Using Large Diaphrm Condenser's for OH's?

  • Thread starter Thread starter gcapel
  • Start date Start date
gcapel

gcapel

boom box recordings
I've heard of people doing this from time to time. I just wonder is there anyone hear that uses this method? If so what is the difference than from using regualar small pencil condensers?
 
SDC's are used for more clarity and LDC's are used for more (ugh) warmth or softness or girth or breadth or wideness or (insert inane, meaningless adjective here)
 
Well ... LDC's usually don't have as flat of a response. Because they tend to be tailored, moreless, for vocals ... most of the time they'll have somewhat of a lift in the higher frequencies (around 12 khz). They'll also tend to have a bit of a dip in the midrange, along with a somewhat bolder proximity effect in some cases. Also, due to the larger surface area of the diaphragm, transient response can be just a hair slower.

Sometimes, these very characteristics can work really well for drums. And sometimes they don't work well at all.

.
 
Also the LDC's have a bigger capsule, which means a lower transient response, which hinder their abilities for picking up a lot of the small details and intricacies you want out of your overheads.
 
It's interesting to see LDC's used as overheads at on drumkits at live rock shows every now & then. It seems like a bad idea - I would think feedback would be an issue as an LDC wouldn't be as directional is a SDC.

Anybody else see this and know why it would be done (assuming the club had SDC's available)?
 
nuemes said:
It seems like a bad idea - I would think feedback would be an issue as an LDC wouldn't be as directional is a SDC.
Click to expand...


Huh ??? :confused:
 
well, if you aren't miking your toms it can be a great idea. I do a lot of drum recordings with C3000B's as overheads, and true... they do lack clarity on cymbols, but you should be able to do a little EQing to brighten them up. i happen to like the C3000B's quite a bit... or C414s or 4050's if you can afford them!!! good luck!!!

Jacob
 
i like the way ldc's sound for a quick drum overhead if im going for a more natural sound and when i do use them i usually dont have to add in any tom mics and only a tad of bass drum.
 
As of now, I still prefer dual LDC's for OH. However, I recently got ahold of some SDCs and may be buying a matched pair! :D

LDC's, on average, will provide more body and depth, as well as picking up more nuances in your playing.

SDC's, as well, will provide a more natural sound, as well as register the higher frequenceies better.

Plus with SDC's, you almost have to mic the toms.
 
Alright guys.

So far, we've got one guy who claims feedback to be a problem with LDCs due to less directionaliry.

Another guy who thinks his AKG C3000B is too dark on his cymbals.

And now, I'm hearing another theory about how LDCs pick up more toms than SDCs.

Who lets you guys on this board?
.
 
Well guys, I'm doing drum tracks this weekend using the famed "3 mic technique" (see Fletcher) , using 2 Microtech Gefell M930's (OH) with a Sennheiser E602 on the kick, and I already know how this sounds...no problems here with the LDC's on OH!

BW
 
well chess, if you were refering to me... i never said that the C3000B's were too dark on my cymbols. i simply suggested that he could give the highs a little boost in the EQing stage. also... i let myself into this board, and yes... on the whole, LDC's do pick up more of the toms natural tone. that's just a fact... who let you into this board??? everyone has an opinion man, and that's what "this board" is for. don't mean to ruffle anyones feathers, but maybe you should take this online discussion a little less to heart???

Jacob
 
bwindsor said:
Well guys, I'm doing drum tracks this weekend using the famed "3 mic technique" (see Fletcher) , using 2 Microtech Gefell M930's (OH) with a Sennheiser E602 on the kick, and I already know how this sounds...no problems here with the LDC's on OH!

BW
Click to expand...
Where do ya stick those two?
 
chessrock said:
Alright guys.

So far, we've got one guy who claims feedback to be a problem with LDCs due to less directionaliry.
Click to expand...

Chessrock, I would normally never question you, but for clarification:

Generally speaking, LDC's are more sensitive than SDC's, right?. I can see where that could make it seem like the pattern is wider on the LDC, all other things being equal.

I've used Oktava MK012's and MK319's as OH's on the same kit and in the same room. The 319's were way less picky about placement. That would seem to indicate a wider pattern, no?.

I'm all for stopping the propagation of myths, so help me on this one please.
 
nuemes said:
It's interesting to see LDC's used as overheads at on drumkits at live rock shows every now & then. It seems like a bad idea - I would think feedback would be an issue as an LDC wouldn't be as directional is a SDC.
Click to expand...

If your systems guy has done his job properly, then there should be very little of the FOH energy on the stage, and I can't really think of any reason that you'd be running OHs through the drum wedge.

Remebering that the "live rock shows" that can afford LDCs as overheads have "professionals" (i use that term loosly as I've worked with some fuckwits- like ones that mount C414s upside-down etc) to set up the rig.

Although your comment on the diretionality is BS. You can get omnidiretional SDCs or hypercardiod LDCs. The pickup pattern is more to do with the design of the capsule than just it's size.

For once I don't think chessrock is overreacting....
 
I use my GTMD-1b tubes all the time as over heads ..... but thats primarily bc I dont have a matched pair of SDCs :rolleyes: ..... except for the ECM8000 omnis (not matched) but I never got a good sound out of them bc they seemed to overload very easily on drums and, I think, bc I've never had a good room.

They do tend to give me a slightly scooped (mids) sound compared to the couple pair of SDCs I've borrowed and tried......but can give big and open sound.

The openess does tend to require some "padding" to beef up the sound in a dense mx, both in terms of EQ and extra close mics for the toms. I like a 4 mic set up (OHs, K, S) but usually add 1-3 more close mics for the toms for heavier songs.


-mike
 
In my limited experience, it seems like LDC's sound wetter and SDC's sound more dry on overheads. Cymbals or any ringing metals generally seem to prefer SDC's.
 
leddy said:
Generally speaking, LDC's are more sensitive than SDC's, right?. I can see where that could make it seem like the pattern is wider on the LDC, all other things being equal.
Click to expand...

Uhhh...No.

It is not the size of the diaphragm, but rather the thickness that determines sensitivity.

Unless you mean that since a 1" diaphragm is .25" wider than a .75" diaphragm, then yes, it's wider. The placement of vents in the backplate allows for cancelation of sound from the back. That determines the pattern.

leddy said:
I've used Oktava MK012's and MK319's as OH's on the same kit and in the same room. The 319's were way less picky about placement. That would seem to indicate a wider pattern, no?.
Click to expand...

Again...No.

That would indicate different capsules and different frequency curves. Also might be less suseptible to phase issues. Some mics just work better for overheads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top