Summary of Dynamic Mics for Live Performance

[bgavin]

I've been digging through the search functions and trying to glean information about the right mics to use for live performance and/or live recording.

I'm leaning toward dynamics as being more able to survive being knocked over, etc, by people who are not as careful with gear as am I.

If there is a STICKY on this, I have missed it.

Here's what I've gotten so far:

Kick drum: ATM25, D112
Rack Toms: ATM25, PG56
Floor Tom: ATM25, PG52
Cymbals: MC012, C-4
Snare: SM57
Amps: MD421-II
Horns: MD421-II, SM57
Voice: MD421-II, SM57
Bass: ATM25 (or DI)

 

[skippy]

Want a left-field suggestion? Here's a little-known, but cost effective and absolutely _bulletproof_ bass instrument mic: the Byetone IM29. It's Russian, and can be had through The Sound Room (www.oktava.com) and other outlets. It costs the princely sum of $129, and I've used it on kick, toms, bass cabs, and tuba (Hey, it was Dixieland). If you have a rigging problem, you can also use it to pound in nails. Saves having to bring a hammer along. (;-)

It's a very good bass instrument mic and is my first choice for situations where the mic stand is likely to get knocked over- like with an excitable tuba player. At the price it's worth a quick look-see, IMNSHO. I may be the only person here who's ever used one, though, so your mileage may vary...

Its little brother, the IM27, is sonically very close to the SM58, though maybe a little bit more nasal at times. It works on horns- I use my pair for trumpet and bone with the aforementioned Dixieland deal. Same price as above, so it's not clear that it is a win over the SM58- except it uses the same case as the IM29, and is just as bulletproof. Situations that would convert an SM57 or SM58 into shrapnel would probably just mar the paint a little on these guys. They are _beefy_.

Low-cost, semi-disposable, and bulletproof are usually not associated with sounding good- but these guys do have something to offer...

 

[DJL]

bgavin,

Kick drum: MD421, ATM25, D112
Rack Toms: MD421, ATM25, SM57
Floor Tom: MD421, ATM25
Cymbals: SM81, MC012
Snare: SM57, M201
Amps: MD421, SM57
Horns: MD421, SM57
Voice: MD441, SM57, ETC, ETC...
Bass: MD421, ATM25, NT3, U5, DI

 

[eeldip]

the Byetone IM29

i have always wondered about this mic... now i am very interested.... more about it please... more more...

 

[skippy]

There's not that much more to say, really. Sonically, it reminds me quite a bit of the old AKG D-12, which I used to love for kick (and I'll never forgive AKG for replacing it with the D-112). It's not as crisp as an RE20, but it's *much* more robust than that mic or anything else I've used. It has a more solid bottom (and not too much top) than an MD421 in the same application: a 421 would be much hotter in the top end, and can go clicky on some kicks with wood beaters. As an example, I really like it for my 20" Slingerland kick to suppress some of the beater crack and bring out some more fundamental and body, without having to use gobs of EQ.

Here's a suprise application: it _kills_ as a handheld mic for modern a capella vocal percussion work. A skilled vocal percussionist can get some downright amazing kick and tom sounds with it, and I'd use it for a powerful bass voice in the same environment. It'd just massacre the SM58 (which is the de facto standard mic for that style of music) for bottom-heavy vocal work without going tubby.

It's just a very interesting, quirky, unusual, and relatively inexpensive item to have in the locker (or the road case!). All I can say is get one and give it a listen. If you get it from Taylor, and you don't like it, you can return it to him- you'd just be out the cost of shipping...

Your mileage may vary- but I've used it a lot more often than I thought I was going to. And you really could hammer nails with the damned thing, which is best of all...

 

[Innovations]

Another good suggerstion would be the beyerdynamic line. Particularly the M88TG on the bass and kick and the M69TG on the horns, vocal, and amps. Both are versatile and durable.

 

[chessparov]

Be aware that the 421 MKII is much brighter sounding than the prior 421 incarantions (remember to wear shades!).

M88TG's tend to work better on female voices, and M69's on male voices in a live performing situation BTW.

M88's have an strong proximity effect which can sound cool on the gals, but too much on the guys without screwing around with low end EQ cut.

Chris