Tuba Mic for live gig

[Yenrah]

Looking for a mic for live tuba playing in a praise band. Guy at guitar center suggested Audix F-90 which runs about $100.

Not really looking for cheap but just good quality mic that will last.

What say you?

[hbphotoav]

Is he a dancin' tuba player...? That is, does it need to be a clip-on? I'd try a D6, if Audix is your thing. It's also great on bass trombone... Need a nice tall boom stand, though.

[Yenrah]

No, not dancing but I think we would rather have a clip on. Its one of those smaller tubas that the bell is straight up when he plays.

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by Yenrah

No, not dancing but I think we would rather have a clip on. Its one of those smaller tubas that the bell is straight up when he plays.

Then I guess I'd look at the ATM350, if budget is an issue; or the DPA4099 if you want a truly useful mic and mounting system.

I have a F-90 and have yet to be happy with it, as opposed to AKG C419 (discontinued) or SM57s.

[Roland]

DPA is probably the best way to go if you want quality, though they are not The most rugged mic's, but then they are not the most expensive either.

Roland

[Yenrah]

Thanks guys, I will check them out

[Adebar]

For Tuba, if it shall be a clip mic, I recommend the microphone from SD Systems.

Look at
SD SYSTEMS INSTRUMENT MICROPHONES
for LCM85

Really good sounding on Tuba.

[NorseHorse]

I heard the Ethopian groove machine, Debo Band (Debo Band - Boston's Ethiopian Groove Collective), in Maine on Saturday. Holding down the low end was a tuba.

They use an Audix D4 dropped right into the tuba. It isn't "secured". The mic cables is wrapped around the circumference of the tuba before the bell. Then it come from underneath, around the lip of the bell, and into the bell. Gravity holds it in, and the windscreen prevents any clanging.

Sound wise, it wasn't a classical tuba sound -- not enough high end. But for a bass-guitar substitute, it was great. Lots of thick low end. No worries about feedback.

Also interesting is that at the concert, there was no mention of CDs. Just vinyl.

[Barnabas]

I'd use the Audix D4 before I'd use the D6.

[7rojo7]

D4 or an MD421 or an RE20, they can get really loud!

[tommiboy]

Another thumbs up for the Audix D4 here. I use one on my live tuba rig and the sound is spot on. Attach it to the rim of the bell with one of Audix's DFLEX clamps and you'll have all the convenience of a smaller clip-on but with a truer sounding low end in a more rugged package.

[DannyL]

I would seriously consider a Countryman Isomax II, either a cardioid or hypercardioid with their sax clip. I have used them for low brass and they sound great. A very good signal to feedback ratio too.

Regards;
Danny

[Thomas W. Bethe]

A stupid question...most tubas are loud enough by themselves why do you need to amplify the tuba more???

[NorseHorse]

Same reason you mic a drumset, bass cab, or a guitar amp. If you are playing with amplified instruments, don't expect the tuba to keep up.

A marching band immediately followed the Ethiopian band in the show I mentioned above, sans PA. The unmediated mix was OK, but frankly, they could have used some amplification. Some oomphlification, if you will.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Same reason you mic a drumset, bass cab, or a guitar amp. If you are playing with amplified instruments, don't expect the tuba to keep up.

A marching band immediately followed the Ethiopian band in the show I mentioned above, sans PA. The unmediated mix was OK, but frankly, they could have used some amplification. Some oomphlification, if you will.

A tuba can put out 110 dbSPL all by itself. It is a very loud instrument. Everything does not automatically have to be mic'd IMHO and a lot has to do with the venue that the group is playing in.

[tommiboy]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

A tuba can put out 110 dbSPL all by itself. It is a very loud instrument. Everything does not automatically have to be mic'd IMHO and a lot has to do with the venue that the group is playing in.

Since I play one of these beasts for a living, I feel a few things need to be set straight here.

Playing at maximum volume on a tuba is incredibly fatiguing. Given the sheer volume of air these things take, a tubist is practically hyper-ventilating when playing fortissimo. Sure a good player can pump out 110+dB but only for very limited periods and the sound is likely to be blatty and rough. Plus being of low pitch, the tuba sound is far from directional and loses focus and clarity with any sort of distance.

If you're holding down the bass line on one of these beasts, you are playing pretty much constantly. A band losing its bassline five minutes into a forty five minute set because the tuba player has passed out... not good.

In short, regardless of the venue do your next tuba player a favour and put a mic on them if they are playing with amplified instruments!

[klaukholm]

Originally Posted by Roland

DPA is probably the best way to go if you want quality, though they are not The most rugged mic's, but then they are not the most expensive either.

