Mic for Live, Sending to FOH.

[Wasnex]

Try whatever spare mics are readily available.

For the most part, avoid mics made specifically for bass drum as they usually have a very strong baked in EQ curve.

If you want to keep the price reasonable and buy new, consider Audix D4 or AKG P2.

If you are flush with cash, consider mics like the EV RE20, Sennheiser MD421, or BeyerDynamic M88 TG. Before choosing one of these, consider the type of tone you want.

 

[davelowell2]

IMO this is the best demo of mics on a bass cab that I've seen:


I had a clear preference from the mics demo'ed, and I was able to purchase that mic, new, for $110.

What did you pick?

 

[Wasnex]

View attachment 5481813
Senn e 609
These are real popular with guitarist anybody ever try one on a bass cab in conjunction with a DI?

I believe they are a bit thin on bass...but some use them. Some use them to mic upright bass as well.

 

[FugaziBomb]

I'm using an old GK 400RB, and the only Direct Out is 1/4" phone jack, and there's no option for post EQ. So I'm looking to mic my cab and send that to foh instead.
Doesn't need to be boutique or high-end, U just want good, accurate signal. I want to hear in the mains what I'm hearing in my amp.
Thanks for your time.

I'd really try to think of creative ways to send signal to the board before finally settling on a mic. The rb line from GK was pretty transparent in terms of baked in EQ. You can probably find an EQ/preamp pedal or even rack unit (if you've got that drip) that will let you dial in a similar sound for as cheap - maybe even cheaper - than a good enough mic to do your speaker cab justice. Just set the GK flat and send the EQ/preamp into the front of it and you can create your own pre-eq.

You could also find an EQ with an XLR out. You can do the same signal chain - with the GK flat - and run the 1/4 into your amp and the XLR to the board. You're essentially turning your GK into a power amp and running a pre into it. That way the board is seeing the same signal your flat GK is and the difference between stage and FOH tone is negligible.

Edit: You could Even skip the GK preamp altogether and run an outboard preamp into the the FX loop return. Than you literally ARE turning your GK into a power amp and running a pre into it. It also gives you an excuse to let a rack set up ruin your life.

I get that it's not exactly what you're looking for, but it's probably a better solution than mic'ing your cab in the long run. Another plus is that if/when you move onto another amp, you can keep the preamp/EQ in service.

 

[EvilJ]

EV RE-20

This 100%, and it is a super versatile mic that can be used on many other instruments.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I would try a DI, post pedals, pre amplifier, and mix it with a mic.

 

[gregmon79]

Maybe try one of these guys between your amp and cab....

 

[Snake101st]

Used to use an RE20 way back and dug it, but sold it when I needed $ at one point

Lately I've been using a United FET 47 that I got a sweet deal on - great mic!

United Studio Technologies UT FET 47

 

[newfuture]

If either the fx send or direct out from the GK gives you the point in the amp's signal flow you want, I'd try a DI there. Maybe something with a pad. Not sure how hot that signal might be.

If you go with a mic, re20 isn't a bad choice. I really like a beyer m88 for this a lot. It's also a solid vocal and kick mic.

 

[groovaholic]

What did you pick?

I really liked the Audio Technica Pro25AX, and the Audix D4 - but I wasn’t able to find a good price on the Audix.

The Pro25AX is also great on floor tom and as a neutral kick mic.

I also have a Peavey 520N that was their version of the RE20 - also great on bass cabs.

 

[crazyBassClown]

I want to hear in the mains what I'm hearing in my amp.

What you are hearing at your ears and what is an inch from the centre of the speaker will be quite different. If you want what you are hearing then the mic will need to be impractically far away from the speaker.

My goal is to capture the sound of the amps I hear through the vintage speakers in a recording.

I have a pair of rode M5 mics and they are very transparent with a flat frequency response. This mic gives you a recording that sounds just like being there. Only downside is it requires phantom power. You may find that capturing the exact sound isn;t actually what you want though.

View attachment 5481813
Senn e 609
These are real popular with guitarist anybody ever try one on a bass cab in conjunction with a DI?

The photos an e906, I have both it and a e609. The 609 is speced for better bass response from memory and I had to use it as a kick drum mic once when the soundguy failed to show and we had to make do with what we had. It worked fine for that.
I'd be happy to use it on a bass amp if I had to though.

 

[Count Bassie]

So I do have a preamp, the SansAmp Bass Fly Rig pictured here. Tonight I'll plug headphones into it and see what I can do for the EB-3, the bass I'm dealing with.
I just remembered the EQ on the amp, but the bass is still new and I'm pretty busy... I'll be back with more yak!

 

[Count Bassie]

@crazyBassClown , I hear you about proximity and what you hear. What I'm doing with EQ is having a good effect on the amplified sound of my EB-3, and I want to send it to the pa.
That's it.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Using mic on loud stages is bad, huh? Not in my extensive live sound and bass playing career.

where do people get this hogwash I wonder?

 

[Krisfield]

Sennheiser MD421. Great for live or recording.

 

[seamonkey]

I'm using an old GK 400RB, and the only Direct Out is 1/4" phone jack, and there's no option for post EQ. So I'm looking to mic my cab and send that to foh instead.
Doesn't need to be boutique or high-end, U just want good, accurate signal. I want to hear in the mains what I'm hearing in my amp.
Thanks for your time.

Direct out appears to include the post eq.
It comes from the output of the power amp.
https://audiocircuit.dk/downloads/gallienkrueger/GallienKrueger-400RB-pwr-sm.pdf

Direct out would be what you're hearing in the amp. It needs to go to a hi-z on the mixer, unless you put it through a direct box.

 

[Count Bassie]

Direct out appears to include the post eq.
It comes from the output of the power amp.
https://audiocircuit.dk/downloads/gallienkrueger/GallienKrueger-400RB-pwr-sm.pdf

Direct out would be what you're hearing in the amp. It needs to go to a hi-z on the mixer, unless you put it through a direct box.

I did not know it wasn't direct from the input. Thank you for that.
And I've been going to a 1/4" input on the mixer. Cool, and thanks again!

 

[hbarcat]

One thing to consider is if you run both a mic and a DI box to FOH, there's a good chance that the sound engineer will make his own job a lot easier by simply muting your bass mic and running only the DI signal.

He might even tell you that he's running both, but could be lying to you and you'd have no way of knowing if he is or isn't.

 

[Count Bassie]

One thing to consider is if you run both a mic and a DI box to FOH, there's a good chance that the sound engineer will make his own job a lot easier by simply muting your bass mic and running only the DI signal.

He might even tell you that he's running both, but could be lying to you and you'd have no way of knowing if he is or isn't.

It's called being a good manager...