What mic do I get!??!

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PsychFuzz72

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Howdy Folks


I am just starting to get my humble home studio together and I needed some suggestions for my next mic purchase. All I have now is a Shure SM57.

Drum mics are not necessary at the moment as I don't have any drummers lined up so i'll most likely be using a drum machine for my first demo unless something else happens until then.

I'm most likely interested in a nice mic for bass. Something that really captures the huge lows and punch/depth of that late 60's/70's warm, big-ass bass sound. Any suggestions? Vintage ? Sennheiser MD421 ? Help? :eek:

Thanks !
 
I've heard some great results with the AKG D112 and the Shure Beta 52. Kick drum mics (generally. VERY generally) work well for bass amps. Do you plan on mixing in a DI signal?
 
No DI, Squibble. Not yet anyway. I could try if my results aren't what I expected....

I was thinking main mic up close and a second one a couple of feet back. Then maybe get the best mix of both.
 
I would always record a DI from bass as well as a mic. That way there is always another track to get what the mic signal may lack. I'm assuming your bass amp does not have a line out. A $25 Rapco db1 passive DI will work great for this. I'd try the DI/57 combo before getting another mic as there are many other uses for it as well. I typically use a D112 though I have gotten great results with a direct/57 combo as well. I find the mids are where a mic really compliments bass tone. A clean low end is best from the direct signal. I find around 4" from the cone works best for me with bass micing as opposed to right on it.
 
Jimmy


I have an old Laney Klipp through a Sunn 2x15 so no line out.

Not too sure how to set up a mic and a DI with no line out of my amplifier. Forgive me, but I am a noob to the world of recording. I never liked the DI sound when I was in the studio with previous bands. However, I guess like you said...the key is using the miced sound and the DI. Could you explain how it would be done?

Any other mic suggestions ??
 
I had one of those once. DI on its own tends to lack character for sure so I understand your aversion. I have found it near impossible to get good bass tone from direct alone. On the other hand, I have not gotten everything I want from micing alone either. You would input your bass into the DB1. From the 1/4" out to your head. From XLR out to your interface. I will typically use an amp sim on the direct when mixing. Another trick is to duplicate the DI track, cut the lows and use a distorted amp sim and pull this up under the DI/AMP signal. Really helps to give the bass some smooth overtones that cut without that 'clanky' annoying poping sound that you can get by boosting 2-5k with a direct signal.
 
Oh, and the 421 has worked for me in the past but didn't notice much difference IMO to the 57 for bass.
 
Yeah, those suggestions should be great! Kick mics are awesome on bass.
 
No problem. Bass players seem to get convinced into just going direct by lazy engineers. Been there. I take that crap no more. :D
 
I've had great luck with the Sennheiser e602 II and as Jim stated use a DI as well.

You plug into the DI from your bass then plug into your amp from the DI, then there is also a Mic line out of the DI that you feed in to your recordings.
 
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