Silly beginner question

[Joyeuse]

I'm sure you get a number of these. Basically, I've already experimented with home recording a bit, in a very cobbled-together setup. At this point I'm getting some better-quality microphones than what I had before, and I'm looking for some recommendations. I already have my vocal mic, and I'm looking for an instrument mic now. I'll be recording acoustic guitar and a small-ish electric guitar amp with it. I'm attracted to the form factor of the pencil-style small diaphragm mics.

There's also a chance that I'd need to do some overhead miking on drums at some point in time, so it would be a plus if the mic could handle that sort of job as well.

And, to top it all off, I'm on a budget as well. Of course.

I was looking at a pair of MXL 993's, or 604's, if that helps serve as a starting point.

 

[pandamonk]

I'm sure you get a number of these. Basically, I've already experimented with home recording a bit, in a very cobbled-together setup. At this point I'm getting some better-quality microphones than what I had before, and I'm looking for some recommendations. I already have my vocal mic, and I'm looking for an instrument mic now. I'll be recording acoustic guitar and a small-ish electric guitar amp with it. I'm attracted to the form factor of the pencil-style small diaphragm mics.

There's also a chance that I'd need to do some overhead miking on drums at some point in time, so it would be a plus if the mic could handle that sort of job as well.

And, to top it all off, I'm on a budget as well. Of course.

I was looking at a pair of MXL 993's, or 604's, if that helps serve as a starting point.

Check out http://naiant.com/studiostore/microphones.html. The owner of that company lurks in these forums and is a reat guy. The mics are awesome too, and very cheap. I'd recommend the X-Qs, but you said they might be used for overheads. The X-Qs are great, but have a 108dB limit(as have the X-Xs) and drums can go up above 110dB. Any of the others would be great though(Even the X-Qs could be fine, especially with a soft hitting drummer or placed further away).

If you're in the UK, I have Some X-Ts(flat) and X-Ss left(I bought in bulk from the US to sell on).

 

[Joyeuse]

Hmm, well...the X-Q is certainly the cheapest.

One thing, and maybe this is obvious - all of these say the mics have an omnidirectional capsule...I've mostly been trying to get cardioid patterns to control noise bleed. Would that then be a problem with these?

 

[WhiteStrat]

I'll avoid the issue of what brand--I've got a pair of all the suspects listed so far: 993s, 604s, Naiants and I also have some Rode NT5s. They'll all do the job.

But you mentioned that you'll also be recording electric guitar through a small amp. You should know that recording an acoustic instrument and recording an amplified electric require two distinct approaches. The SDC that works well for an acoustic instrument will likely be too bright and harsh to record an amp.

That's why most folks use a good ol' dynamic for an amp (starting with the Shure SM57--though there are lots of good choices: Audix i5, SM57, Sennheiser e609. Those are all about $100, but there are decent cheaper options as well: the GLS ES57 (a 57 clone from Orange County Speaker Repair) and some older mics often found on eBay (EV623, Shure 545). I have everything I've mentioned and they all work well enough for recording a guitar cab.

Bottom line--for an acoustic and an electric--you're probably looking at two mics. But don't panic--you may be able to get started by recording your amp with the vocal mic you mentioned. Is that a dynamic? What kind?

 

[Joyeuse]

It's a large-diaphragm condensor, an MXL V67G. I do have a dynamic mic, but it's a Behringer, so it's probably not gonna sound particularly good. It might do the job, though. I've also heard the SM57 spoken of in reverent tones.

Let's forget about electric guitar for a moment if it helps, and talk just about something that'd work both for acoustic and maybe the occasional drum overheads. Any of those things would probably be okay, you think?

 

[pezking]

To be honest, if I were you I'd buy an SM57 to use on guitar cabs. You can also use it on the snare drum when you're recording drums.

I'd then use the V67g as an overhead and also for the acoustic. Experiment with those mics and if you find that you can't get any further, then look into investing in a small diaphragm condensor such as the MXL 603 etc. Most people 'round here will bash the AKG C1000s - but I'm actually quite fond of them, especially as the MXL range is hard to come by in Europe as well as expensive, so IMO this is a candidate too.