Solved SM81 sound clips

[danny.guitar]

I've tried the Listening Sessions, and this place:
http://www.studioauditions.com/jamroomsessions_home.php

And also searching on Google and can't find any Shure SM81 clips on acoustic guitar. I'm not interested in how it sounds on vocals, drums, guitar amps, etc.

Does anyone know of any sites that have them? Or maybe someone has an SM81 and has some recordings made with one?

 

[Ford Van]

I've tried the Listening Sessions, and this place:
http://www.studioauditions.com/jamroomsessions_home.php

And also searching on Google and can't find any Shure SM81 clips on acoustic guitar. I'm not interested in how it sounds on vocals, drums, guitar amps, etc.

Does anyone know of any sites that have them? Or maybe someone has an SM81 and has some recordings made with one?

I am going to tell you, they are somewhat underwhelming.

 

[danny.guitar]

I am going to tell you, they are somewhat underwhelming.

Can you elaborate? It seems like one of the most-liked mics around and I was recommended it by a lot of people. And everyone who has owned one doesn't seem to have anything bad to say about it.

 

[antichef]

All acoustic tracks below are with SM81s (usually two in XY stereo), often with a third (non-SM81) mic somewhere else in the room, but sometimes not. Personally, I'm not underwhelmed, but I don't get out much

http://www.recursor.net/blosxom.cgi/music/inconsolable.writeback

http://www.recursor.net/blosxom.cgi/music/negattv08.writeback

http://www.recursor.net/blosxom.cgi/music/gibsonl0.writeback

http://www.recursor.net/blosxom.cgi/music/update.writeback

http://www.recursor.net/blosxom.cgi/music/more.writeback

 

[danny.guitar]

Awesome antichef, thanks. Sounds like it captures the guitar pretty faithfully.

If anyone else has more clips feel free to post them.

 

[eyeteeth]

I have several SM81s.

Can't say they're my favorite for acoustic guitar. They end up a little dark and somewhat undefined for my tastes. I use them as overheads for drums frequently, but they seem to lack detail... crispness... in the high frequencies on acoustic. If you get anywhere near the sound hole they get REAL boomy. Fairly noticeable proximity effect.

All of this is IMHO... take with whatever seasoning you prefer.

 

[cusebassman]

I'm happy to hear that someone else is having the same experience with the boominess of this mic. What mic have you used in its place, if you've been able to?

 

[danny.guitar]

Every cardioid mic I've tried has been boomy especially if not placed well on an acoustic. Especially the AT2020.

 

[eyeteeth]

I bounce back and forth between a Blue Bluebird for a bright sound, and a CAD E-200 for a little more body.

 

[eyeteeth]

BTW... there was a mod article for the SM81 several months back in Home Recording that supposedly really opened up the detail of the mic. It was basically removing some of the physical capsule protection from the very end of the Mic. It makes the mic less durable, so not good for live use, but should still hold up fine in the studio.

 

[Ford Van]

I have several SM81s.

Can't say they're my favorite for acoustic guitar. They end up a little dark and somewhat undefined for my tastes. I use them as overheads for drums frequently, but they seem to lack detail... crispness... in the high frequencies on acoustic. If you get anywhere near the sound hole they get REAL boomy. Fairly noticeable proximity effect.

All of this is IMHO... take with whatever seasoning you prefer.

That would be how I would describe them.

 

[mshilarious]

Try a KSM141 set on omni.

 

[danny.guitar]

I've really be wanting to get a cardioid mic. The omni's I have are good enough, while they are extremely accurate they get good results when the source sounds good.

 

[WERNER 1]

AntiChef - Are those your clips there?? ... I was really diggin' the recording technique if they are yours... most of the acoustic parts sounded real good to me

Rick

 

[antichef]

AntiChef - Are those your clips there?? ... I was really diggin' the recording technique if they are yours... most of the acoustic parts sounded real good to me

That's me - thanks! And to those of you are kind enough to refrain from constructive criticism, thank you too!!

Yes, there is a big knock-you-off-your-chair boom when they're close to the sound hole. I point the XY pair at about the 14th fret. I would have said they were on the bright side - tendency to be sparkly, but I haven't done extensive comparisons.

 

[omtayslick]

I use an '81 on acoustic. Placement is important, as with any mic. If your guitar sounds like crap it will let you know, and you could possibly be underwhelmed. It does very nicely on my 25+ year old Martin D35. I wouldn't say that I'm OVERwhelemed, but it comes out sounding like my guitar. And that was my goal. FWIW, it plays nicely with the DMP3 also.

 

[omtayslick]

Also, I have tried the KSM141, and it's nice. In fact they are somewhat similar. It's a little brighter than the '81, and I still prefer the '81 most of the time. But that's subjective and a matter of opinion and taste. But having the option of omni from the KSM would be cool sometimes.

 

[Ironklad Audio]

i personally consider the SM81 to be like the SM57 of SDC's...sometimes they work great, sometimes not, but it's very rare that they're going to suck

that being said, my acoustic guitar mic'ing always involves an SM81, and myself and my clients have always been happy with the results. i usually use a spaced pair, with an LDC(typically my AT 4033) on the body, and the SM81 on the fingerboard.

 

[omtayslick]

i personally consider the SM81 to be like the SM57 of SDC's...sometimes they work great, sometimes not, but it's very rare that they're going to suck

that being said, my acoustic guitar mic'ing always involves an SM81, and myself and my clients have always been happy with the results. i usually use a spaced pair, with an LDC(typically my AT 4033) on the body, and the SM81 on the fingerboard.

Yup. That pretty much sums it up for me too. And I have also used it in conjunction with a 4033. That's a nice set-up.

 

[danny.guitar]

An SM81 + an AT mic may set me back a little too far...

I guess I'll have to ask again since my other thread I made awhile back (where I was told to get the SM81).

What's your favorite cardioid mic for acoustic guitar?

I'm not going to spend more than $400. And I use the DMP3 pre. (If it's like $420 then maybe but really I'd like to keep it under that).

I'm torn between the SM81 and AT4040.

I am pretty dead-set on buying the Martin D-15 (dreadnought) and I want a nice cardioid mic for this. I mean, really, the omnis would probably sound great on a nice guitar like that, but it's nice to have a cardioid as well.

I'm also going to take a better look at the other mics mentioned + find some sound samples in a bit.