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Frank Story
New member
What condenser mic in the $100 range would you use to record trumpets (strictly hobby use)?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Markd102
New member
For hobby use I'd stick with the good old Shure SM57.
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Frank Story
New member
Thanks Mark. I'm currently using a Shure PE56D but would like to buy a condenser mic to use for trumpet, vocals and accoustic guitar recording.
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Han
New member
In the $100 condenser range you might consider an MXL V67 or a SP B1, which will sound bigger and warmer on trumpet.
I've had some pretty good results with the B1 on trumpet and trombone.
Tonight the B1 amazed me on upright bass, I used it together with a $4k Neumann and actually I liked the B1 very much.
I've read some pretty good things about the SM7 on trumpet too.
I've had some pretty good results with the B1 on trumpet and trombone.
Tonight the B1 amazed me on upright bass, I used it together with a $4k Neumann and actually I liked the B1 very much.
I've read some pretty good things about the SM7 on trumpet too.
Markd102
New member
I've never had much luck with condensers on brass instruments. (I'm a trombone player). Condensers will give you more of a "room" sound, so if like me, you don't have an acoustically good sounding room, it's best to steer clear of condensers on brass.
But the Studio Projects B1 is probably the best value for money condenser available. (for vocals I'd prefer the B3).
The best mic for brass is a ribbon. But that'll be way out your your budget. Especially when you consider that appart from the cost of the mic, you really need a high-end preamp to drive them properly.
I still think you'll get a better sound on the trumpet with the 57.
Vocals and acoustic guitar are another story.
But the Studio Projects B1 is probably the best value for money condenser available. (for vocals I'd prefer the B3).
The best mic for brass is a ribbon. But that'll be way out your your budget. Especially when you consider that appart from the cost of the mic, you really need a high-end preamp to drive them properly.
I still think you'll get a better sound on the trumpet with the 57.
Vocals and acoustic guitar are another story.
Ronan
New member
I have to second the advice to buy a Shure SM57. The problem with almost all cheap condensors is they can get really harsh in the high end. The problem with trumpets is that they get really harsh in the high end. DOUBLE WHAMMY!!Frank Story said:
If you can spend a little more I would say get a Shure KSM32 which is a fantastic condensor. It has a really flat top, that almost sounds dull compared to more Hyped mics but has a great sound. It will handle the fortissimo trumpet lines no problem and also be decent for acoustic guitar and vox. You will probaly want to boost a little high end on the vocals and guitars but the mic EQs nicely. I just remembered a photo of a recent trumpet recording in my studio and put it below
Attachments
bennychico11
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I'd say stick with dynamic to help handle the loud volumes and quick transients with a trumpet. Although, it all depends on what kind of song the trumpet will be on.
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Frank Story
New member
Harshness in the high end is exactly the problem I've had with the PE56D. By the time I've tamed it some with EQ, the trumpet tracks sound like I used a Walmart bag for a mute. My room accoustics are pretty good and I have several options for changes there.
Just from the reviews I've read here and on the Harmony site, I've been leaning toward the SP B1 or the Behringer B5 as an all-around solution. I don't record a lot of vocals but a great amount of accoustic guitar (both nylon and steel strings) and trumpet.
Just from the reviews I've read here and on the Harmony site, I've been leaning toward the SP B1 or the Behringer B5 as an all-around solution. I don't record a lot of vocals but a great amount of accoustic guitar (both nylon and steel strings) and trumpet.
Markd102
New member
A pair of B1s will sound very sweet on acoustic guitar
Innovations
New member
The Sennheiser 604 has a good sound for brass and an obvious way of using the mic.Frank Story said:
Specifically for condensers I woudl be thinking of one of the popular small or medium diameter condensers like the MXL 603 Octave MC012, NT5s etc.
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boingoman
New member
Innovations said:
I love this on sax and trumpet. Inexpensive, too. I had 5 for drums, ran over them. Now I have 1. A new one for me is the EV N/D 468. I recently used these on a four piece horn band. Great on everything. Meaty, not harsh on the top.
