Best Mic/Pre Combination to record a dishwasher

[Viccy]

So, In taking a break in building our studio, I am wanting to record a set of rhythms and melodies play by our kitchen appliances.
This is spurred on by the fact that I don't have a studio to record in right now as it is under constuction so I want to record songs from the daily noises of my house.
(See studio build thread in Photo diary section - Cad Factory Build).

So the "Instruments" I have to mic up are

1) Dishwasher
2) Fridge
3) Microwave
4) Blender
5) Bread Maker
6) Oven (electric)
7) Toaster
8) Kettle.

The Mic/Preamps that I have hanging aroudn my kitchen are.

Preamps
1 x Focusrite Isa 428 (4 channels)
1 x TL Audio M1 Tubetracker (8 channels).
1 x 8 Channel Phoenix Audio Pre's (if they arrive soon).
1 x Universal Audio 710 Twin Finity

Mics

1 x AEA R88 (Stereo Ribbon)
1 X Neumann TLM
1 x AKG C414
2 x SM57's
2 x sm58's
1 x Senn 602
1 x re-20

Any advise offered would be most welcome.

[Ward Pike]

Honestly? The cheapest microphone you have, like an EV605a if you had one, or a ribbon, through the most basic uncolored pre.

People are used to hearing these sound from a distance, with the top end attenuated so mic them that way and ...

Good luck!

[Enlightened Hand]

Why use the cheapest mic?

I would think that if you wanted to capture those sounds then like anything else you'd want to capture them as they actually sound.

I would use the most neutral mic, depending on your ultimate actions with the recordings you can make a decision whether or not to use directional or omni. But I would lean towards omni, and I would also suggest using a very clean, honest preamp.

[Viccy]

I am interesting in this as I have been hearing some very rich tones in our dishwasher over the last few days.

THat might sound stange but i have been finding it very musical.

I recently did some workshops at a local primary school and we did a series of recordings where we "played" the school.

For example, I took them out to the sports field and there were 4 goal posts (Australian Rules Football) and I got one kid to go to each goalpost and tap it and we discovered that there was a different pitch for each post. So we then created melodies on them which we recorded. We then spend hours travelling around the school playing water bubblers, rain water tanks, stairwells, hand rails, even a tree (very soft thud). we played these with different small mallets.

This has really got me thinking about the musicallity of everyday objects and the musicallity of objects that are not usually perceived as musical.

Today I was visiting a building site where a community centre is being built. They had asked me to give them some advise on audio/visual cabling during the build. There is a temporary construction fence around the building and when we were leaving the builder had to tighten a bolt on it to secure it shut. When he was doing this, I was hearing each turn of his spanner echo through the pipes that the fence was made out of. it was long, the fence was probably about 200 meters in length. And I was thinking about how funny it was that I was perceiving this action as musical, and he was perceiving it as something else...something purely practical and necessary.

[Doc Mixwell]

1) Dishwasher - SM57 - ISA #1 - won't get too washy in a mix
2) Fridge - SM57 - ISA #2 - colder but effective
3) Microwave - SENN 602 - TL AUDIO #1 - it won't get too hot for this mic.
4) Blender - SM58 - ISA #3 - roll off the sharp sound,
5) Bread Maker - TLM - ISA #4 - we'll need the presence rise on this one
6) Oven (electric) - Do you have a DI available for this? You'll want to re-heat it later
7) Toaster - RE20 - UA710 Half way between cold and hot
8) Kettle. - C414 in Figure Eight - TL AUDIO #2 - you want to pick up the steam, but aim the null at the dishwasher.

[chet.d]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

1) Dishwasher - SM57 - ISA #1 - won't get too washy in a mix
2) Fridge - SM57 - ISA #2 - colder but effective
3) Microwave - SENN 602 - TL AUDIO #1 - it won't get too hot for this mic.
4) Blender - SM58 - ISA #3 - roll off the sharp sound,
5) Bread Maker - TLM - ISA #4 - we'll need the presence rise on this one
6) Oven (electric) - Do you have a DI available for this? You'll want to re-heat it later
7) Toaster - RE20 - UA710 Half way between cold and hot
8) Kettle. - C414 in Figure Eight - TL AUDIO #2 - you want to pick up the steam, but aim the null at the dishwasher.

Impressive.

I would only otherwise consider the AEA R88 (into ISA #3) for the Blender (in considering the potential for a nice L-R blending motion capture)
...and a worthy high end OP BTW.

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by chet.d

Impressive.

