How often more than 2 mics in studio? (excluding drum kits)

rob99 · 23rd January 2006

Hi

Checking how often you have had the need to use more than 2 mics for studio work? SIngle vocals, backup vocals, insrruments (excluding drum kits)?

I will be buying a new AD converter and am leaning towards a high end modular unit. For similar dollars as other 8 AD/ 8DA units, I could purchase only 4 or 6 AD.

I can't think of controlled multi-track work that would need more than 6 AD - usually only 2-3 for what I do. Maybe small group classical? Not sure.

Any thoughts - double checking my appraisal so I don't box myself in.

thanks

rob

DigitMus · 23rd January 2006

Well, I start almost every recording by having all the musicians/singers play together, individually miked (or D/Ied). Even if most of the tracks end up being replaced in overdubs, there's something about the 'groove' of playing together as a group that translates to the final product. So I would say 10 or 12 channels of A/D is pretty much the minimum I could get away with. I realize that this philosophy of recording is no longer common (if only because of the number of times in the last decade that I've heard "Wow, what a radical way to record!!" from an artist). But even if this isn't your usual method, wouldn't you like to be able to pull out this "trick" if the standard procedure isn't cutting it?

Scott

avare · 23rd January 2006

Who are are setting up the studio for? If it is you, then purchase for your needs. If it is with commercial (rent out) plans, then consider this: "I have a great studio for all your goup's overdubs and mixng. All you have to do is start at a competitor's of mine to lay the bed tracks." Is that a business model you wish to follow? I am not saying it is a good or bad business model, just be aware of it.

Andre

mltamisin · 24th January 2006

I can't seem to recall ever using more than 2 mics on an overdub. Even on bass I use 2 mics and a DI.....but that's still only 2 mics. It eats up too much DSP to use more than 2 tracks....then you have to bounce......etc. I get by fine with only 2.

Midlandmorgan · 24th January 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitMus

Well, I start almost every recording by having all the musicians/singers play together, individually miked (or D/Ied). Even if most of the tracks end up being replaced in overdubs, there's something about the 'groove' of playing together as a group that translates to the final product. So I would say 10 or 12 channels of A/D is pretty much the minimum I could get away with. I realize that this philosophy of recording is no longer common (if only because of the number of times in the last decade that I've heard "Wow, what a radical way to record!!" from an artist). But even if this isn't your usual method, wouldn't you like to be able to pull out this "trick" if the standard procedure isn't cutting it?

Scott

What he said...besides, it can be a real time (= client's money) saver to overdub say a mic'd instrument and a keyboard DI or two and redo the bass all at the same time.... on a conservative count, that's 7 right there....

lowswing · 24th January 2006

using more than 2 mics all the time on overdubs:
strings/brass section, multimiced guitar amps, just yesterday i used 3 mics miking and hammond with leslie amp: 2 gefell um92 in m/s for high speaker and 4047 for low...

thewelfareline · 24th January 2006

i frequently use more than 2 mics on overs. guitars i can go up to 5 or 6. vocalls i will usualy have 2, one large diaphram condencer and one dynamic that i am driving the crap out of or squashing, sometimes even a room mic vor vocalls because that is more fun that fake verb.

dale116dot7 · 25th January 2006

I like to get a take with everyone playing at once, leakage and all, and go with it when I can. I often record with 6 to 8 tracks of everything else, and usually between 4 and 12 tracks on drums. I like fewer tracks here, actually. If I can get away with kick + snare + overheads then so much the better. Everything else usually includes a vocal, acoustic guitar (mic and DI), electric guitar (usually only one mic but sometimes a DI too), electric bass (mic and DI).

For acoustic bluegrass music, it's usually two mics per person (vocal plus instrument) except sometimes I'll use a pair of mics on an instrument, so that's usually about 8 mics.

-Dale

biggator6 · 25th January 2006

2-3 mics per guitar amp... multiply that times however many amps you are recording at once (my standard rig is 3 amps)
"-)

barforama · 28th July 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggator6

2-3 mics per guitar amp... multiply that times however many amps you are recording at once (my standard rig is 3 amps)
"-)

Very often I use 3 mics on a guitarcab. SM57, MD409 and R121 for example.

uncle duncan · 31st July 2006

If there's only one electric guitar: 57 on the amp, ribbon out in front or behind the amp, figure eight out in the room pointing at the walls. For some reason, guitar players want as much sound as possible out of their rigs. I wonder why that is?

u b k · 31st July 2006

if all you have is two mics, you'll get everything done with two mics.

if you don't get everything done, it's not due to lack of mics.

get to it.

gregoire
del
ubk
.

David@MVS · 31st July 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by u b i k

if all you have is two mics, you'll get everything done with two mics.

if you don't get everything done, it's not due to lack of mics.

get to it.

gregoire
del
ubk
.

What Gregoire said....

But I use 2-4 mics many times....during vocals and such. Guitars are usually 1 or 2.

Sometimes I cannot make up my mind when tracking...so I will use a couple-two-three.

I hardly ever keep them all at mixdown, but I like to have options.

Good luck,
David

manomanoman · 1st August 2006

I rarely use more than one mic on a source. Once in a while two on a guitar cab, blend or pic the best sounding at mixdown, but 95% I use one mic. I'll use two on an acoustic guitar if the song calls for an airy production and the guitar is the main vibe.

