best bass mic...

bassninja7 · #1 01-09-2009, 12:50 AM

im looking for a GREAT bass mic to record my all-tube amp.

any suggestions?

The BurgerMeister · #2 01-09-2009, 12:55 AM

Electrovoice RE20, Heil Sound PR40, or AKG D112 are three very popular and amazing mics for bass cabs (close micing). run one of those through a great pre (UA LA610, Chandler LTD-1) and a little compression (UA 1176) and you've got a great tone.

sonic assassin · #3 01-09-2009, 01:03 AM

my favorite is a sennheiser md421

bassninja7 · #4 01-09-2009, 09:09 AM

i was leaning towards the AKG.

can anyone compare the akg to something else and post soundclips?

debassr · #5 01-09-2009, 09:11 AM

I like the Audix i5 even though it's cheap.

whoatherechunk · #6 01-09-2009, 04:29 PM

shure sm57's are always great

dafunkewun · #7 01-09-2009, 04:38 PM

SM57'S have never failed me

sonic assassin · #8 01-09-2009, 05:32 PM

groovking · #9 01-09-2009, 07:31 PM

57 for bass?

whoatherechunk · #10 01-09-2009, 07:57 PM

what?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

yea man. i used to think eh....just for snares and guitar amps.....not true. try it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by groovking

57 for bass?

mutedeity · #11 01-09-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoatherechunk

what?

yea man. i used to think eh....just for snares and guitar amps.....not true. try it out.

I would mic' a horn with a beta 57. I wouldn't be going for a full sound with just a 57 on its own. They just don't have the frequency response. Unless that is you want a very toppy, mid scooped 200Hz shelf sound for your bass.

Sorry, 150Hz Shelf, I just looked up actual the specs rather than go from my "ear's" memory.

timzrage · #12 01-09-2009, 10:05 PM

Always dug the D112.

scotch · #13 01-09-2009, 10:09 PM

I'm a big fan of the RE-20,.. It's a pretty "honest" sounding mic on bass cabinets!

Ampeg SVT · #14 01-09-2009, 10:14 PM

The D112 is a bit scooped, but I like it with a DI blended.

The RE-20 is nice mic as well, it sounds pretty flat.

groovking · #15 01-09-2009, 11:41 PM

I think wheras i'm in the studio i'm better off sticking with my trusty sabdi. It allows me to process a range of frequencies not capable of bass cabs. My recordings have gotten alot better as Ive gotten the crew to all wear headphones. At first nobody wanted to wear them. now they wont take them off.
I run the 24 track computer based daw upstais in my home (cubase sx3) and watch the guys down the cellar by webcams on a separate machine. The isolation for me is great as there is such a separation between us.
i do everything in the box. the headphone mixes re unequalled as far as sound and flexibility, i can support 7 headphones ( all mdr7506's) at once with elaborate individual mixes. Cant beat the quality and flexibility of digital and the small footprint!
What i find is really funny if i sneak downstais and watch a heated work in progress it looks like four retarded guys getting into it because you dont hear much of anything,............but you hear some very deadened vocal and drums.I always laugh.
In a live situation an sm57 might give the mids and highs a slapper might want. the mikes frequency response doesnt favor the low end but,,,,,. I could see how it would compliment a live setup. for mids and highs thru the pa but running the amp mostly.
The studio is funny as there are many freaky things you can do from the line 6 stuff to tonelabs etc to isolated guitar cabs, but i usually go with an interface, like the saabdi or that new pod xt live thing for the lead, thus hes basically noiseless, bass on the saabdi, with headphones also, drummer miked with 14 mikes and headphones, singer in a smaller sound absorbing walk in cove.
I get great isolation. The biggest issue is keeping the vocals clean of too much if any drums. I like to do live recordings as the vibe is there, the electricity is there. Steppin is fine for some creative projects or some really critical stuuff. In my case it may be the overdub of a clean vocal track the next day over a live recording if necessary.
got a bit carried away here mates sorry, maybe one good thing...........

greenboy · #16 01-10-2009, 01:51 AM

Shure SM57 are usually what guys recommend for lots of different things, having never heard any good mics for various uses. Actually what Shure SM57 mics are, is a good cheap beater that doesn't suck at most things, not such a bad thing to be really, and you can afford to let people who don't have much of a clue bang on them.

jokerjkny · #17 01-10-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampeg SVT

The D112 is a bit scooped, but I like it with a DI blended.

The RE-20 is nice mic as well, it sounds pretty flat.

if you're a drummer, or record more drums, along w/ bass, the D112 isnt a bad option.

if you're a guitarist w/ a few resonators, and do some podcasting on the side, the RE-20 is nice.

i personally use an sm57. blended w/ a DI, its quite awesome. love how the sm57 picks up that upper end chew.

VisualShock · #18 01-10-2009, 06:08 AM

typically IME i've used SM57 on vocals (it's got a good upper mid response) and an Audix i5 on top and bottom snare skin. the AKG D112 is always a favourite of mine for close micing a bass cone, ever so slightly off centre. couple that with possibly a post EQ DI and you'll have two great tones to blend together

Ampeg SVT · #19 01-10-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

if you're a drummer, or record more drums, along w/ bass, the D112 isnt a bad option.

if you're a guitarist w/ a few resonators, and do some podcasting on the side, the RE-20 is nice.

i personally use an sm57. blended w/ a DI, its quite awesome. love how the sm57 picks up that upper end chew.

I should try that, I used a D112 once and it made a great kick mic.
I saw that some people liked them on here and tried it out.

I might try the 57, what kind of pre for the mic are you using (assuming you are using one)?

jokerjkny · #20 01-10-2009, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampeg SVT

I should try that, I used a D112 once and it made a great kick mic.
I saw that some people liked them on here and tried it out.

I might try the 57, what kind of pre for the mic are you using (assuming you are using one)?

hmm...

honestly, whatever pre, but the ol' dbx 376 is still the best.

but its no secret the D112 is good for bass drums, cause its made for the kick! the thing is, its a very voiced mic, and thusly, if you're recording both the kick and tracking later the bass cab w/ the same mic, i can imagine it being a PITA trying to keep both instruments from stepping all over one another. as long as the mics are dissimilar, i guess it'd be easier to deal with in mixdown.

thusly, i like the SM57 mixed w/ a DI.