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darnold
New member
Heres what ive found with brass. Im a trombone player myself and i have messed around with this alot. I will list suggestions in your price range and out. Its kind of difficult to suggest something if i dont know what kind of music your doing. Jazz, classical, background, lead. Im going to elaborate a little more on this because this is not a common area around here, and this information will probably come up time to time. Also, these are only mics that i have tried and liked. Ive tried others, and just absolutely hated them, but im not going to list all those.
E604 - Not bad for the price. Like it better on brass than the SM57. But its not a condensor so guess that wont work very well for yah. Normally need to cut out a little around 2-4k to make it sound natural here.
SM57 - Not a big fan of it for brass.
SP B1 - I like the B1 in general, but i didnt like it much on brass. I thought it was a little too tubby sounding. But that might be what your looking for.
MXL V67 - I really like this on Trumpet actually. Infact i have a few recording of a good trumpet player where this was used. It gives keeps the open natural transients that the trumpet has in the upper range without it being too harsh. Although it is still a little on the brighter side. In your price range, this is what i would suggest myself for trumpet, and a condensor.
Neumann U87 - Really probably out of your league, but this is a mic used for trumpets alot. Its a bit bright up close if your playing loud. But back up about 3 ft and it really has a sound of its own. Even though its 3 feet back it still has the in your face sound. I have a recording where i used this for Trumpet an Trombone recently. The reason i bring it up, is i have had similiar results with the SP C1. Works and sounds about the same characteristic. However, the C1 is definately harsher in the high end for this technique. Might work, and it might not.
Sennheiser MD421 - A little over your price range, but not too far. This mic is used for brass work all the time. Its generally not my first pick, because it generally doesnt give me the in the face sound im looking for. It would work great if the horns were doing more of a background, rythm track. But for lead stuff i dont really like these too much.
AKG C414 - These give a pretty natural sound. Not very in your face, not in the back. Not very sparkly either. Probably would be more of my choice for classical work.
Audio Technica AT4033 - Not bad for this, but placement has to be just right. For 300 bones its not a bad price.
Audio Technica AT4050 - Alot like the AKG C414 in being more natural, but being a little more open in my opinion.
Royer R-122 - This is a ribbon mic, expensive but probably one of the best mics you can get for brass and horns. You can almost do anything with this microphone depending on placement.
Those are my favorites for close micing horns (1-4ft distance). I never really liked small condensors unless they are distant. MXL603 seems like it would be a little too bright unless back far.
Danny
E604 - Not bad for the price. Like it better on brass than the SM57. But its not a condensor so guess that wont work very well for yah. Normally need to cut out a little around 2-4k to make it sound natural here.
SM57 - Not a big fan of it for brass.
SP B1 - I like the B1 in general, but i didnt like it much on brass. I thought it was a little too tubby sounding. But that might be what your looking for.
MXL V67 - I really like this on Trumpet actually. Infact i have a few recording of a good trumpet player where this was used. It gives keeps the open natural transients that the trumpet has in the upper range without it being too harsh. Although it is still a little on the brighter side. In your price range, this is what i would suggest myself for trumpet, and a condensor.
Neumann U87 - Really probably out of your league, but this is a mic used for trumpets alot. Its a bit bright up close if your playing loud. But back up about 3 ft and it really has a sound of its own. Even though its 3 feet back it still has the in your face sound. I have a recording where i used this for Trumpet an Trombone recently. The reason i bring it up, is i have had similiar results with the SP C1. Works and sounds about the same characteristic. However, the C1 is definately harsher in the high end for this technique. Might work, and it might not.
Sennheiser MD421 - A little over your price range, but not too far. This mic is used for brass work all the time. Its generally not my first pick, because it generally doesnt give me the in the face sound im looking for. It would work great if the horns were doing more of a background, rythm track. But for lead stuff i dont really like these too much.
AKG C414 - These give a pretty natural sound. Not very in your face, not in the back. Not very sparkly either. Probably would be more of my choice for classical work.
