Author Topic: Microphones  (Read 12667 times)

RoadRanger

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Microphones
« on: March 24, 2013, 08:43:01 PM »
What do yous guys use for mics? I have four EV N/D767A's and three EV PL80A's for vocals. I also have eight EV PL series tom/instrument mics and two of their kick mics. I also have a seven piece Nady dum mic set I had before getting the EV mics with four tom/snare mics, a kick mic, and two small diaphragm condenser mics - plus another three piece set that I usually use on the amps - the kick mic on the bass cab if mic'd and the two tom mics on the guitar cabs. Oh, and four Nady SP1 mics w/switches I basically got for free with some mic stand packages - I use them for talkback and announcements. Plus one rarely used SM58 x(.

For wireless I have a Line 6 XD-V70 mic, plus a Nady VHF mic w/dual diversity receiver, and a couple Gemini mics I've never used. I also have a couple Nady guitar transmitters and four Galaxy AS900 IEM systems. Unfortunately all my Nady wireless is on the same channel so I can only use one at a time :facepalm: .
« Last Edit: March 27, 2013, 02:37:31 AM by RoadRanger »

jlb

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2013, 09:51:13 PM »
Drums:

Miktek PM11, e 602, ATM 25 kick drum depends on drum tuning and music. The Miktek makes it possible to get even the shittiest drums to sound decent.

D2 toms
57 snare
AKG 430 overheads

Instrument mics:

E 609
57's

Vocals:

58's
E 935's

WK154

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2013, 06:37:06 AM »
The infamous loaded question. My environment is stage and studio, yours I gather is Bar and Nightclub gigs. I have over 80 mics (don't ask!). I would venture that your better off with dynamics all around. My wife is the ear in the family and it aggravates me when she picks a Joe Meek $30 SD over my Neumann KMS 105's on A/B tests. The moral of the story is that it's a opinionated personal choice. I always wanted to try a EV767a but I'll resist. On dynamics my go to's are OM2, AKG 880 (old version), and my new acquisition Bob Heil's Pr35. Wireless it's Sennheiser 835's  and GTD 787.  Sure I have Shure's.
When in doubt KISS

CyberHippy

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2013, 04:33:44 PM »
I've become a big fan of Heil mics lately, I have a PR40 at my desk now for Skyping with customers and doing lesson videos at my day job.

My live collection:

4 Heil PR22's
1 Heil PR20
1 Heil PR35
1 Blue Encore 100
1 Blue Encore 300
2 Beyer M88's
1 Telefunken M80
2 Sure SM57's
2 Sennheiser e609, 1e906, 3 e604
1 AKG D112
2 AKG C1000
2 Audio Technica 4041

I also have that el-cheapo CAD "Pro-7" drum mic set that is surprisingly useful in a pinch, only used it once so far.

RoadRanger

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2013, 04:46:12 PM »
I also have that el-cheapo CAD "Pro-7" drum mic set that is surprisingly useful in a pinch, only used it once so far.
That was a "Stupid Deal of the Day" at Musician's Friend a couple days ago for $100. I bought my two 5 piece sets of EV PL series drum mics for $100 each on a "Stupid Deal of the Day" last year and the three PL80a's for $150 from them on a "buy one get two free" deal 8) . Two of my N/D 767a's were new but the other two I bought slightly used for $50 each from a local that switched to all OM5's .
« Last Edit: March 27, 2013, 02:38:31 AM by RoadRanger »

dpdan

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2013, 09:23:10 PM »
live vocals: AKG C535EB,... studio vocals: AKG C414 or Schoeps CMXY-4V
guitar amps live, Sennheiser E906,... studio: Sennheiser E906, Shure SM7, AKG C414
brass instruments live: Audio Technica clip on ATM350,... studio: Oktava MC012, AKG C414, AKG C535EB, AKG C451E
Kick: Shure Beta 52A... I've tried just about everything AKG D12E, AKG D112, Beyer M88, EV RE20, Shure 57/58, Audix D6, Sennhesier E602, I know why so many people use the 52A because it requires significantly less radical EQ and quite frankly just sounds nice.   
Snare: Beyer Opus 87
Hat: AKG C460B w/ CK1 capsule, Oktava MC012 or Opus 87
Toms: Beyer Opus 87
Overheads live or studio: Oktava MC012, AKG C414, AKG C535

Schoeps CMXY-4V stereo mic: string quartet, barbershop quartet, symphony orchestra, etc.
Wireless systems used are Sennheiser EW165

Naturally, being completely familiar with the "difference" between all the mics we have access to, and knowing which one is going to give us the best sound... that experience takes the guess work out of running live sound or recording in the studio.   
     
