Best mic for recording low tuned bass

[RTO]

My band, which plays some low tuned metal, is starting to set up a home studio to record our demo. the guitarists are using SM57's, but I don't think those will sound too good with a low B. I read AKG d112 or something along those lines works wonders, but I can't afford that now. Best bass mic for ~150 is....?

[Gearhead17]

Most of the metal recordings are done with two channels - one mic on the rig to capture the attack and distortion while a direct feed off the bass for the low end. I suggest the Audix D4 and put it right on the speaker. It will capture all the way down to 40hz and has no proximity effect - great reduction of outside sound too. Low tuned bass is low in theory, but what cab are you using? Is it really going below 50hz? You really don't need a heavy amount of low end below 80hz - it's just going to muddy up the recording. Be sure to talk to your recording engineer to use a mic and DI channel and go from there. You can blend both channels in the end and get exactly what you need.

The AKG D112 is made to reproduce the low end all the way down to 30hz (boosts everything between 30hz to 200hz), cuts out the mids (400-900hz), then focuses on the briliance of the tone in the 1khz to 8khz region. This mic can give you the tone you want, but it is going to be very colored in the end. If you want to add in some midrange to the tone, you will have to do it on the DI channel. The tone you produce with this mic will end up being extremely difficult to mix in the end.

Or you could just go 100% digital with Guitar Rig 3 or something. Get as many channels of sound as you want and you can hear the results immediately.

[korybaugus]

The EV RE-20 is purty good for that application.

[Gearhead17]

The Audix D4 is a great tool - it captures the sound you hear from the speakers really well. I was suprised it was able to capture my guitarists rigs and my bass rig extremely well. Boosts the top end - just to add clarity to the overall notes.

Sorry I was not clearer earlier.

[waleross]

I use the Shure beta 52A kick drum mic.

[colcifer]

I'd avoid using bass drum mics. They are typically very scooped which makes you have to compensate with your amp's eq or mixer's eq, a difficult task. I'm not sure what's right to use, but it's not that.

[bassophil]

try they sm57

[nonrappingJZ]

+1 on not using kick drum mics. i used to use a beta 52 +DI, which is cool if you're not seeking to cut through, but the RE20 or a shure sm7 is a much better choice if i want to be heard, and I don't bother much with the DI signal anymore (both of 'em are basically flat), which means that phase-alignment isn't an issue anymore.

[MixBass]

Beyerdynamic MT88 is good for low freaks.