manufacturer's logo) pointed toward the sound source. Yes, most mics can be hung upside down in their shock mount.

There are no dumb questions. :D

Just out of curiosity, what kind of preamp will you be plugging your nice new C3 into?
 
My buddy has an ART Pro MPA that I will be borrowing on and off, for awhile, until I get my own...

So the "front" of a condensor would look like the side to somebody that has primarily been familiar with working with dynamic mics, right? If I were to use the cardioid setting as an overhead, then you would want to position the mic sort of parallel to the floor?

When I get the mic, it will probably have a manual that answers these questions, huh?
 
Hi_Flyer said:
My buddy has an ART Pro MPA that I will be borrowing on and off, for awhile, until I get my own...
Click to expand...
Oooh, nice!

Hi_Flyer said:
So the "front" of a condensor would look like the side to somebody that has primarily been familiar with working with dynamic mics, right? If I were to use the cardioid setting as an overhead, then you would want to position the mic sort of parallel to the floor?
Click to expand...
Yes, that's the idea.

Hi_Flyer said:
When I get the mic, it will probably have a manual that answers these questions, huh?
Click to expand...
Yes. You are fluent in Chinese, right? (just kidding) The manual may not get that specific about basic mic techniques. The information is out there, though.
 
By the way the first REAL test that this mic is probably gonna get is recording a gig my band is playing in June... Drums, upright bass, guitar, vocals, recorded onto a Tascam 688 8 track cassette recorder... So, if you were recording this band, and you have a preamp with two channels, and one was definitely needed for the OH condensor, which instrument/channel would you use the other preamp channel on?

The other mics that we have are SM58s/SM57s or similar, and some kind of Shure kick drum mic (specific model escapes me at the moment)... Basic set-up is a PA for vocals only, so we'll DI the bass amp and vocals, mic the kick, mic the snare and guitar with SM57s... We have no other preamps, although we could maybe rent one, but the preamps on the Tascam 688 are decent enough so we don't really NEED any more preamps... Is it preferable to use a preamp on a track that is mic'ed instead of DI'ed? If so, then that would rule out the bass and vox... The thing is we will have that other free channel on the ART and we can't just waste it, I mean we have to use it on SOMETHING! I'm leaning towards using it on the guitar, but then thats probably because I'm the guitar player...
 
well I got the C3 this morning, it sure looks fancy!!! I can't wait to hear how it sounds...

Anyway, can somebody give me a hint as to how to use the shockmount? Do I have to remove the elastic bands, put the mic in the shockmount, then re-attach?

And are you guys sure that this mic can be hung upside-down or sideways, and it won't fall out of the shockmount?
 
You shouldn't have to remove any elastic bands. Usually there's some kind of a clamp that holds the mic in the shockmount.
 
DOH!!
I just figured it out... sweet! its very secure in the shockmount now!
 
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