• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best Mic for recording bass?

#41
debassr said:
I really like the Audix i5. Great build quality, very reliable, sounds great, and at $99 it doesn't break the bank...
Click to expand...

I was actually planning on getting an i5 for when I start miking my cab for recordings. I'm going to submit a best offer to someone on eBay and see what price I can get. I'm definitely excited to see how it works, if I end up getting one. There are a lot of people that really seem to like it.
 
#42
I did a large (lots of lines/mics) session a few days ago with an AKG C214 on the bass cab, as i was running out of reasonable candidates by that stage. Not expecting anything too pleasant to happen, i was happy to find that when I brought the DI and cab signals into faze the sound was very useable and after some compression and eq at mixdown time, it rocked..
Almost any mic'll work so long as you listen at every stage.
 
#43
Depends on a number of situations... upright would be a great condenser mic.... I did a record about 5 years ago where I had a Neumann U87 on my bass for the whole record... amazing.... for electric... I've had anywhere from a Sure SM58/57 to an Apex 415 in front of the cab(s)...

A great engineer will always know what to do in a certain situation... most go direct! Unless there is a need for a real amp sound - most engineers (if the bass is happening) hand me a patch cord!
 
#45
puppeteering said:
Don't be afraid to use a condenser mic on a bass cabinet. Ultimately, the full frequency response lends itself nicely to bass. Just make sure to back it off a few inches- like 12 or so!

Now if we were to get picky (and pricey), a tube mic can do wonders for bass. There are some decent ones out there that don't break the wallet completely (relative, I guess), but the good thing is, after purchasing one, you'll have it for use on everything, and trust me, if you're using a digital recorder/DAW/PC-based system, you WILL want to use it on a lot.

By far my tried and true favorite method to record bass is with one channel direct from my preamp (Aguilar DB680- gotta love it!), and one from a few inches out in front of the cabinet. Each speaker can sound very different, so spend some time with your ear in front of each speaker. Sounds silly (and dangerous), but you can learn a lot about how your cab reproduces frequency by truly listening to it up close and not from far back (within the context of a room). A Very good point made above about the phase cancellation, by the way.

An AKG c3000 (large diapphragm condenser) is my fav mic for general purpose recording where a high frequency response/large dynamic range is desired.

Hope some of this helped.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about this lately and my brother recently picked up an Aventone CV-12. I'm looking forward to trying it out in this application.
 
#49
And I said:
Depends a lot on the bass, the amp, and what sound you are going for. Good choices on a reasonable budget in my book are Shure SM-7, AKG D-112, Shure Beta 52, Audix D6, AT 2035...
Click to expand...

Sm7 is OK

D112, Beta 52, and D6- not so much. Very hyped baked in EQ sound due to their design as a bass DRUM mic. Suck out a lot of the mids. Sometimes that can be good, but most time snot so much.

Inexpensive is a highly variable term,

Under $100- AKG P2 gets love around here
Under $200- I really like the Audix D4 (Own it)
Under $300- Here is where condensers start to appear. I have an ADK Odin that sounds very nice, and have heard good things about the Advanced Audio U47 clone.
 
#50
Ender_rpm said:
Sm7 is OK

D112, Beta 52, and D6- not so much. Very hyped baked in EQ sound due to their design as a bass DRUM mic. Suck out a lot of the mids. Sometimes that can be good, but most time snot so much.
Click to expand...

Hi enter_rpm (and all...)

I recently brought the AKG C214. For home-recording he will do a good job recording bass?

[im using Gallien krueger MB Fusion 800 and 2x410RBH Cabinets]

Thanks
 
#53
Renato Pires said:
Hi guys,

The AKG C214 will be good to record bass?

[im using Gallien krueger MB Fusion 800 and 2x410RBH Cabinets]

Thanks,
Click to expand...
I think it would be fine to record. Nice relatively flat response, good frequency range. You can use it for a lot of other things, too. Don't particularly like to use condensers for live work, though, as they can be a little sensitive.
 
#54
JimmyM said:
I think it would be fine to record. Nice relatively flat response, good frequency range. You can use it for a lot of other things, too. Don't particularly like to use condensers for live work, though, as they can be a little sensitive.
Click to expand...

This. Also watch your proximity effect. If it sounds ok in the room, but too bassy on the recording, move the mic away from the speaker.
 
#56
Renato Pires said:
Thank you so much guys.

Im trying to do 2 in 1: get some dynimic mic to record and use in live situations.

For example, AKG D112 or Shure Beta 52A do this "2 in 1" with good results?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I'd avoid either of those microphones, as they have a built in EQ curve suited to bass drum, with boosted bass and highs. There are a number of other mics in that price range that don't have that issue. I use an Audix D4, which is the fore runner to the D6 (a well known bass drum mic). It sounds good, is easy to position being quite small, and most sound guys are familiar with Audix, so I have not had any issues on the rare gigs where I needed to use it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AGCurry
#57
I like my SM57, but I want to try a Beta57 for its' upper end presence. My low-end doesn't seem to suffer on my Ric(4 strings, and the mic is ON the grille), but I do find myself cutting out some lower mids on my amp(and consequently boosting bass a little to make up for it) to get the clarity I want.

But I like post-punk tones played with a pick. Probably wouldn't recommend that mic for fusion/jazz/funk.
 
#58
In order of preference for recording my acoustic or electric bass:

A-Designs REDDI direct injection:
4708.jpg


ElectroVoice RE-20
Electrovoice%20RE-20.jpg


Sennheiser MD421 Type 2
MD421II_hires.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: AGCurry

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back