I would only otherwise consider the AEA R88 (into ISA #3) for the Blender (in considering the potential for a nice L-R blending motion capture)
...and a worthy high end OP BTW.

You need to use TWO BLENDERS in X/Y with the R88

But, things usually get messy with BLENDERS and KITCHENS, so I would WANT my R88 in the case and cover for this session.

[chet.d]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

You need to use TWO BLENDERS in X/Y with the R88

But, things usually get messy with BLENDERS and KITCHENS, so I would WANT my R88 in the case and cover for this session.

Valid points.

[Viccy]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

1) Dishwasher - SM57 - ISA #1 - won't get too washy in a mix
2) Fridge - SM57 - ISA #2 - colder but effective
3) Microwave - SENN 602 - TL AUDIO #1 - it won't get too hot for this mic.
4) Blender - SM58 - ISA #3 - roll off the sharp sound,
5) Bread Maker - TLM - ISA #4 - we'll need the presence rise on this one
6) Oven (electric) - Do you have a DI available for this? You'll want to re-heat it later
7) Toaster - RE20 - UA710 Half way between cold and hot
8) Kettle. - C414 in Figure Eight - TL AUDIO #2 - you want to pick up the steam, but aim the null at the dishwasher.

All very valid considerations I must say.

You are right, picking up the steam is probably an important aim here, I will make that my focus

Also, I don't have 2 blenders so it must be one I am afraid, but I am happy to secure the lid on with some gaffa tape to prevent accidental mahem!!

[parlopower]

No laundromat?
I totally understand you leave that one out, it's tricky... usually you would choose an SM57 for close micing and a C414 about 3 feet out, but you have to really play with the mic positioning... SM57 centered on the round glass door, or more off center, and then get the phase right with the C414... only real pros ever try to mic up a laundromat.

For the toaster, you need something that captures very slow transients very well. I mean, when you stuff the bread in, it takes about two minutes until the attack phase really swings in, but then you have a very fast release.

When you record the kettle with a condenser, be sure the steam power and the phantom power do not cancel each other through interference. Because then you can burn in the kettle as long as you want, it will never sound warm.

Whatever you do with the blender, don't throw a compressor into the signal chain. Things get muddy already quite quickly there, no need to squash it further.

Recording the microwave is the easiest one. You don't even need the mic, you just take the receiver of a handheld wireless stage mic and put it about 10 inches away from it. there you go.

Be sure to make a video of the recording session and post it here in the high end forum.

Don't serve whatever comes out from the kettle, the blender, the bread maker, the oven or the microwave to your pets.

[the_sonic]

I recorded a washing machine once. I used aea r44 mic with a chandler tg2.

[adrummingdude]

Originally Posted by Viccy

So, In taking a break in building our studio, I am wanting to record a set of rhythms and melodies play by our kitchen appliances.
This is spurred on by the fact that I don't have a studio to record in right now as it is under constuction so I want to record songs from the daily noises of my house.
(See studio build thread in Photo diary section - Cad Factory Build).

So the "Instruments" I have to mic up are

1) Dishwasher
2) Fridge
3) Microwave
4) Blender
5) Bread Maker
6) Oven (electric)
7) Toaster
8) Kettle.

The Mic/Preamps that I have hanging aroudn my kitchen are.

Preamps
1 x Focusrite Isa 428 (4 channels)
1 x TL Audio M1 Tubetracker (8 channels).
1 x 8 Channel Phoenix Audio Pre's (if they arrive soon).
1 x Universal Audio 710 Twin Finity

Mics

1 x AEA R88 (Stereo Ribbon)
1 X Neumann TLM
1 x AKG C414
2 x SM57's
2 x sm58's
1 x Senn 602
1 x re-20

Any advise offered would be most welcome.

Sorry for straying a bit, but how do you like the Tube Tracker? I've always been curious about those, but it's hard for me to look at TL audio as anything but cheeseball (I've owned a TL classic dual tube pre before, and it was).

The same overwhelming curiosity but slight prejudice keeps me from pulling the trigger on a Vipre or Glory...I mean really, it costs 3 grand and is made by...Groove Tubes?

[Viccy]

Originally Posted by adrummingdude

Sorry for straying a bit, but how do you like the Tube Tracker? I've always been curious about those, but it's hard for me to look at TL audio as anything but cheeseball (I've owned a TL classic dual tube pre before, and it was).

The same overwhelming curiosity but slight prejudice keeps me from pulling the trigger on a Vipre or Glory...I mean really, it costs 3 grand and is made by...Groove Tubes?

