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Best Mic For Bass Cabs?

F

flamedmaple86

Feb 26, 2012
2
0
#1
Hey all,

Wondering if anybody out there uses a mic for their cabs, rather than running a DI? I've been thinking about going this route, but I've never used any mics on my cab, and I'm not sure what the best is. So far, I've looked into the Audix D4 and the Sennheiser e902. There's also the Shure 52a, but does anybody out there actually have experience using any of these mics, or any others that they would recommend?
 
#3
The "best" mics that most TBers agree on are the EV RE20, Heil PR40, MD421, and SM57. A few use Shure SM7B's too.

Some use kick drum mics (52, D112, etc) but they are generally very mid scooped so not everyone likes the sound they get.

I use a PR40 and have zero complaints. I'd gladly use an RE20, but they are more money.
 
#4
As with most all things, "best" is party objective and partly subjective. Within the small group of microphones that offer superior specs and superior general performance, there are nevertheless differences and distinctions that give each mike its unique character. You have to choose based on the particular set of characteristics that is most important to you. :hmm:

MM
 
#5
I have been a live sound engineer for 20 years now been with bands like The judds , Guns n Roses, Motly Crue..
I use the Shure Beta 52A this mic is designed for bass has a range from 10HZ to 20Hz which this mic can be used for the kick drum also its a great mic and will make your bass well known in your mix ..
 
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#6
Sub kicks are cool if you have someone who'll let you mix a few mics on bass. Blending it in with a DI or even another room or a direct mic, such as the Shure, the MD421, or whatever. It really gives you the punch when you lock in with drums. I'm sure some would argue that it gets in the way of said kick's frequencies, but if the 52a is going all the way down to 10Hz, it could get in the way of that too, depending on the kick.
 
#7
well you have a knob on your sound mixer call the lows or bass you can control how much bass you want on the kick and you can lower the 10hz on the EQ drums are the hardest to mix off all instruments unless you do it day in and day out like most engineers do I have mixed lots of drums kits some do different a bit if you want that punch got to use the right mic I had a amuter band ask me my kick drum is very muffed I ask what kinda mic you useing he said Shure sm58 I laugh I said no way that going to work just cant put any mic in a kick drum the sm58 is a vocal mic not a bass mic lol just too funny
 
#8
vasoundman said:
well you have a knob on your sound mixer call the lows or bass you can control how much bass you want on the kick and you can lower the 10hz on the EQ drums are the hardest to mix off all instruments unless you do it day in and day out like most engineers do I have mixed lots of drums kits some do different a bit if you want that punch got to use the right mic I had a amuter band ask me my kick drum is very muffed I ask what kinda mic you useing he said Shure sm58 I laugh I said no way that going to work just cant put any mic in a kick drum the sm58 is a vocal mic not a bass mic lol just too funny
Click to expand...
There's that pesky 10Hz again. Great explanation! And all in one sentence! Nice work! :D
 
#13
vasoundman said:
I have been a live sound engineer for 20 years now been with bands like The judds , Guns n Roses, Motly Crue..
I use the Shure Beta 52A this mic is designed for bass has a range from 10HZ to 20Hz which this mic can be used for the kick drum also its a great mic and will make your bass well known in your mix ..
Click to expand...

vasoundman said:
well you have a knob on your sound mixer call the lows or bass you can control how much bass you want on the kick and you can lower the 10hz on the EQ drums are the hardest to mix off all instruments unless you do it day in and day out like most engineers do I have mixed lots of drums kits some do different a bit if you want that punch got to use the right mic I had a amuter band ask me my kick drum is very muffed I ask what kinda mic you useing he said Shure sm58 I laugh I said no way that going to work just cant put any mic in a kick drum the sm58 is a vocal mic not a bass mic lol just too funny
Click to expand...

vasoundman said:
why would shure make a mic goes down to 10hz if you cant hear it lol funny man you are
Click to expand...

vasoundman said:
okay dont belive me go to sweetwater.com look up shure beta 52A says 20hz to 10hz not lower then human hearing that like 5 hz got to lovethose amatur bandsdont know what thir saying
Click to expand...

Least interesting gimmick account ever.
 
#16
I never mic unless I also have a DI line, which I prefer be depended upon for the low end. That being said, I like my EV N/D468 best, which is very much like an MD421 except it's hypercardioid. The 468 has good bass extension if needed, but frankly I wouldn't be upset if someone threw an SM57 on it, as long as the DI does the low-end heavy lifting.

I think mic-only is stupid because bass amps bleed offstage so much you have to add more of what's missing without adding more of what's already there. Pretty dumb to use what's already there as your source for adding what isn't there when you have the option of a DI that can't feed back. When I get a sound tech who likes mic-only and doesn't want to even plug in a DI I tell them I'm going to pin my amp after soundcheck if they don't plug in and use the DI. My preamp's master volume is post-DI so I can check by killing the volume and listening for bass in the PA. I don't ask for much, but a DI is non-negotiable.
 

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