Conga's & bongo's through PA

[DblG]

Does anyone here have any experience with mic-ing these? Do you need to use gates to get a good sound? How do you go about mic-ing these? Any advice would help!

We currently use SM57's ~1-2" away, but I can't get them to sound "crisp" and clean. It sounds "OK", but they ring alot.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by DblG

Does anyone here have any experience with mic-ing these? Do you need to use gates to get a good sound? How do you go about mic-ing these? Any advice would help!

We currently use SM57's ~1-2" away, but I can't get them to sound "crisp" and clean. It sounds "OK", but they ring alot.

I use Rode mics (NT3, NT4 and/or NT5) as overheads for my drummer's kit. They are as crisp as a Ritz fresh out of the box. My drummer can't get over how clean they sound.

[gkbass13]

not sure about mic brands, btu definitely make sure to mic the tops and bottoms of congas. we have a drummer and a percussion player in our band and spend tons of time tryign to toola roudn with micing them to get everythgin good in the mix...it can be a hassle.

[DblG]

Rode mics (NT4)...wow, $479. I don't think that is an option! I guess a better question would be how to make the percussion (and drums too) sound better w/ what we have now. We're using a Mackie VLZ1604 with an 8 piece band, so micing both the top and bottom may not be an option either. Our drummer currently mic's his kick, snare and toms into his 4 channel Mackie and sends to one channel (that sound needs work too). I am trying to get the percussionist to mix his 3 mics into his 4 channel Behringer to free up 2 more channels. I was wondering if gates would help, or are actually a necessity, to get a good sound with percussion (and drums too). Thanks for the replies guys.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

MD421 is something worth trying, but the construction and specially the head material on the drums plays a big role in the possible success .
IME a cheap percussion drum with a plastic "skin" sounds bad no matter what one tries if the mic is closer than 5 cm (2"). The farther You move the mic the better the result exept for bleed , so generally it's a loss in a live situation.

I've found that the cheapo multichannel compressors (Behringer MDX4600 for example) are worth their weight in gold in live situations. They do sound like crap compared with hi-end comps in a studio environment, but with a budget PA, IMO/IME a must. (We have two of those I mentioned)

Just my 0.02€
Sam

[ElectrAcoustic]

IME, SM57.. always works great for percussion in every live setting.. from a salsa band to ultra-loud funk/rock... kick the hi's up a tad, roll off the low end, ride the mids til it sounds juicy...

[Dave Martin]

Don't use a gate, don't use compression. Just put a decent dynamic mic 5 or 6 inches from the top of the heads (or, if you're short on channels or mics, one mic between the two congas) and go for it.
I seldom (read 'never') see bottom mics on congas, either live or in the studio.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about bleed - it's gonna happen. Just get enough of the congas in the house mix so that folks can hear them. If the percussionist can't hear himself on stage, either the band is too loud or he ain't playin' hard enough.

Also, congas ring from time to time - that's part of the sound. if y'all don't like it, it goes back to the conga player, I'm afraid. This is one of those situations where the quality of the musician is more important than the mics...

[ElectrAcoustic]

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

Don't use a gate, don't use compression. Just put a decent dynamic mic 5 or 6 inches from the top of the heads (or, if you're short on channels or mics, one mic between the two congas) and go for it.
I seldom (read 'never') see bottom mics on congas, either live or in the studio.

+1.. great advice.. that's exactly how it's done...

[jomahu]

our band leader is the percussionist, and i've seen a lot of different mic'ing variables for different gigs.
most times, it's 2 57's - one between the congas, one between the bongos.

personally, my favourite is when they put an overhead...well, overhead and a large-diaphragm condenser in between congas and bongos.

[ElectrAcoustic]

Originally Posted by jomahu

our band leader is the percussionist, and i've seen a lot of different mic'ing variables for different gigs.
most times, it's 2 57's - one between the congas, one between the bongos.

personally, my favourite is when they put an overhead...well, overhead and a large-diaphragm condenser in between congas and bongos.

You Zili women are amazing by the way.. would love to share a bill with you sometime.. maybe at the Milky way.. course I'm going to try and steal your trumpet player just for a set...

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by DblG

Rode mics (NT4)...wow, $479. I don't think that is an option!

You've got to find them used. I found one in new condition for $200. As someone above said, the Shure SM-57 will probably give the best bang for the buck. Or step up to the Beta 57A, which I use for instrument miking, and they are superb.

[jomahu]

Originally Posted by ElectrAcoustic

You Zili women are amazing by the way.. would love to share a bill with you sometime.. maybe at the Milky way.. course I'm going to try and steal your trumpet player just for a set...

hook it up, man!

[ElectrAcoustic]

Cool.. Los Sugar Kings is about to finish recording our disc in the next few weeks so we'll be doing some big CD release shows in late fall/early winter. I'd love to have the Zili experience on for for one of the big parties in JP or Cambridge..