Three mics on saxophone and one is a Tube mic

  • Thread starter Thread starter rob aylestone
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rob aylestone

rob aylestone

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Following from the sax video the other day, somebody said the 4033 audio tecnica mic was thin - so I tested it along side an AKG 414 and an MXL 76 tube mic. The 4033 was by comparison far too thing and bright. Something for me to remember.
 
Alone - The 414 was the best sounding - the MXL 76 was good sounding but not as thick and round as the 414 - and like you I didn’t care for the 4033 at all.
In the mix and with reverb - 414 and the MXL 76 were almost tied - the 4033 sounded better in the mix because it stood out a little bit more -

Overall the AKG 414 - how did you have it set?

Is the MXL 76 is cardioid only?
 
Yes its cardioid for the MXL, and the 414 was also set to cardioid and flat. Not being a tube person, i forgot how hot they get!
 
In the mix, I think the MXL was better balanced. I agree that the 4033 sounded almost strident, and I thought the 414 was too dark. With the reverb added, it got almost muddy, I would probably have backed the reverb off a bit. The MXL wasn't boomy, and wasn't harsh sounding on the top. It seemed to keep more clarity than the other two.

Dry, I would say a toss up between the AKG and the MXL, different, but both could work.
 
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