What Mic and Pre combination have you found best for acoustic instruments...

ine-kpro... · 5th September 2005

Im currently in the hunt for a Mic and a Pre combo that can tackle most acoustic live recordings. Anyone have any experiences with combinations that they have found to be most successful with.

walth · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by ine-kpro...

Im currently in the hunt for a Mic and a Pre combo that can tackle most acoustic live recordings. Anyone have any experiences with combinations that they have found to be most successful with.

millenia mic pres are popular. martechs also get a lot of use. GML is great

API, focusrite isa-series, 10xx are great too.

Earthworks, schoepps and DPA/B&K mics are great too.

jnorman · 2 Weeks Ago

typically, we record most acoustic performances in stereo, which means a pair of mics. neumann km184s, schoeps cmc64s, DPA 4011s in ORTF, or km131s, cmc62, 4006 in AB.

pres - sonosax, sound devices usb pre, DAV, forsell - depending on how much gear you want to schlep around (portable battery-powered stuff, vs rackmount gear requiring access to AC).

GZsound · 2 Weeks Ago

I posted a similar question to a bunch of Nashville recording engineers and producers and the most common mic preamps were Neve and API by a wide margin.

Neumann KM184's seemed to get a lot of mention as far as mics.

I think any decent pair of mics and any decent preamp can get a good acoustic guitar recording. The room makes a difference and the way the guitar is set up makes a difference.

I use two AT4041 or ATM10a or Oktava MC012 mics and an RNP with great results.

sonare · 2 Weeks Ago

Hasn't anyone noticed that the question was posed in 2005?

MichaelPatrick · 2 Weeks Ago

First question is whether or not you want the room in your mix. If you do, omni mics. If you don't, cardiods. Make that decision and then people can answer your question.

Jimbo · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonare

Hasn't anyone noticed that the question was posed in 2005?

We'll need to be sure that we answer the OP with gear that was around in 2005, so as not to confuse him.

MichaelPatrick · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

We'll need to be sure that we answer the OP with gear that was around in 2005, so as not to confuse him.

Good point.

Jim Williams · 2 Weeks Ago

Custom built gear is my solution. Mic preamps are transconductance designs with 40 mhz bandwidth. Mics are custom made from various capsules.

I've not found commercially available gear to get that intimacy.

It's not much different than professional racing where everyone builds their winning cars themselves. You don't see the winners using "off the shelf".

aracu · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

It's not much different than professional racing where everyone builds their winning cars themselves. You don't see the winners using "off the shelf".

there is danger of the mic crashing into the conductor

Jim Williams · 2 Weeks Ago

Only if it falls off your "Decca Tree".

If you look at some of the top AE's in classical, many do use custom built equipment. Some guard their sources too.

aracu · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Only if it falls off your "Decca Tree".

If you look at some of the top AE's in classical, many do use custom built equipment. Some guard their sources too.

It is great when a manufacturer is interested in making variations of
their standard mics for clients. Sonodore is a good example.

Bater · 2 Weeks Ago

My favorite combination of mic and preamp for recording acoustic guitar is a modded nady rsm 4 (1.8 micron ribbon and a cinemag transformer) paired with the Mackie onyx preamp. I know it's low end, but the sound is beautiful.

Sent from my Vortex using Gearslutz App

bafonso · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Custom built gear is my solution. Mic preamps are transconductance designs with 40 mhz bandwidth. Mics are custom made from various capsules.

I've not found commercially available gear to get that intimacy.

It's not much different than professional racing where everyone builds their winning cars themselves. You don't see the winners using "off the shelf".

But more often than not the best driver trumps the best car...

This might echo with anyone that remembers Airton Senna racing in the rain

5th September 2005	#1
ine-kpro... Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 233 Thread Starter	What Mic and Pre combination have you found best for acoustic instruments... Im currently in the hunt for a Mic and a Pre combo that can tackle most acoustic live recordings. Anyone have any experiences with combinations that they have found to be most successful with. __________________ ine-kpro... (eye-yen-kay pro) <--- watch this space ---> www.ine-kpro.com www.3views.ine-kpro.com

2 Weeks Ago	#3
jnorman Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,807 2 Reviews written	typically, we record most acoustic performances in stereo, which means a pair of mics. neumann km184s, schoeps cmc64s, DPA 4011s in ORTF, or km131s, cmc62, 4006 in AB. pres - sonosax, sound devices usb pre, DAV, forsell - depending on how much gear you want to schlep around (portable battery-powered stuff, vs rackmount gear requiring access to AC). __________________ jnorman sunridge studios salem, oregon

2 Weeks Ago	#4
GZsound Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 958	I posted a similar question to a bunch of Nashville recording engineers and producers and the most common mic preamps were Neve and API by a wide margin. Neumann KM184's seemed to get a lot of mention as far as mics. I think any decent pair of mics and any decent preamp can get a good acoustic guitar recording. The room makes a difference and the way the guitar is set up makes a difference. I use two AT4041 or ATM10a or Oktava MC012 mics and an RNP with great results. __________________ Mark G.

2 Weeks Ago	#13
Bater Gear addict Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 303 2 Reviews written	My favorite combination of mic and preamp for recording acoustic guitar is a modded nady rsm 4 (1.8 micron ribbon and a cinemag transformer) paired with the Mackie onyx preamp. I know it's low end, but the sound is beautiful. Sent from my Vortex using Gearslutz App __________________ I know just enough to get myself in trouble

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

2 Weeks Ago	#5
sonare Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2004 Location: southeast Posts: 1,393	Hasn't anyone noticed that the question was posed in 2005?

2 Weeks Ago	#6
MichaelPatrick Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,254	First question is whether or not you want the room in your mix. If you do, omni mics. If you don't, cardiods. Make that decision and then people can answer your question.

2 Weeks Ago	#9
Jim Williams Voiding warranties Joined: Feb 2004 Location: beautiful Carlsbad, CA Posts: 10,074	Custom built gear is my solution. Mic preamps are transconductance designs with 40 mhz bandwidth. Mics are custom made from various capsules. I've not found commercially available gear to get that intimacy. It's not much different than professional racing where everyone builds their winning cars themselves. You don't see the winners using "off the shelf".

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Dual High-End Mic/Line pre with ADC for acoustic instruments	mosrite	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	41	22nd August 2007 08:26 AM
Microphone and Mic Pre Combination with a budget of about 1100$	MKZ	So much gear, so little time!	5	29th June 2007 09:27 AM
quintessential mic/pre combination for voice, acoustic guitar, acoustic piano	kissingonstilts	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	1	20th May 2006 10:06 AM
Found a great inexpensive acoustic gtr mic...	Mertmo	Low End Theory	2	18th October 2005 05:13 AM
What pre, uses and polar patterns have you found worked best with your U99 mic?	ine-kpro...	High end	3	8th October 2005 01:47 PM