Audio Technica ATM450!!

[cschreppel]

So I purchased two of these a few months back and have been experimenting quite a bit with them with some expectedly fantastic results, but also with some very surprising ones!

Snare Drum: Excellent definition, not overly hyped in the mid-range. Great balance and crispness. Decent rejection from hi-hat if placed well. Very little processing needed -- used mainly in a big band setting, but also used it on a rock session. It's now my go-to snare drum mic. Would love to try them all around the toms as well.

Acoustic Bass: Again, great definition. A little mid-rangy depending on placement, but nothing that can't be notched out. The integrity of the signal holds up really well with notch EQ and filters.

Piano: Would be great for a focused sound in a pop/rock track. Not my cup of tea for classical or jazz piano. Much rather prefer the 4011's, Schoeps Cardioids or Omnis, or the DPA 4060's (with the magnets to place inside the piano!)

Cello: Pretty much the same results as the acoustic bass. A tad mid-rangy, but fine with a bit of EQ. A bit more agressive with A/B-ed with a Schoeps hyper, but still very nice.

Drum Overheads: Need to retest this. Tracked them as overheads in a really bad room -- didn't like the sound very much. Have used 4011's in the same room with the same configuration...those worked out much better.

Harp: This is by far the best application other than snare drum that I've found yet! In fact, I'm on a break from recording an orchestra rehearsal as I type this and I have that mic on the harp. Clean, quiet, and just cuts very nicely. Brings out the transient material beautifully!

Sitar: Yes, have tried this on Sitar. I had both a Schoeps Omni and this side by side. I chose the Schoeps, but the 450 held up very nicely. Lacked some beef in the bottom end in comparison to the Schoeps, but I would use it if the Schoeps was unavailable.

Bass Clarinet: Had this up with a U89 a few weeks ago. It was an Evan Ziporyn piece -- he was playing with a large ensemble and I was testing this out for his solo mic. The 89 had more of a lush quality that I preferred, but again, the 450 held up well.

In most of the cases where I've had the 450 up with other mics to A/B it, I chose the other mic mainly because of the low end representation. The 450 is good, but doesn't have the fullness I'm looking for all the time in the low end. Somewhere around 60 Hz or so...varies from instrument to instrument.

Anyway, just thought I'd share the good news!

BTW, the mic almost always went through a Grace 802 or an API 3124+ through PRISM or RME converters and into Nuendo.

Thanks!

[axisdreamer]

I really love this mic on toms! Like you said not a big bottom to this mic but for the right instruments it works great. I use one overhead(B&0 BM3 ribbon) and these 450 mics on the toms add just a little hi end to the cymbols that works just nice with the ribbon mic. I'm very happy with them. It has taken my drumset sound up a notch!

[warhead]

In my room on overheads they just kill about anything else for drums.

I'm not a big fan of them on acoustic guitar, but they edge out other mics most times for drums.

I haven't used on piano, but have heard very good reports from customers using them there.

As a close mic on snare and toms they do excellent as well.

Congrats! I'm proud to say I was the first fan of this mic.

War

[cschreppel]

Glad to see others have had good luck with it!