Solunaris · 1st August 2006

Personally I have 32 inputs, but I do a lot of different things. It's nice to be able to have thorough setups for every instrument when tracking a band live. For drums, I use between twelve and twenty inputs depending on how much junk the drummer has or how many different pairs of room mics I want to set up for mix options. I think for most overdrub sessions I'm not using more than 10 on guitars. (I'm a 2-3 mic per amp kinda guy with a few amps going at a time). Bass I only use three inputs, one mic per amp and a DI. Vocals is only one or two, but it's nice to have more inputs so you can put mutilple vocal mics up and A/B/C/D between them...

23rd January 2006	#1
rob99 Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,317 Thread Starter	How often more than 2 mics in studio? (excluding drum kits) Hi Checking how often you have had the need to use more than 2 mics for studio work? SIngle vocals, backup vocals, insrruments (excluding drum kits)? I will be buying a new AD converter and am leaning towards a high end modular unit. For similar dollars as other 8 AD/ 8DA units, I could purchase only 4 or 6 AD. I can't think of controlled multi-track work that would need more than 6 AD - usually only 2-3 for what I do. Maybe small group classical? Not sure. Any thoughts - double checking my appraisal so I don't box myself in. thanks rob

24th January 2006	#6
lowswing Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 1,446	using more than 2 mics all the time on overdubs: strings/brass section, multimiced guitar amps, just yesterday i used 3 mics miking and hammond with leslie amp: 2 gefell um92 in m/s for high speaker and 4047 for low... __________________ Guy Sternberg Engineer, Producer LowSwing Studios, berlin www.lowswing.de

31st July 2006	#12
u b k Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Land of Sunshine Posts: 11,037	if all you have is two mics, you'll get everything done with two mics. if you don't get everything done, it's not due to lack of mics. get to it. gregoire del ubk . __________________ • Introducing UBK-1: Motion Generating Character Compressor • • Finally... Plugin Compression with Vibe, Color, and Authority • ____________________

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23rd January 2006	#2
DigitMus Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SouthWest Florida Posts: 722	Well, I start almost every recording by having all the musicians/singers play together, individually miked (or D/Ied). Even if most of the tracks end up being replaced in overdubs, there's something about the 'groove' of playing together as a group that translates to the final product. So I would say 10 or 12 channels of A/D is pretty much the minimum I could get away with. I realize that this philosophy of recording is no longer common (if only because of the number of times in the last decade that I've heard "Wow, what a radical way to record!!" from an artist). But even if this isn't your usual method, wouldn't you like to be able to pull out this "trick" if the standard procedure isn't cutting it? Scott

23rd January 2006	#3
avare Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hamilton, On Canada Posts: 3,483	Who are are setting up the studio for? If it is you, then purchase for your needs. If it is with commercial (rent out) plans, then consider this: "I have a great studio for all your goup's overdubs and mixng. All you have to do is start at a competitor's of mine to lay the bed tracks." Is that a business model you wish to follow? I am not saying it is a good or bad business model, just be aware of it. Andre

24th January 2006	#4
mltamisin Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,172	I can't seem to recall ever using more than 2 mics on an overdub. Even on bass I use 2 mics and a DI.....but that's still only 2 mics. It eats up too much DSP to use more than 2 tracks....then you have to bounce......etc. I get by fine with only 2.

24th January 2006	#7
thewelfareline Gear Head Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 73	i frequently use more than 2 mics on overs. guitars i can go up to 5 or 6. vocalls i will usualy have 2, one large diaphram condencer and one dynamic that i am driving the crap out of or squashing, sometimes even a room mic vor vocalls because that is more fun that fake verb.

25th January 2006	#8
dale116dot7 Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 815	I like to get a take with everyone playing at once, leakage and all, and go with it when I can. I often record with 6 to 8 tracks of everything else, and usually between 4 and 12 tracks on drums. I like fewer tracks here, actually. If I can get away with kick + snare + overheads then so much the better. Everything else usually includes a vocal, acoustic guitar (mic and DI), electric guitar (usually only one mic but sometimes a DI too), electric bass (mic and DI). For acoustic bluegrass music, it's usually two mics per person (vocal plus instrument) except sometimes I'll use a pair of mics on an instrument, so that's usually about 8 mics. -Dale

25th January 2006	#9
biggator6 Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,787	2-3 mics per guitar amp... multiply that times however many amps you are recording at once (my standard rig is 3 amps) "-)

31st July 2006	#11
uncle duncan Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,585	If there's only one electric guitar: 57 on the amp, ribbon out in front or behind the amp, figure eight out in the room pointing at the walls. For some reason, guitar players want as much sound as possible out of their rigs. I wonder why that is?

1st August 2006	#14
manomanoman Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 32	I rarely use more than one mic on a source. Once in a while two on a guitar cab, blend or pic the best sounding at mixdown, but 95% I use one mic. I'll use two on an acoustic guitar if the song calls for an airy production and the guitar is the main vibe.

1st August 2006	#15
Solunaris Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,698	Personally I have 32 inputs, but I do a lot of different things. It's nice to be able to have thorough setups for every instrument when tracking a band live. For drums, I use between twelve and twenty inputs depending on how much junk the drummer has or how many different pairs of room mics I want to set up for mix options. I think for most overdrub sessions I'm not using more than 10 on guitars. (I'm a 2-3 mic per amp kinda guy with a few amps going at a time). Bass I only use three inputs, one mic per amp and a DI. Vocals is only one or two, but it's nice to have more inputs so you can put mutilple vocal mics up and A/B/C/D between them...