Microphone upgrade recommendations

[maestro]

I would like to buy some new mics but not sure what to get. I have the following

DPA 4006 Stereo Pair
Neumann KM140s stereo pair
Rode NT5 stereo pair
AEA R88 stereo mic
AKG 414 B Uls
AKG Solidtube
Shure Beta 58 x 2
Shure SM81
Shure 57

Can you put the above microphones to the following instruments playing together in the one space (has great sound for piano, strings etc but hard to control drums and bass guitar) and also recommend new mics for any gaps?

Male Solo Vocal
Female Solo Vocal
Choir
Grand Piano
String Section (4 violins including Cello)
Brass Section (mostly trumpet and alto sax)
Percussion (Timpani, Glockenspiel, Tambourine, Castanets)
Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar
Drum Kit

I'm currently thinking about Coles 4038 stereo pair and Shoeps CMC6 with MK4. Also like the idea of the Gefell UM900.

[maestro]

So if i use the following mics

Main Stereo Pair for entire ensemble - DPA 4006 x 2
Male Solo Vocal - AKG 414 B Uls
Female Solo Vocal - AKG Solidtube
String Section (4 violins including Cello) - Neumann KM140s stereo pair
Brass Section (mostly trumpet and alto sax) - - AEA R88 stereo mic
Acoustic Guitar - Shure SM81
Electric Guitar - Shure 57
Bass Guitar - DI
Drum Kit - Shure Beta 58 x 2

what do you feel could be used on these?

Choir, Grand Piano and Percussion (Timpani, Glockenspiel, Tambourine, Castanets) and perhaps spot the Cello.

I would also like to upgrade the female Solo Vocal mic

[t_chance]

Beyerdynamic 160's percusion
Beyerdynamic 930's choir
I would put the 4006's in the grand
the Schoeps on the room?
Vox ???

[maestro]

I've never heard the Beyerdynamics. Are they good?

The grand piano would be accompanying the choir. In fact the piano spilling into the room pair would be nearly enough.

Some of the tracks i'm recording would be for lead vocal and choir backing

[t_chance]

Originally Posted by maestro

I've never heard the Beyerdynamics. Are they good?

The grand piano would be accompanying the choir. In fact the piano spilling into the room pair would be nearly enough.

Some of the tracks i'm recording would be for lead vocal and choir backing

Good yes, very good, although not in the same league as DPA and Schoeps

[maestro]

Any opinions on the following mic choice?

Grand Piano Schoeps CMC6 Mk4 (as spots in an ensemble)
Cello - Coles 4038
Female Solo Vocal - Bock 251
Male Solo Vocal - Gefell UM92.1S

Can anyone recommend the Best Mic or Mics for the following percusssion instruments?
Timpani
Glockenspiel
Tambourine
Castanets
Woodblock

Any other cheaper options?

[talbe1019]

In relation to the question about the bass and the drum kit, I like to use and RE20 or RE27 on the bass amp and Kick drum. As far as OH's I like AKG 451's but they are a tad bright, but a little smoother sounding than the SM81's as Oh's. I also use a 451 on the hi-hat if I choose to mic it. If you mic the toms, I prefer Senn421's. I mostly do rock stuff and have had good luck using those. Beta 98's work well too and and are a little easier to get where you want since they are about 1/20 the size of a 421. I like the typical 57 or Beyer M201 on the snare top and not really picky about the bottom snare mic, although if you mic the bottom snare be sure to invert the phase either during the recording or post mixing. I know Steve is a big fan of the TLM103 on the snare and on his over the shoulder micing technique. A lot of mics will work and sound good, hope you can find some in your budget.

[Plush]

Any of your mics will work for any of the instruments mentioned.

Ribbon mics are nice on strings such as cello and violin. Coles is good there as is AEA.

I do not see that you have told us why you feel you need new mics.

[maestro]

Originally Posted by Plush

I do not see that you have told us why you feel you need new mics.

Thanks Plush. I want to track all of these instruments/voices simultaneously in an 'excellent' Church acoustic.

The 4006s are superb imo. I need to put these on the 50 piece Male Voice Choir?

However as a precaution i may need to spot mic the choir with Cardioids in case the Drum Kit spills too much into the 4006s. I have plenty of realtraps. I could put those around the kit to avoid some of the spill?

I take it you think that with proper placement (and disciplined/balanced musicians) the 4006s could cover all instruments? I would love that style of recording.

The Grand Piano and Percussion 'spill' may be enough?

and no need to spot Cello?

Perhaps if i'm upgrading i should just upgrade the lead vocal mics? Sometimes the Female and Male sing as a duo.

[Plush]

Originally Posted by maestro

Thanks Plush. I want to track all of these instruments/voices simultaneously in an 'excellent' Church acoustic.

The 4006s are superb imo. I need to put these on the 50 piece Male Voice Choir?

However as a precaution i may need to spot mic the choir with Cardioids in case the Drum Kit spills too much into the 4006s. I have plenty of realtraps. I could put those around the kit to avoid some of the spill?

I take it you think that with proper placement (and disciplined/balanced musicians) the 4006s could cover all instruments? I would love that style of recording.

The Grand Piano and Percussion 'spill' may be enough?

and no need to spot Cello?

Perhaps if i'm upgrading i should just upgrade the lead vocal mics? Sometimes the Female and Male sing as a duo.

No, I did not say or mean any of what you wrote above.

I said that I think you have fine mics and that ANY of them would work for any of the sources you mentioned.

By the way, I would always mic the choir with cardioid mics, not omni.

[aracu]

Maestro, as an experiment, you could try placing the aea88 and balancing all the instruments carefully, checking the mix by monitoring through a long headphone extension reaching outside the space, then recording with just the aea88.

[maestro]

The R88 is a lovely mic. Takes careful placement though.

Thanks Plush. I'm generally happy with my mic buying choice. Do you think i have enough for this particular project? Just in case everything requires spot micing.

Have you ever used 2 sets of mics by different manufacturers that you felt just didn't complement each other?