which mic to use on bass amp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter grn
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grn

grn

Well-known member
pick one to use on a bass amp...
studio projects b1, oktava mk012, shure sm57 or sm58
 
I'd be tempted to reach for the B1, 57, Oktava, and 58, in that order, but I've never used the B1. Personally, if I'm miking up a bass amp, I'm putting my ATM25 or my Beyer TGX-50 on it, or maybe even the Oktava 219.
 
I've had satisfactory results using an SM58 on a Peavey TKO bass amp, and running the track through Antares Mic Simulator. I'd make the SM58 model the LD kick mic from Shure (forgot the model name, Beta 52 if I'm not mistaken). I'd mix this with the DI signal for extra clarity.

Also, if you have Amplitube, check out its bass amp presets. I've gotten good results running a DI bass track into one of those, and a Sonitus compressor (which comes with Sonar) thrown in to even out the bad playing.
 
Give that little Oktava a try. I quite frequently use AKG 451's or 414's on bass cabs. Personally, I like the tightness of the small diaphragm condensor the best. However, a 57 or 58 will generally do just fine. ANy of those mics will do as a matter of fact. The real trick is how you place it, and what you do with the signal after it hits the mic:) Be sure to check your phase, especially with bass guitar.
 
most of you guys were wrong... the oktava mk012 out performed every other mic... and generally has since I got myself a matched pair...
 
Whatever works for you, mate. Good to hear that you've found your sound. :)
 
thanks. yeah as it turns out... the oktava captures the source of the sound better... with an sm57 or 58, did you find you guys had to EQ it quite a bit to sit well in the mix?
 
DI stand for "direct injection"...its a way of recording instruments that's an alternative to putting a microphone in front of an amp.
 
grn said:
with an sm57 or 58, did you find you guys had to EQ it quite a bit to sit well in the mix?
Click to expand...

Yeah. Also, on its own, with flat equalization, it really sounds - I dunno what's the right word for it - kind of low fi, muffly, gritty sound?
 
grn said:
with an sm57 or 58, did you find you guys had to EQ it quite a bit to sit well in the mix?
Click to expand...

YES!

that's one of the reasons that the 57/58 is "the industry standard" that many believe it to be--especially among live sound engineers. it's not b/c it sounds good straight out of the box.....it's b/c it takes eq VERY well.

in almost every instance that i've used a 545/57/58, i've had to eq it in some way to get it to sit right. in fact, that's generally the only reason i'll even hang one of those mics anymore--is to have a track that i can radically eq and know it'll "take it" well.


cheers,
wade
 
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