Studio Projects C4 - Help!

[trion12]

Hi,

I just purchased these to record acoustic guitar.
The manual is pretty much useless and as a newbie to recording I don't know what the switch on the front of the mic does or when to use which capsule.

I presume that the omni capsules are the ones with the holes in the sides and will give me some room sound in comparison to the capsules without holes whcih will give more of a direct sound?

Likewise the switch on the front has a -10db label one one of the positions but no marking on the others. Is that switch to adjust mic sensitivity.
How should I use it?

Thanks,

Aaron

 

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Aaron! Just the reverse. The capsules with the holes are the cardioid capsules. Those vents are a lot of what makes the capsule directional. The 3 position switch engages a 10db pad, a bass cut, also known as a high pass filter, and the position with no markings is off, so you don't have bass cut or a pad. The bass cut is something you are likely to use with a big bodied acoustic that produces a lot of bass, and can overwhelm your signal chain. This is called "boom". Sometimes the bass cut is used when the mic is a drum overhead, to focus more on the cymbals, and reduce kick and toms, which are captured by other mics. The pad is useful when close micing something wicked loud, such as sax or an amp. Occasionally the overheads will need a pad on a heavy kit, but usually not.
Try placing one of those mics right at the 12th fret, about 10" from the guitar. As you move toward the sound hole, bass will increase, and the reverse. Move it up and down the neck with headphones on until it sounds right. Then put the other mic over your right shoulder, pointed down across the bridge. Then learn to breath quietly!.-Richie

 

[trion12]

Yo Aaron! Just the reverse. The capsules with the holes are the cardioid capsules. Those vents are a lot of what makes the capsule directional. The 3 position switch engages a 10db pad, a bass cut, also known as a high pass filter, and the position with no markings is off, so you don't have bass cut or a pad. The bass cut is something you are likely to use with a big bodied acoustic that produces a lot of bass, and can overwhelm your signal chain. This is called "boom". Sometimes the bass cut is used when the mic is a drum overhead, to focus more on the cymbals, and reduce kick and toms, which are captured by other mics. The pad is useful when close micing something wicked loud, such as sax or an amp. Occasionally the overheads will need a pad on a heavy kit, but usually not.
Try placing one of those mics right at the 12th fret, about 10" from the guitar. As you move toward the sound hole, bass will increase, and the reverse. Move it up and down the neck with headphones on until it sounds right. Then put the other mic over your right shoulder, pointed down across the bridge. Then learn to breath quietly!.-Richie

Thanks a lot Richie!

When you talk about a 10db "pad" what does "pad' mean?

Aaron

 

[Richard Monroe]

In the good ole' days, ribbon mics in common use needed a preamp with balls to crank them. The early condensers were so hot that a felt "pad" was often placed in front of them, to avoid overloading the preamp. Now the pad is electronic, it reduces the output of the mic by the specified amount. Some preamps have pads as well, and you can buy or build in-line pads as well. Unless the mic is right on top of something very loud, you shouldn't need it.-Richie

 

[DJL]

And in really layman terms... if the music is really loud, you may need to turn the pads on... if the music isn't too loud, you will most likey want to leave the pads off.

 

[trion12]

Thanks guys.
Much appreciated!
As someone who has spent all his time as a player, the audio engineering is a whole new ball game for me.

Aaron

 

[mattamatta]

The C4's are pretty sweet from clips I've heard. Definitely post stuff you do in the mp3 mixing section, and I'll comment if I see it.

I asked for a pair of cad m179's for xmas from my parents hehe.

emailed them (I'm away at college) and attached xmaslist.doc that says "My Xmas List" and has just one thing on it, the mics.... had a direct link to where to buy em.

Now if that isn't sending a message, I dont know what is. hehe, hope it works!

 

[DJL]

Thanks guys.
Much appreciated!
As someone who has spent all his time as a player, the audio engineering is a whole new ball game for me.

Aaron

That's good... IMO, the player is more important than the engineer.

And your welcome.

 

[Han]

That's good... IMO, the player is more important than the engineer.

And your welcome.

The player more important than the engineer?? NOT!!

 

[DJL]

The player more important than the engineer??

Yeah, absolutey... without a shadow of doubt.