Hi, Thanks for the question.

I enjoy the tubetracker. I now know what it sounds like and when I want to us it. I have never tried any other TL Audio gear. I have flitted around the Vipre before but never been able to go there so I understand.

I just happened across the TL Audio at one point when I had sold my Trident Console and wanted to have a different set up to suit the circumstances I am in. That has now changed again however and I am now looking at big desks again. But I will keep the TL Audio and will some tube mods in a few channels to see what that does.

THe only reference I can send you to sound wise are rough and ready, but I find enjoyable recordings on Youtube.

We used to live in a warehouse and have shows there once a month. It was basically our loungeroom and I had the Tl Audio Tubtracker M1 set up as both front of house and to record the shows (lots of work-arounds required).

One Band - Black Cab - Can be viewed at here. Note this performacne had 150 people crammed in front of it and about 45 degree heat, inside a warehouse with only 8 microphones covering an 6 piece band (keyboards D.I'd)

THe second is more spoken work with music - great stuff really - Aerial Maps

Anyway, you can get a bit of an idea as this sound was recorded through the M1 in the same room, under tough conditions with no preproduction etc etc

Aerial Maps : ******//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fATfM...eature=related
Black Cab ******//www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK_zReJuc4A

[ScumBum]

I'd use a Neve 1073 and a U87 , with the fridge door open , mic pointing towards the 2nd shelf with the hot dogs and beer . You could also put a room mic near the sink and compress the hell out of it with an 1176 all buttons in and mix that in under the U87 track . If listening to this doesn't make you hungry and want a snack , I don't know what will .

[adrummingdude]

Originally Posted by Viccy

Hi, Thanks for the question.

I enjoy the tubetracker. I now know what it sounds like and when I want to us it. I have never tried any other TL Audio gear. I have flitted around the Vipre before but never been able to go there so I understand.

I just happened across the TL Audio at one point when I had sold my Trident Console and wanted to have a different set up to suit the circumstances I am in. That has now changed again however and I am now looking at big desks again. But I will keep the TL Audio and will some tube mods in a few channels to see what that does.

THe only reference I can send you to sound wise are rough and ready, but I find enjoyable recordings on Youtube.

We used to live in a warehouse and have shows there once a month. It was basically our loungeroom and I had the Tl Audio Tubtracker M1 set up as both front of house and to record the shows (lots of work-arounds required).

One Band - Black Cab - Can be viewed at here. Note this performacne had 150 people crammed in front of it and about 45 degree heat, inside a warehouse with only 8 microphones covering an 6 piece band (keyboards D.I'd)

THe second is more spoken work with music - great stuff really - Aerial Maps

Anyway, you can get a bit of an idea as this sound was recorded through the M1 in the same room, under tough conditions with no preproduction etc etc

Aerial Maps : YouTube - ‪The Aerial Maps Live at The Cad Factory‬‏
Black Cab YouTube - ‪Black Cab Live at The Cad Factory‬‏

Hey thanks!

I liked the Black Cab video...very cool.

[Canopus]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

1) Dishwasher - SM57 - ISA #1 - won't get too washy in a mix
2) Fridge - SM57 - ISA #2 - colder but effective
3) Microwave - SENN 602 - TL AUDIO #1 - it won't get too hot for this mic.
4) Blender - SM58 - ISA #3 - roll off the sharp sound,
5) Bread Maker - TLM - ISA #4 - we'll need the presence rise on this one
6) Oven (electric) - Do you have a DI available for this? You'll want to re-heat it later
7) Toaster - RE20 - UA710 Half way between cold and hot
8) Kettle. - C414 in Figure Eight - TL AUDIO #2 - you want to pick up the steam, but aim the null at the dishwasher.

Juicy!

[Steffmo]

Anything less than a Lucas CS1 the a 1073 (If you like your dishwasher colored), or a Martech (for clean, sic) is an insult to artistic muse of your dishwasher.

[Eganmedia]

You might want to ask this in the post production forum. There are people there who do this kind of thing for a living.

[Duendito]

I've always got a kick out of the change sorting machine on buses!!! :-)

Posted via Gearslutz for iPhone

[portishead]

Hmmm, I think everyone is approaching this in a very bad way.

