Coles 4038 & AEA R84's stereo OV heads

[StuartMac]

Don't worry about the bling factor, it's all relative - the Coles are a LOT cheaper over here than the AEAs, and a bit cheaper than Royer 121s.

You could also consider the AEA R88, or a pair of R92s for a similar price. Sorry I can't comment on any comparisons, as of all these mics I'm only familiar with the R121 (although I have an R92 coming) but I think you should remove price as a factor, to be honest.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

How do the R84's fare for overhead duties compared to the coles'?
Are the coles really worth the extra bling?

Yes.

And they're great on guitar cabs if you're careful.

[rainsinvelvet]

Howdy Roundbadge,

I've got a pair of R84s that I've been using on alot of things lately. They def. have that ribbon sound and have the bling factor for sure. Clients often go ""whoa" when I break them out of there bags.

I like them alot for drum OH. Acoustic guitar sounds great. I usualy put one up on electric guitar along with a R121 and choose one or the other. I will tell you this.. After buying one withen a week I bought another one..


ERic

[RoundBadge]

Thanks all.But then I should also condsider the 4040 as well..
Brain ,I noticed you sold an R84 recently..did you not dig it it?

[beechstudio]

Hey Roundbadge......check out soundpure.com. I think you can get a matched pair of 4038's for $2300

[NathanEldred]

I've found the Coles 4038 to be suprisingly clinical in that application. The R84's sound rounder with a simultaneous richness in the mids, more 'rock and roll'...I can't qualify it much more than that. Are the KM54's not doing it? I think they are quite stunning even to digital (with a less bright pre). But they are no ribbon. The Royers are a lot more forward in the high mids than the R84's. Imagine adding a good amount of low frequencies to the 122, reduce around 1k, and add a small amount around 10-12k and you basically have the R84.

[RoundBadge]

Thanks Nathan..
It's funny I was talking to a friend today and he kinda had the opposite pov..He couldnt get what he wanted from the R84's ..
To each his own ..
Demo time ..Agian!
Time to listen to both, I guess ..
Don't get me wrong ...The 54's rock....I'm using a c24 as well..
I've recently heard some coles drum recordings ..Sounded very nice ,
Bloomin' big and smoooth.. .
Just looking for more options ..
Anybody using the coles 4040? .
I think Fletcher was diggin em' somewheres stike

[max cooper]

I've also been considering a pair of 84's. I'd like to have a pair of o/h mics that can do other stuff, although versatility isn't important enough that I'd buy something that's less good on o/heads. I do mostly rock stuff and I tend to use API 512's and sometimes a 3124 for just about everything. $2K is a do-able price for me, if I have to I can push towards $3K though. I do like taking as much kit through the o/h's + room as I can (I have a single 121). I want to make sure I'm considering all the viable alternatives. Any recommendations are much appreciated.

Roundbadge; would you mind sharing your starting point for 122 placement on the kit and what kind/how much G.R. if you use it? Also, what's the difference between the 122 and the 121? Thanks!

[scott petito]

heres a good Royer 122 tip....sit at the drum kit and place the drummers sticks in your hands end over end and point them directly up from the centerof the snare... (roughly 2-3 feet above the snare) put one OH there ...then with the sticks still resting on the snare tilt them at a 45 degree angle back towards your right sholder... kinda between you and the floor tom...put the other over head there pointing across the toms toward the snare....Roughly at the hight of your ears, then watch everyone in the control room smile....it works especially well on a small kit 3-4 pieces and a couple of cymbals I like this technique with the Royers a lot ... experiment with the back or front of the mic facing the source....remember ribbons are figure 8....

cheers
SP

Ps I recommend engineers sit at the kit and wack a few drums you can learn a lot about what you need to do as far as micing it up

[RoundBadge]

Thanks scott,Yes I'm big on that technique ,I use the 47's in that mode all the time,, sounds great!
Big fan of Glyn .A guy I know is working with Ethan right now ,[Glyn's son]
and Glyn came out to LA[and outta retirement I guess] and ended up helping with the production.I think up to that point ,they had'nt really worked together much. evidently ethan has a good chunk of his dads gear!
How cool is that!? stike

...oh ,and Max ,I use the 122 as a down the hall mono room mic a lot ,which gets comped with an 1176 ,neve or smart.
stuck it up a chimney this week ...interesting in a midrangey kinda way.
the 122 is phantom powered and basically has a higher output/ lower noise floor

[StuartMac]

Here's a bizarre one to try if you're ever bored and have loads of time to play with.... metal waste paper bin attached to a mic stand about five feet out and level with frack tom, open end facing the kit pointing down slightly towards the bass drum. Stick a figure-8 mic in all the way, picking up the metal sides of the bin, then nuke the f#cker. Weird - and often blends in a brilliant way.

Just if you're bored, mind

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by StuartMac

Here's a bizarre one to try if you're ever bored and have loads of time to play with.... metal waste paper bin attached to a mic stand about five feet out and level with frack tom, open end facing the kit pointing down slightly towards the bass drum. Stick a figure-8 mic in all the way, picking up the metal sides of the bin, then nuke the f#cker. Weird - and often blends in a brilliant way.

Just if you're bored, mind

I'm going to go do some tracking right now.
It's an "anything goes type of day for the drums ,mad scientist lab,etc
Trying to scam some coles and r84's today ..any cheap renter/loaners around in LA ?
...FUN Drum day!
Stuart ..I should try that today..thanks
Made a tent ,put a neve crushed 47 in front of an svt 8x 10 next to the kit for resonance
HEY! ....Accidental Bonham!
I love 1 or 2 Fukked up mono mics in the room ..Very often makes the track ya know?!

[max cooper]

thanks for the tips, Roundbadge and everyone...I'm working on getting better at micing kits on my own. I'm putting together a little kit of my own to work out on...basically I can play drums well enough to know I should never be a drummer, but yeah, I can spend hours playing around with mic placement, comp ratios etc.. I'm just beginning to have enough rig to get a whole kit working now so that's kind of why I've not been able to really practice like I've wanted to.

Sorry for O/t-ing the thread. I'm jonesing for the 84's and I think they're gonna have to be my next score (after the Rosetta 800 shows up).

so BTW, will the 121 work as a pinch hitter for a 122 the way you mentioned?

[StuartMac]

so BTW, will the 121 work as a pinch hitter for a 122 the way you mentioned?[/QUOTE]

Yes

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by max cooper

thanks for the tips, Roundbadge and everyone...I'm working on getting better at micing kits on my own. I'm putting together a little kit of my own to work out on...basically I can play drums well enough to know I should never be a drummer, but yeah, I can spend hours playing around with mic placement, comp ratios etc.. I'm just beginning to have enough rig to get a whole kit working now so that's kind of why I've not been able to really practice like I've wanted to.

Sorry for O/t-ing the thread. I'm jonesing for the 84's and I think they're gonna have to be my next score (after the Rosetta 800 shows up).

so BTW, will the 121 work as a pinch hitter for a 122 the way you mentioned?

Hey Max ,Another REALLY good skill to work on is drum tuning. stike