I have a hartke hydrive Hydrive 5410 500 watt combo.... If I decide to mic it up, what would be a good mic to use that won't bust my wallet
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Mic'n up
- Thread starter fathom66
- Start date
I don't know how much success you can get in coverering the tweeter without getting so far from the cab that bleed from everything else wrecks it. Probably need two microphones. Ok for recording, not happening live.
Cheap mic, hard to look past Akg P2 for $100.
Cheap mic, hard to look past Akg P2 for $100.
For bass amps, it's hard to beat a large diaphragm condenser mic.
Start your searching there, and get the best one you can afford.
The big diaphragm picks up the lowest notes much better than other designs.
Don't believe anyone who tells you that condensers are for studio use only and can't survive gigging.
They have been vastly improved over the last 20 years, and will do fine if you take reasonable care of it.
You'll need to run it on phantom power from the mixer, which usually isn't a problem.
If for some reason it can't be done, there are stand-alone phantom power units that connect between the mic and mixer, and plug into AC.
Mics, both for instruments and vocals, are NOT where you want to be pinching pennies.
Cheap mics sound like crap, in ways that can't be fixed no matter how far you turn the knobs.
On the other hand, there are some great sounding yet affordable options, so start comparing models and read all the reviews you can find.
Start your searching there, and get the best one you can afford.
The big diaphragm picks up the lowest notes much better than other designs.
Don't believe anyone who tells you that condensers are for studio use only and can't survive gigging.
They have been vastly improved over the last 20 years, and will do fine if you take reasonable care of it.
You'll need to run it on phantom power from the mixer, which usually isn't a problem.
If for some reason it can't be done, there are stand-alone phantom power units that connect between the mic and mixer, and plug into AC.
Mics, both for instruments and vocals, are NOT where you want to be pinching pennies.
Cheap mics sound like crap, in ways that can't be fixed no matter how far you turn the knobs.
On the other hand, there are some great sounding yet affordable options, so start comparing models and read all the reviews you can find.
AKG P2 is the cheapest I'd use. And while I totally agree that large diaphragm condensers are great on bass cabs (Neumann U47 and FET47 are legendary), they seem prone to bleed more than dynamics and IMHO work best in situations where there's decent isolation. OTOH, a soundman shows up with an FET47 for my cab, I certainly won't turn it down. Fat chance at 4 grand, though!
Note there is a tweeter snuggled in the centre. How far back do you have to go to cover some tweet and get a neutral sound?
Ive been usin a Sennheiser MD421 - II on my rigs. Theyre bullet proof, more than useful on a lot of other items for recording as well, and reasonably priced for the swiss army knife mic that it is. Did i mention they look cool? Just watch the release switch!!
You know, in 20-odd years of mixing live sound I don't think I've ever run into the issue of not getting enough top end out of a bass cabinet with a tweeter even close mic-ed (miked? miced? hahaha!). I think that one of the reasons for that is guys using way too much tweeter because they're adjusting the level based on standing close to the cab with the tweeter at no better than chest height. The top end sounds balanced from that position but it's way too much when the tweeter is at ear level so it bleeds into a mic reasonably well.
Hard to beat a P2 for the price, but for a few bucks more you could pick up a Beta 57a, which is IMO the best all-around dynamic mic money can buy. It's a bit low end shy as compared to some other mics but it has a lot better LF response than the SM57 does. It will work on just about anything and is nearly indestructible to boot.
Many national acts use the Shure including Tom Petty's sound guys.
Amazon.com: Shure SM57 Microphone: Musical Instruments
Amazon.com: Shure SM57 Microphone: Musical Instruments
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Or coupled with a kick drum mic for the lows. Either way.
I've mostly used an EV RE-20 lately, for a standalone mic.
We use the Sennheiser 421 and a Shure Beta52 on our bass cabs in the studio. The 421 is a great mic that can do so many things well.
I have found that the key to micing a tweetered cab is to bring the mic from around the side of the box and aim it across the woofer and tweeter at a 45 degree angle. You keep a small foot print that isn't much larger than traditional close micing (and you don't have to crank the gain knob at the desk that comes with room micing) and you get a very good balance between the drivers.
Of course, this method works best with a mic stand that has an adjustable boom.