I can only advise you on the mics I own:

1) Dishwasher - tough one, I would probably go with the 58 since it's indestructable. I would let it dry out after putting it through the diswasher cycle.
2) Fridge - Not sure if the plastic on the 57 would get brittle in the fridge but the freezer, no way.
3) Microwave - RE-20 for sure. It's not shiny so I think it would suffer the least inside the microwave because if it's non reflective finish.
4) Blender - I don't think the blender would survive the RE-20's military grade build. You might want to consider using stainless steel braided cable jackets in case they get tangled in the blender blade.
5) Bread Maker - C414 with the wind screen on. They can be easily cleaned or replaced altogether with all the bread dough that would get on them.
6) Oven (electric) - Check the operating temperatures of each mic and pick the one that would survive the temps inside the oven the best.

Ok, I'll stop.........

[AlexDaCat]

BBC sound fx disks...lol

[Deuce 225]

I get sooooo fed up with these generalities! EVERYONE knows you can't answer these questions without knowing EXACTLY which manufacturer makes each appliance. Even a Newb knows you can't mic a Bosch with the same mic/pre combo that you use on a Whirlpool or Kenmore. Same thing for toasters...In our studio -- of course we own a Dualit toaster not one of those lame spring-loaded toasters which means the best mic/pre is a Coles 4038 through a V76. And don't get me started on KitchenAid -vs- Cuisinart mixers... Same for blenders -- only the Vitamix 1363 is good enough for our studio. Vitamix 1363 Professional Series 2-HP Stand Blender


[IMG]******//i.pgcdn.com/pi/4/29/03/42903920_160.jpg[/IMG]

The Professional series blender features a 2+ peak hp motor that generates blade speeds of up to 240 mph, and a comfortable speed dial for Processing at just the right speed. The oversized Patented container can hold up to 64 oz. of your favorite ingredients to prepare delicious home made dips, soups, sauces, purees, appetizers, salsas, nut butters, dressings, butters, flour, desserts, beverages, smoothies, sorbets, ice cream and more.





See what I mean ? You HAVE to HAVE specifics if you're ever going to do it the way the pros do it. Lastly, if you don't have high-end appliances, the moderators should move this thread out of the High-End forum.

Best,
Tim Cochran

[Kelly Cameron]

The stapler on my day job desk at the office has a very interesting sound when stapling...very sublime. I think I want to record it. Any suggestions for mic/preamp/compressor combination for tracking my stapler? (insert psychotic laugh with drool-cup sloshing here).

[WDM]

Originally Posted by Viccy

Any advise offered would be most welcome.

I would reserve C414 / UA 710 just to capture "the room" itself.
It could add some nice depth later at the mixing stage.

[LMCASES]

hahaha really guys?!! Although I cant judge, I recorded my dishwasher a few years back with a 57 and the preamp on front of a motu 828.. I mean ya know...its a freaking diswasher not yo yo ma.

[Yerba]

Originally Posted by LMCASES

hahaha really guys?!! Although I cant judge, I recorded my dishwasher a few years back with a 57 and the preamp on front of a motu 828.. I mean ya know...its a freaking diswasher not yo yo ma.

Yo-Yo Ma plays an antiquated instrument; at best a relic of another century best left in museums. I would argue that one should never record the cello, out of respect for historical accuracy.

There were no microphones/preamps when the cello was born into this world, and as such I feel that the two eras should never intermingle, for fear of soiling the purity of the instrument with electronic reproduction.

Now dishwashers on the other hand - this is the way forward, and if we want to get at the essence of what it means to mechanically "wash dishes", we're going to need some serious gear.

[Avast!]

Joni Mitchell-Empty(try another?) - YouTube


We could ask what they used on the cigarette machine and coughing.

[Jmoon79]

So this is what happens when you smoke dope in the kitchen. Interesting.

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

1) Dishwasher - SM57 - ISA #1 - won't get too washy in a mix
2) Fridge - SM57 - ISA #2 - colder but effective
3) Microwave - SENN 602 - TL AUDIO #1 - it won't get too hot for this mic.
4) Blender - SM58 - ISA #3 - roll off the sharp sound,
5) Bread Maker - TLM - ISA #4 - we'll need the presence rise on this one
6) Oven (electric) - Do you have a DI available for this? You'll want to re-heat it later
7) Toaster - RE20 - UA710 Half way between cold and hot
8) Kettle. - C414 in Figure Eight - TL AUDIO #2 - you want to pick up the steam, but aim the null at the dishwasher.

The question is, will you get a better vibe by recording all the appliances at once or tracking them one at a time.

I prefer outdoor appliances myself:
Old school TRACTOR rhythm!! Traktorblues - YouTube

-R

[RKrizman]

Now this guys just uses one mic for everything:

Kitchen Rhythm - henry + the invisibles - YouTube

-R