Audio Technica AT4033 - Not bad for this, but placement has to be just right. For 300 bones its not a bad price.
Audio Technica AT4050 - Alot like the AKG C414 in being more natural, but being a little more open in my opinion.
Royer R-122 - This is a ribbon mic, expensive but probably one of the best mics you can get for brass and horns. You can almost do anything with this microphone depending on placement.
Those are my favorites for close micing horns (1-4ft distance). I never really liked small condensors unless they are distant. MXL603 seems like it would be a little too bright unless back far.
Danny
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Han
New member
Guys, the original question was this: What condenser mic in the $100 range would you use to record trumpets (strictly hobby use)?
Well, I would suggest the MXLV67 or the B1, although the B1 indeed sounds a bit 'tubby' on horns, but with a little EQ you can tweak this.
I have recorded a jazz band recently and I used a B1 together with an MD441 on trumpet (I always use two mics on horns, routed to two tracks).
The 441 is a great mic, but it sounds less big and even brighter on (loud) trumpets than the SPB1. I had to cut some 8 dB in the 10khz and boost some 6 db in the 600hz range on the 441 track when mixing.
Now we can advise this guy a nice ribbon, or a 414, or a Neumann U87 or KM54, but the guy wants a decent sounding condenser in the $100 range.
So my advice is MXL V67 or SP B1.
If he was asking for a dynamic, my advice would be different.
Well, I would suggest the MXLV67 or the B1, although the B1 indeed sounds a bit 'tubby' on horns, but with a little EQ you can tweak this.
I have recorded a jazz band recently and I used a B1 together with an MD441 on trumpet (I always use two mics on horns, routed to two tracks).
The 441 is a great mic, but it sounds less big and even brighter on (loud) trumpets than the SPB1. I had to cut some 8 dB in the 10khz and boost some 6 db in the 600hz range on the 441 track when mixing.
Now we can advise this guy a nice ribbon, or a 414, or a Neumann U87 or KM54, but the guy wants a decent sounding condenser in the $100 range.
So my advice is MXL V67 or SP B1.
If he was asking for a dynamic, my advice would be different.
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Frank Story
New member
Thanks, it's a lot of info to digest but I'll look at the MXL before I buy. I do mostly light jazz and want full, mellow sound instead of bright, in your face horns so "tubby" might be ok.
What little I ever knew about recording is about 25 years out of date and the learning curve is pretty steep with everything that's available today. What I like to attempt to record wouldn't have been possible to do at home just a few years ago. The "good old days" are NOW!!
What little I ever knew about recording is about 25 years out of date and the learning curve is pretty steep with everything that's available today. What I like to attempt to record wouldn't have been possible to do at home just a few years ago. The "good old days" are NOW!!
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darnold
New member
I guess i did go a bit overboard with my post. But i have never been able to find very much information about micing horns. All the information i talked about was my own research. When i was a newbie, i couldnt find any information like this. So i really wanted to expand for future browsers.
Danny
Danny
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Tonio
New member
the ev468 is a good choice, though the predecesor ev408 is flatter, so no HF
brittleness.
Senn 421 can be used also.
Just some ideas for ya. Just some rumblings I have read so take it with a grain of salt.
Hope that helps..
brittleness.
Senn 421 can be used also.
Just some ideas for ya. Just some rumblings I have read so take it with a grain of salt.
Hope that helps..
BrettB
Well-known member
I used recentely the sennheizer 441 on a trumpet and it sounded great! Go for a condensor if you cant a more open and roomy sound, but the dynamic will give it more punch.
mshilarious
Banned
Anybody ever try a Beyer M88 on brass?
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DJL
Self Banned
None... I'd use a Sennheiser MD421.Frank Story said:
cominginsecond
Decentralized Media Mogul
I really liked my SP B3 on trumpet, placed a little off-axis. Much better than a Rode NTK. However, those are the only two times I've recorded trumpet. I have no idea if a dynamic would be a lot better.