Room Mic suggestions needed for live acoustic instruments?

[johnbono]

For recording live musicians in the studio (acoustic folk instruments) close miced, can someone recommend room mics to capture the whole picture nicely?

I can spend up up $1500 for a pair but this poor boy would rather use the money for other gear. Budget minded suggestions would be great without compromising sound quality.

 

[Big Kenny]

http://www.mercenary.com/microphones2.html
josephson
earthworks
THE KR
or a couple matched ADK's
tighter budget
Studio Projects LSD 2

 

[sdelsolray]

For recording live musicians in the studio (acoustic folk instruments) close miced, can someone recommend room mics to capture the whole picture nicely?

I can spend up up $1500 for a pair but this poor boy would rather use the money for other gear. Budget minded suggestions would be great without compromising sound quality.

Pair of Microtech Gefell M300.

 

[DJL]

For recording live musicians in the studio (acoustic folk instruments) close miced, can someone recommend room mics to capture the whole picture nicely?

I can spend up up $1500 for a pair but this poor boy would rather use the money for other gear. Budget minded suggestions would be great without compromising sound quality.

It sounds to me like your looking for a mic to do some "no hassle" type recording... you may want to audition some stereo type mics... for example the SP LSD2.

 

[Innovations]

If I understand right you already have each of the instruments close miked but you feel that you aren't getting enough of the 'room' as a result. I am also presuming you want to get the 'real' room (although studios are not necessarily real sounding) rather than just adding it via reverb.

Are you positioning the musicians in the room the way that you are going to want to have them positioned in the mix or will you be positioning them via panning the tracks. If you are going to postion them via panning the tracks having you room ambience also be positional (i.e. a stereo pair or a stereo mic) is likely going to confuse the apparent positioning. So I would recommend a good omni. My gut reaction however is to not record the room unless the toom has something unique to contribute.

 

[johnbono]

Makes sense to me. Very good observation! Yes, I have close micing and the would like a bit of room in the recording but it's not absolutely imperative. What you say really makes me think.

My first reaction is to purchase 2 new (different) mics and use either one for room when needed and both for extra flavor close micing when the mood strikes. Some of the ones mentioned would do a nice job. Now, to finalize my decision!

 

[Farview]

the octava md-02 is a fine mic, and if you live near a Guitar Center, you can get them for less than an SM57 during their monthly tag sale.

 

[Farview]

or just move the close mics back a bit.