Overheads behaving badly

[Four Bolt Main]

New to this forum, so thanks to anybody for listening. I have a basic home studio started and so many questions. The first one is regarding overheads. Chain of destruction as follows, 380 sq ft room, rectangle shape, vaulted cieling, lots of posters and shelves, carpet, 1 door, no windows. Mics mounted from ceiling, about 7ft from floor , XY pattern, 10ft from band (3 piece rock/metal band practicing 3/4 volume). Mics are SM57s. Conquest mic cables, Yamaha MG10/2 mixer, M-audio audiophile 2496 soundcard into traction. They sound real decent to me. I know overheads are typically condensors. That is why i started with a pair of shure KSM109s. I couldnt understand why the SM57s sounded better. The Sm57s didnt sound fancier with more air, or more focused bottom end, or anything similarly unbelievable. They were just less distorted. Especially in the midrange. Same signal chain for both mics the SM57s were just cleaner. Levals were perfect, no transients, peak overloads, same cables everything. So i took them back. I bought a MXL2001 for vocals instead. I used the mic for vocal tracking with great results. Curiosity got the best of me so i stuck itn in the overhead position set levals and let the band rip. Same muddied sound. Really. Set the levals definatly to low just in case, no good. Are the cheap condensers to close to my loud rock/metal band. Thats the only thing i can surmise. Is there a inexpensive condenser mic that can handle this job. Or are the SM57s kicking but in this price range for my aplication and I should be appreciative. School me, agree with me, Im a good listener I promise.

 

[PhilGood]

Were you using the KSM109's with the -15dB pad enganged, or without the pad? Sounds like you may have been overloading the preamps. The output of a 57 is much lower, and it can handle high SPL's better.

 

[Four Bolt Main]

Im sorry to say , that i cant remember a pad on the KSM109s. I have to agree though that from the sound of the distortion it was from overloading the mics. In both cases.

 

[AlexW]

Mics or the preamp possibly. The gain from condensers is naturally higher; and the mics are more sensitive. You may try placing them closer to the floor than the ceiling; maybe 3 or 4 ft off the ground.

 

[NL5]

Im sorry to say , that i cant remember a pad on the KSM109s. I have to agree though that from the sound of the distortion it was from overloading the mics. In both cases.

Hey - I met one of you guys before (at the hardware store). If you ever want some help, just drop me an email. I'm no expert but I do know a bit.

 

[Dogbreath]

I've got the 109's and they're workin out pretty good. Only thing I can think of is the pad switch (it's a pretty small switch). let us know how ya do............

 

[jonnyc]

I also use the 109's as overheads with the pad on and I love the sound. I couldn't imagine my 57's sounding better than the 109's. Are you trying to capture the toms with the overheads too like the kick snare overhead set up or are you miking the toms too. If you mic the toms you don't need the overheads for much more than picking up cymbals so you don't need the gain so high however if you're using them to capture the whole kit then you may try to get your drummer to go a little lighter on the cymbals.