« Last Edit: March 27, 2013, 05:53:38 AM by dpdan »

sam.spoons

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2013, 10:35:12 PM »
Vox :-
SE H-1 condenser (SE-2A with a pop shield, lovely),
SM58,
Beyer TG-X40,
Peavey PVM-22,
AGG C5600 (pretty good until it recently died)
AKG D3900 (ok but not great, now also dead)
Sennheiser EW165 wireless (E100 G2 receiver, nice)
SE 2200A for studio vox.

Instruments :-
AKG C451/CK1's (2 off crisp and bright)
AKG SE5's (2 off, cheap successor to the C451)
Calrec CC50 (beautifully smooth and detailed, my fave on acoustic guitars)
MXL Cube (2 off, great on kick and guitar amps)
AT Pro25 (cheap, not bad on drums or guitar cabs).
Karma Silver Bullets (x2 not sure about these yet)
Drummik dynamic drum mics (x4 amazing mounted inside double headed toms)
« Last Edit: March 27, 2013, 08:26:45 AM by sam.spoons »

RoadRanger

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2013, 02:40:36 AM »
I added the list of wireless I own to the first post in this thread :) .

LeeSteel

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2013, 03:12:39 PM »
I have relied on Shure SM57s exclusively for years. I love them for every application. I have a few Sennheiser guitar mics (e906) and a Shure kick drum mic (beta 52a)

BUT!

Now is when I am gonna get slammed. Sorry guys.

A few weeks back Musician's Friend had a stoopid daily deal for a 4-channel VocoPro wireless setup....
So I bought one.
I am a fan of wireless vocal mics because a slight amount of compression is used in transmitting the signal.
It is a sweet compression that I have not reproduced with any hardware or plugin compressor.

I used the VocoPro mics (in place of my usual 57s)  last weekend with my DL for the first time live and they sounded fantastic.
Go ahead, pummel me now.....
Plug up one ear and make it mono!

sam.spoons

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2013, 03:32:31 PM »
Compression which is unavoidably pre-aux  >:D

RoadRanger

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2013, 03:41:27 PM »
Most wireless mics have a bit of soft limiting going on - which is what I do with the DL1608. On vocals I'm presently using:
Soft Knee
-14.0 dB
4.0:1
5.0 ms
160 ms
0 dB

I set the trim so I get a bit of gain reduction only when you "hit" the mic hard. If you want a bit more change the threshold to -17.0 dB (which I've tried and might switch back to) or even lower.
« Last Edit: March 27, 2013, 03:51:43 PM by RoadRanger »

Trshot

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #11 on: March 27, 2013, 09:26:37 PM »
Shure SM 58 and BETA 58A's for vocals....

Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 on cabs

Audix D6 kick, i5 snare, Shure 98DS toms....

Robert

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #12 on: March 28, 2013, 12:31:46 AM »
Vocals, Flute,  Audix OM5, OM2 (2)
Backing vocals, Shure SM57 (2)
Penny Whistle, Shure PG81 (2)
Bodhran, Heil PR40
Akg Perception 420 (2)
Akg C1000
Rode NT1A

LeeSteel

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #13 on: March 28, 2013, 03:16:59 PM »
Most singers don't understand to treat the microphone as an instrument. I prefer the 57 over the 58 for vocals because it is not picking up all of the other noise around the stage. If a vocalist knows what they are doing, this mic is nothing less than a stick of dynamite. A 58 is great for inexperienced vocalists because it will capture the singing from a broader axis.
Plug up one ear and make it mono!

RoadRanger

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Re: Microphones
« Reply #14 on: March 28, 2013, 03:19:43 PM »
I prefer the 57 over the 58 for vocals because it is not picking up all of the other noise around the stage. If a vocalist knows what they are doing, this mic is nothing less than a stick of dynamite. A 58 is great for inexperienced vocalists because it will capture the singing from a broader axis.
Yes, somewhat similar to an OM7 you have to be right on it. Have you tried the Beta 57?