Roland

I must concur,

The newer directional clipons may work, as would a clip on omni.
Contact Silas, he should be able to give you good advice on DPAs line.

[bove]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

A tuba can put out 110 dbSPL all by itself. It is a very loud instrument. Everything does not automatically have to be mic'd IMHO and a lot has to do with the venue that the group is playing in.

The sound quality and musical expression of a tuba playing 110db is quite different than one playing at a comfortable volume while using amplification. A well amplified tuba, not playing too loud, will usually sound cleaner out front.

As always, the type of music and sound the group is going for will be the guide.

For cheap mics, you could just use an SM57. It's a good quality mic that will last, and you can use it for a lot of things. For a live show, the mic is not the biggest deal. I have played with a lot of different mics in my bell, and I've found that the best sounds always result from situations where the engineers have great ears and really work hard to make everything balanced and sound nice. (Sometimes, the gig with the fanciest microphones/venue will have the worst results ever.)

Props to you for putting some thought into the tuba sound! I realize the original post was a while ago, but I hope things are going well with the praise band tuba!

[Marlan]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

A stupid question...most tubas are loud enough by themselves why do you need to amplify the tuba more???

Very respectful and professional response. Really?

[klaukholm]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Same reason you mic a drumset, bass cab, or a guitar amp. If you are playing with amplified instruments, don't expect the tuba to keep up.

A marching band immediately followed the Ethiopian band in the show I mentioned above, sans PA. The unmediated mix was OK, but frankly, they could have used some amplification. Some oomphlification, if you will.

or you turn down the ethiopian band...

As with conductors,
good ones know to ask the right people to play louder in order to come through.
Great conductors know to ask the right instruments to play softer so you let the right instruments come through without playing louder.

[BattleAngel]

Our "bass player" is an incredibly skilled tuba player who rocks a miraphone cc. He plays with at least FOH amplification, and usually a bass guitar amplifier behind him. He has been duct-taping an SM58 inside his bell, using an XLR->1/4" adapter when going into bass amplification. When playing in very small groups in a small room, Joe tends to let it go natural - but we're talking about really small rooms. Playing with great and dynamic players, he still needs "oomphlification"... the "one size fits all" philosophy just does not work for the tuba. It requires different things in different situations, and if you're playing with amplified instruments, a tuba should probably be mic'd at the very least.

We'll be checking out some new options besides the 58 (which has worked great for years)... very curious to check out the Audix D4.

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by BattleAngel

We'll be checking out some new options besides the 58 (which has worked great for years)... very curious to check out the Audix D4.

I would seriously look at the Countryman Isomax II-H with a sax clip:

Great frequency response, low noise, excellent signal before feedback ratio
AND very easy to attach to the instrument with no sticky tape residue!!

I have been using these for years for all sorts of applications: brass, low brass, reeds, drums, strings, podiums, stage mics, and also soccer goals and hockey corner mics.

Regards
Danny

[BattleAngel]

Thanks Danny! We may do a comprehensive shoot out and post some video/audio results here.

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

A stupid question...most tubas are loud enough by themselves why do you need to amplify the tuba more???

I still gig (on tuba bass) in raging rock bands - if I had to blast full tilt for one set I'd be toast. Contrary to common belief, tuba is much quieter than the trombone or trumpet - the better question is: why do the trumpet and bone need mics?

I've been gigging for 20+ years using a 421 and a custom aluminum mount (most often thru a Workingman's 12) - I'd also recommend the drum clip on mcs - I've used the Shure/Senn/Audix and all can work well for gigging.

Here's a shot of my custom rig:

[fifthcircle]

I think it really depends on what kind of sound you're looking for. Best amplified sound (for a rock band type situation) I've experienced is with a DPA 4099. Simply nothing touches it for fidelity.

Most common thing I see out there is for the various latin ranchero bands that cross one of the stages I work- a shure Beta 98 dropped down the bell. Kind of a raspy, "blatty" kind of sound, but it cuts through the group and works really well for that kind of music.

In the end, it just depends on what you are looking for.

--Ben

[vinvanda]

hello
Ive had good results from a D4 from audix on a mic clip into a tuba. the band doing that were using it as a bass replacement and he also had an octave pedal to give some extra bottom end at points.

I would definitely always try to mic up everything on stage when possible. even if something is very loud (like a guitar amp can be when cranked) you have no control at FOH of where it sits in the mix or what direction the sound is going in. a good FOH setup should spread the sound pretty evenly around the room so everyone in the audience can hear all the parts. TBH this is all pretty basic concepts for live sound.

One good example is a very long time ago I was helping a mate do a metal band that had a gong behind the drums. we decided to not mic the gong as it was really big and should be very loud. As soon as the band started their set we regretted this decision