Next mic - what's the best bet

ad_rock · 27th July 2008, 11:09 PM

Some help please:

My current recording project is a folky-rootsy thing, with a small kit and acoustic guitars forming the majority of the backing tracks.

My main mic is a Shure KSM44 and I've got some 57's and occasional access to a AT4033. So far it's all going well and after a few false starts, I'm starting to understand the space we're recording in - and now trying to exploit it to, hopefully, a good end.

Anyway - I need another mic for the acoustic guitar. I'm currently going for a KSM & 57 combo and this occasionally sounds fantastic, but not for every song - I want a mic to replace the 57 in this set-up, something a bit closer to the KSM sound wise, so I can get a slightly grander, slightly more stereo sound.

So, I thought of a SDC and after some research, I think the Beyer MC930 is the one. By all acounts, it's a very natural sounding mic that I think will compliment the KSM well.

Anyway, why make a quick decision, when I can get some more opinions to complicate matters further???

So here's the question: I'm pretty sure I'll like the MC930, BUT, considering my set up is small, would I be better off buying something like a M160 ribbon for the sake of more versatility further down the line. Put it this way, if you had to record a folk album with three mics, what set-up would you pick and why:

KSM 44
SM57
MC930

or

KSM 44
SM57
M160

(Apgoee duet converters and pre's)

This is my first post on GS - done plenty of lurkin' over the years - best regards to you all.

Adam.

Baderup99 · 28th July 2008, 04:08 AM

i recorded a folk album recently. Used at4033a, rode nt5, and beyerdynamic m260. recorded acoustic, mandolin, vocals, hands drums (sm57 and beta 52 and the condensers i listed)

I really liked those nt5s spaced pair, and the at 4033a as a room.

nas · 31st July 2008, 10:12 PM

Hi ad_rock,

I was actually in a similar situation quite recently regarding the choice of a ribbon mic. for a folk world/ethnic album and was considering a Royer 121 or 122.

After several great posts from some of the members here as well as actually renting the said mics. I found that ribbon mics are great but for optimum results one might consider the following:

1. As some ribbons are figure-8 pattern (I know the M160 is hyper-cardioid) you will get some room and if your acoustics are not the best then your recordings will be affected.

2. These mics have a significant proximity effect and I've found that for the most part they sound best on acoustic instruments from a distance. This again introduces more of the room.

3. One more thing to consider is the non-active ribbons like the 121 or M160 (122 is phantom powered) will also require more gain from you preamp particularly if your micing at a distance and this increase in gain may introduce some noise - depending on the quality of your mic preamp.

4. Ribbon mics may not be the most versatile. They do sound killer on certain instruments but may not be the best choice for others and thus may not give you the best results if said conditions aren't right.

Ultimately I ended up purchasing a matched pair of mc930s for under 1,000 dollars and so far from my limited experience with them I am very happy. They have a very smooth top end and a nice full bottom, good off axis rejection (these are cardioid mics). They are also by several accounts great on a wide variety of sources and really shine for acoustic/ethnic instruments.

FWIW - last year I produced a world / folk album with very limited resources using a Rode NT-1A , and AT4050, and an AKG c-3000 (which i did not really care for). We got quite good results, but if I had those mc930s back then it would have made a world of difference I think!

anyway best of luck.

cheers,
nas

ad_rock · 7th August 2008, 12:41 PM

Interesting - thanks to you both and especially nas - your thought process being very similar to mine: I'm gonna go for an MC930 and take it from there.

Cheers, Adam.

mintytowel · 7th August 2008, 06:00 PM

I really dig my Mojave 200 for acoustics.

DanDan · 7th August 2008, 06:07 PM

Beyer 260 is much more useful than the 160. Fiddle, Mandolin, Uilleann Pipes etc. I have both.
The Shure SM81 is also very underrated I believe.
If you have the cash check MBHO GmbH Mikrofonbau Haun - handmade microphones
The K200 cap is similar or better than the KK84 I reckon.
There is a choice of preamp bodies, traffo or not.
The Lollip mic (can't remember the number) with switchable patterns is also superb, vocals, piano and such. Think U47 with modern electronics.

DD
SoundSound - Homepage

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27th July 2008, 11:09 PM	#1
ad_rock Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London NW10 Posts: 2	Next mic - what's the best bet Some help please: My current recording project is a folky-rootsy thing, with a small kit and acoustic guitars forming the majority of the backing tracks. My main mic is a Shure KSM44 and I've got some 57's and occasional access to a AT4033. So far it's all going well and after a few false starts, I'm starting to understand the space we're recording in - and now trying to exploit it to, hopefully, a good end. Anyway - I need another mic for the acoustic guitar. I'm currently going for a KSM & 57 combo and this occasionally sounds fantastic, but not for every song - I want a mic to replace the 57 in this set-up, something a bit closer to the KSM sound wise, so I can get a slightly grander, slightly more stereo sound. So, I thought of a SDC and after some research, I think the Beyer MC930 is the one. By all acounts, it's a very natural sounding mic that I think will compliment the KSM well. Anyway, why make a quick decision, when I can get some more opinions to complicate matters further??? So here's the question: I'm pretty sure I'll like the MC930, BUT, considering my set up is small, would I be better off buying something like a M160 ribbon for the sake of more versatility further down the line. Put it this way, if you had to record a folk album with three mics, what set-up would you pick and why: KSM 44 SM57 MC930 or KSM 44 SM57 M160 (Apgoee duet converters and pre's) This is my first post on GS - done plenty of lurkin' over the years - best regards to you all. Adam.

28th July 2008, 04:08 AM	#2
Baderup99 Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 500	i recorded a folk album recently. Used at4033a, rode nt5, and beyerdynamic m260. recorded acoustic, mandolin, vocals, hands drums (sm57 and beta 52 and the condensers i listed) I really liked those nt5s spaced pair, and the at 4033a as a room. __________________ $$ "Mo Money, Mo Gear" $$

7th August 2008, 06:07 PM	#6
DanDan Gear maniac Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Cork Ireland Posts: 256	Options Beyer 260 is much more useful than the 160. Fiddle, Mandolin, Uilleann Pipes etc. I have both. The Shure SM81 is also very underrated I believe. If you have the cash check MBHO GmbH Mikrofonbau Haun - handmade microphones The K200 cap is similar or better than the KK84 I reckon. There is a choice of preamp bodies, traffo or not. The Lollip mic (can't remember the number) with switchable patterns is also superb, vocals, piano and such. Think U47 with modern electronics. DD SoundSound - Homepage

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31st July 2008, 10:12 PM	#3
nas Gear nut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 133	Hi ad_rock, I was actually in a similar situation quite recently regarding the choice of a ribbon mic. for a folk world/ethnic album and was considering a Royer 121 or 122. After several great posts from some of the members here as well as actually renting the said mics. I found that ribbon mics are great but for optimum results one might consider the following: 1. As some ribbons are figure-8 pattern (I know the M160 is hyper-cardioid) you will get some room and if your acoustics are not the best then your recordings will be affected. 2. These mics have a significant proximity effect and I've found that for the most part they sound best on acoustic instruments from a distance. This again introduces more of the room. 3. One more thing to consider is the non-active ribbons like the 121 or M160 (122 is phantom powered) will also require more gain from you preamp particularly if your micing at a distance and this increase in gain may introduce some noise - depending on the quality of your mic preamp. 4. Ribbon mics may not be the most versatile. They do sound killer on certain instruments but may not be the best choice for others and thus may not give you the best results if said conditions aren't right. Ultimately I ended up purchasing a matched pair of mc930s for under 1,000 dollars and so far from my limited experience with them I am very happy. They have a very smooth top end and a nice full bottom, good off axis rejection (these are cardioid mics). They are also by several accounts great on a wide variety of sources and really shine for acoustic/ethnic instruments. FWIW - last year I produced a world / folk album with very limited resources using a Rode NT-1A , and AT4050, and an AKG c-3000 (which i did not really care for). We got quite good results, but if I had those mc930s back then it would have made a world of difference I think! anyway best of luck. cheers, nas

7th August 2008, 12:41 PM	#4
ad_rock Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London NW10 Posts: 2	Interesting - thanks to you both and especially nas - your thought process being very similar to mine: I'm gonna go for an MC930 and take it from there. Cheers, Adam.

7th August 2008, 06:00 PM	#5
mintytowel Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 37	I really dig my Mojave 200 for acoustics.