$2000 for mics, need to record both upright piano and strings

[John_McEnroe]

Heya guys. Say someone were to need some mics to record both an upright piano and a string quartet and they only had $2000 what would you tell em to get? Stuff that is readily available would be good too as I would like to be able to try before I buy. It doesnt need to sound perfect, just as good as I can get for $2000. I like melllow sounding stuff if that makes any difference. I find im always rolling off the highend on piano and strings so mic thhat compliment this approach would be good.

[brendondp]

The Royer/Speiden SF-12 might do the job nicely. It's a tad over your budget but is stereo (with seperate left and right XLRs).

Cheers,

bdp

[James Lehmann]

Dig that avatar man - brilliant, where on earth did you get it!

[Berolzheimer]

You might also look into the AEA r-88 or a pair of r-84's. I'd probably go for seperate mics as they'd give you more flexibility down the road. But yeah, for your taste ribbons are probably a good choice. Just keep in mind you need a good pre with lots of gain, and that ribbons are inherently figure 8.

[Marshall Simmons]

i'll second the R-88

[NathanEldred]

Do you mean record them both simultaneously in stereo for $2000? Do you want to have seperate mics on the piano and string quartet? or just mic them seperately at different times, I'm assuming in stereo. Depending on your answer, one is a lot more complicated to give a recommendation.

[John_McEnroe]

I wont ever have to record them at the same time so getting some mics that can do both jobs would be great. Some people have recommended a pair of stereo mics and then something like a Neumann 103 but I thought the neumann was supposed to be fairly bright? Arent ribbons fairly fragile? Ive never owned one so I cant say. If its at all helpful im looking for a similar sound to the Sigur Ros records or Max Richter if any of you are familiar with him.

[DigitMus]

At that price for those specific recording tasks, a pair of Earthworks QTC-1s would do pretty nicely. I'd use 'em in AB (spaced pair) for the piano and with a Jecklin disk for the quartet. Of course, being omnis, the room will be very imortant. If you don't have a really stellar recording space, they might not be the best mics for the job.

Scott

[toledo3]

"im looking for a similar sound to the Sigur Ros records "


Here is the equipment list from their studio:

Mixers

Neve V0 console, in-line 72 channels/4 busses with a 32 channel Uptown System 2000 automation system (flying faders)
Tascam US-2400, 25 fader control surface
3x Behringer Euroracks MX 8024 8-channel mixers, used for separate foldback mixes
Behringer Eurorack MX 2442A

Monitors:

Dynaudio BM10 passive
Dynaudio BM15A, active
Tannoy DMT
Yamaha NS-10M

Reverberation/Effects:

Lexicon 960L, 8 analogue I/O + 8 AES/EBU
TC Electronics M5000 digital audio mainframe/effects processor
Culture Vulture distortion unit
AMS S-DMX Delay
AMS RMX16 Reverberation system
dbx 120 sub-harmonic synth
Mutator

Dynamics/EQ:

Neve 33609 stereo compressor
Empirical Labs EL-8 Distressor
Manley Massive Passive Stereo EQ
Avalon VT747 vacuum tube stereo compressor
Urei 1178 Stereo limiter
Joe Meek VC2 tube
Joe Meek SC2 stereo compressor
Symetrix 425 dual mono/stereo compressor/limiter/expander

Recording/playback devices

Otari MTR90 mkII 24-track analogue tape machine
Soundscape R.Ed Digital Audio Workstation: 24 In/28 Out, "unlimited" virtual tracks, fully automated
Tascam DA-40 DAT machine
Tascam CD-RW 4U re-writeable CD burner
Denon DNT 620 CD/cassette combo player
Sony USB CD writer
Microphones

2x Neumann U87
2x Neumann KM 184
Neumann KM 56 valve
Neumann U 47 vavle
2x Schoeps CMC 6 microphone amps
2x Schoeps MK 6 capsules, switchable polar patterns
2x Beyerdynamics M160 ribbon mics
2x AKG C414
2x Coles Studio 4038 ribbon microphones
Sennheiser MKH-80 multipattern condenser
3x Sennheiser MD 421 dynamic
Sennheiser "Blackfire" 5032P
Sennheiser "Blackfire" 504
2x Sennheiser K6 power modules with capsules
4x Oktava MK 219
AKG D-112
RODE NT-3 back-electret condenser
Assortment of SHURE dynamic microphones; SM57, SM58, Beta 57, Beta 58
SHURE SM 91 boundary mic
SHURE Beta 87 condensers
assortment of other mics, such as Coles, Tesla, Telefunken etc.
2x Avalon V5 active DI boxes

Other equipment

Antarres ATR-1 intonation processor (Auto-Tune)
DI-boxes; V5, Whirlwind
Power amps; Chord SPA 612, Audio Centron RMA 1600
4 Beyer Dynamics DT 150 headphones
Sennheiser HD 250 headphones
4 MTR HPA2 headphne amps
Rosenthal WIF timecode converter

[bloodstone]

I'd agree that a pair of ribbons you can afford might be just the ticket. But I also wonder if a pair of the new AKG 414s might be more versatile and durable. I've had lots of great results recording strings with the old AKG 414 BULS...

For that matter, a pair of modded Oktava ML52 a la Tape Op new issue might do just as well for a lot less. I've recorded piano very successfully with the unmodded pair I have (a Steinway in an empty Baptist church).

[John_McEnroe]

Thanks for the replies guys and thanks for that gear list, some pretty nice stuff on there.

I have aheard a lot of good things about the new AKG 414's as well and they would be well within my budget. Has anyone else got any experience using them for piano and strings?

[Ted Nightshade]

I just heard Sigur Ros last night for the first time- I was listening to mp3's through huge folded horn PA speakers at about 3 feet away, very quiet, but still- the aesthetic there seemed very different from piano or string 4tet recordings... maybe I was listening to the wrong record?

[verystrange]

Sanken CU31 is one my my first choices on both strings and upright.

I also love AKG 4051s. I am a big believer in small diaphram mics.

Ben

[NathanEldred]

Quality small diaphragm for both applications IMO, cardiod should be fine considering your price point.

[Elsteve9]

Originally Posted by bloodstone

I'd agree that a pair of ribbons you can afford might be just the ticket. But I also wonder if a pair of the new AKG 414s might be more versatile and durable. I've had lots of great results recording strings with the old AKG 414 BULS...

For that matter, a pair of modded Oktava ML52 a la Tape Op new issue might do just as well for a lot less. I've recorded piano very successfully with the unmodded pair I have (a Steinway in an empty Baptist church).

Do you have a recording of these Oktava mics? I'd love to hear them...


-Stephen

[toolskid]

I'm not sure what the retail is in the states but a pair of Royer r121s or r122s would be amazing.....

[antti]

Pair of km84s or c414s or 4011s..
or a pair of 4038s or r121s..
Ribbons would propably be better for that 'mellow' sound.

[John_McEnroe]

I ended up renting a few different mics and ended up choosing a pair of Neumann km184's. They sound great for what I want and I got a great deal on a pair second hand. Thanks again to everyone who helped me out!

[brownmouse]

you may want to give a pair of gefell m-930's a listen, the royer sf-12 is pretty cool too in a different kinda way.
good luck,
joshua

[cgarges]

Lomo 19A18s rock in both applications. I haven't heard the versions with the newer capsules that seem to be floating around now, but the old ones are especially nice for both strings and upright piano. I've also had good luck with AT 4050s, AT 4051s, and Avenson STO-2s.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC