Hi, I'm looking for some suggestions on how to upgrade my microphone list. Currently I have the following:

(8) Shure SM-57's
(1) Shure Beta-52
(3) Sennheiser Evolution 604's
(1) Audio Technica 3033SM
(2) Samson C01 Condensers

I originally got that buttload of SM57's, having "believed the hype" but now realize that if I use them at all, it's in the practice room as vocal mics, and occasionally to close mic guitar cabs when recording live bands at bars.

I could probably stand to hold onto at least two of them, and pitch the rest out as eBay fodder.

I'm reasonably happy with the the EV604's clipped on, to direct mic toms (2 rack, 1 floor) for recording, I use my pair of C01 condensers as overheads (was originally using the 57's, but these condensers really seem to upgrade the stereo imaging of the overall kit). I use the Beta-52 on the kick (occasionally placing it just outside the hole, close miking with a 57, and blending the two for my overall kick sound). I've been using a 57 on the snare, and was looking for something that gets a better, fuller snap.

Have been using the AT4033 as a vocal mic, almost exclusively, but have been considering lately, that it might be my best option (given my list of available mics) for recording guitar and/or bass cabinets. I usually blend the bass track with a direct out from the cabinet.

Recording to a pair of Tascam DA-38's, using a Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro for input, and monitoring with a Mackie 24.4 VLZ Pro. Sure, they're not the best boards on the market, but they were cheap enough that I could afford to have one that could sit permenantly in-house (24.4), and another (the 1604) which is racked up and ready to roll for mobile gigs.

Any suggestions for mics that would help out here? Looking for some suggestions most specifically for snare, guitar cab and bass cab?

Thanks,

Carl

I'd keep a 57 on snare. Maybe add another on the bottom of the snare. If you really want another mic, try any condenser on the bottom. Even something like the Oktava 012 would work. You're really just looking for something to pick up the snare noise. You're probably going to squash the shite out of it anyway and just blend it in. If you really want to get rid of using your 57's on drums, then try a Beyer 201 on your snare. It's a bit more hi fi sounding than the 57. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. As for the guitar cabs....who knows. For loud rock guitars, a 57 really isn't too bad. You could always try something like a Beyer M160 in addition to the 57 and go for that. Or, I hear a lot of guys really like the BLUE Baby Bottle on elec. gtr. A good bass amp mic is an RE20. Or you might try an ATM25, which is really sort of a kick drum mic. It's pretty cheap, probably a good one to have around as it can work on kick, bass amp or floor toms. Heck, it might even make a decent vocal mic for some. Oh yeah, don't forget that the RE20 will definitely make a decent vocal mic. Try it, you might be surprised.
If you really want to upgrade your situation, you can get a Royer 121 for your guitar amps and an AKG 414 for the bottom snare mic. I still think you'd probably be hard pressed to find a better all round bass cab mic than the RE20 though.
later,
m

I will attest to the Baby Bottle on Electric Guitars. Fuckin sweet.

I would suggest getting a few good mic pres. The mackie pres are passable at best. I never got the hype behind the XDRs sounding like a "$7500.00"(at least from the brochure I read) mic pre. That's horseshit. A decent pre or two may be just the ticket.

I happen to love the atm25 on a bass cab, as well as floor toms at times.A great mic for the money. I picked mine up for $100 new. I've yet to opt for it over the Beta 52 on anyone's kick.

Okay, that's definitely some food for thought, as to other microphone options. I've been eyeing up the Royer line for some time, but haven't been able to put any of them in my price range (yet). Maybe once I run a few more sessions to pay off the gear I already have, I'll be in a better situation.

I'd been hearing a ton of hype recently about the Rode NT-1A, and wasn't sure whether that was simply that--HYPE, or whether it's actually a decent mic. A friend of mine used one to record a pretty good demo (acoustic guitar and vocals), but his pre's are better (a nice old board, can't recall the make), and he ends up dropping it to Pro Tools to mix and edit, then runs it back through that nice board, and down to 1/2 inch tape (to a Tascam 8 track reel-to-reel, though I'm not sure of the model). He has a few things in his recording chain that are (in my estimation) superior to mine, so maybe I should focus on the pres first.

I DO have one external mic pre, but it's a total low-end jobber...an ART Tube MP something or other (with the built in settings...). I dunno, at times it DEFINITELY gets better sound than the Mackie pres, but I'd really like to upgrade and get something with, minimally two additional channels.

I'd DEFINITELY like to experiment with some more drum miking techniques. The only prob I'm runinning into now, is that our "live" room is less than ideal. It's probably no more than fourteen by ten, with a ceiling of no more than seven or eight feet in height. I'd considered wrapping acoustical foam (like a collar) around each mic, to try and eliminate some of the ugly room noises, and, additionally, we'll be trying to deaden the room up with some homemmade baffles, extra carpeting, and some more acoustical foam (luckily I live walking distance from a place called "Foam World"--which has pretty good prices).

I'd been looking at mic pre's on eBay, but have mostly found either super low end trash, or nice NEVE pre's that would end up costing me a small fortune. Darned college loans...(grumble, grumble). Oh well, it's Sunday, I'll think more about this stuff tomorrow--for now I'm getting ready to go SNOWBOARDING...awww yeah!

Okay, so now I've sold off three of my 8 SM-57's, and I'm planning on possibly ditching two more. I've picked up an Oktava MK 319 condenser pretty cheap locally, and I've been considering getting an ML-52 (if I can find a good deal on one). I'm planning on picking up a Sennheiser E609 to replinish my "quota" of dynamic mics, so then my mic setup would look like this:

(3) Shure SM-57's
(1) Shure Beta 52
(2) Samson C01's
(1) AT4033sm
(1) Oktava MK 319
(1) Sennheiser E609
(3) Sennheiser E604's
(1) Oktava ML-52

The E609 will not be difficult to get a hold of locally, but the Oktava ML-52 might take some "doing"--but I REALLY want a ribbon mic. I've been keeping an eye out for a good deal on a M-130 or M-160 as well.

The RE20 is a bit out of my price range (at the moment) but is def. on my wish list. I might also start saving my pennies to (eventually) pick up a Royer 121--but that is for some distant future time.

The next order of battle will probably be to get my hands on a GOOD mic pre. Something I can be happy with (something that upgrades me from my current setup, which mostly employs the stock pre's from my Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro for tracking). I've got an ART Tube MP (as an external pre), but that's not really all that much of an upgrade (it's a bit noisy, could use something with more warmth and less hiss!!!).

Any suggestions???

At the risk of sounding like a prick -

I've gotten some good leads on equipment from the equipment list here. My thinking - there's so much info flying around about equipment that you need to be able to trust the source. I'm inclined to trust the source in this case (the equipment list provided by Electrical) as I'm impressed with the results, I don't have any reason to suspect a conflict of interest by the source and the source has provided reasoned explanations for their opinions.

That said, message boards offer less impeachable information, because it's tough to evaluate the opinion on the other side of a post. Does this person know what they're talking about? How do I know that?

If $ is tight, you obviously want to make sure that you're carefully considering the information you get about how you should spend it.

So two things:

1. How are you planning on using these stuff? What type of music are you planning on recording?

2. If you like the results of stuff you hear coming out of this studio, check the equipment list, find out what they have multiple copies of, maybe make a list of the appropriate things, and then go check that with other sources you have reason to trust. For example, they list several Sytek and the Ampex pre's. In my mind, having several means that they're more all purpose than one alone. Maybe go check those out.

Good luck.

= Justin, who appreciates the irony of this post, so you don't have to point it out to him

Justin, w/regards to your reply, I don't think you sounded like a prick at all. Perhaps I wasn't really being clear about what I'm looking to do with my setup, true.

I mostly record rock music, and try to get in acts (since I'm recording from my home and can be selective) that line up with my own musical tastes (indie-rock, indie-pop, garage, lo-fi, stuff along those lines).

Prior to posting on this site (initial request for advice on upgrading), I definitely surfed this forum thorougly, and did a perusal of the EA equipment list. The one thing that HADN'T dawned on me, was to take into account how many copies of each piece of gear they have. That is a good tip--which, in my mind would mean that either the gear is A. versatile, or B. reasonably priced, or more than likely C. some combination of both A and B.

I'll definitely use a combination of this forum, and the equipment list (in addition to doing a bit more research in person, maybe trying to find out what the studios in my area are using--maybe getting a chance to play with them hands-on?), before I make any quick decision on a pre-amp.

Since my last post, I've put another two SM-57's up for auction, having re-thought my minimal amount of mics necessary to do in-house, as well as remote recordings. So, I'm in the process of moving out the old, to move in the "new".

Look for a EV 635a. It's an omni dynamic reporters mic. You can usually find them for under $50 used. They're great on guitar amps and snare. I use mine everywhere I would use a 57. The 635a is more open sounding and not as boxy as a 57.
It's a good mic for the money.
I'm also a big fan of the Beyer M88 for kick and bass and the Sennheiser 421 for the same.

Hey there,
looks like you will have a fairly diverse mic selection...but you mentioned saving up for an R121.

Man, try real hard to save for that thing...it is the most amazing mic I have ever used. Maybe not the best choice for everything depending on the sound you are looking for, but everything sounds good thru one...and lots of things sound great!

It has the creamy-est sound....it imparts a soft naturalness on things that you have to hear to understand....room mic for drums....on snare, kick, some female voices....oh and of course, guitar cabs. It is extremely versatile and utilitarian.

Unfortunately you will need a decent mic pre too...so that puts you out a bit more....but a good starter pack could be a 121 + an RNP....$1600 for a KILLER setup.

Best of luck,
spoon