Recording 5-string bass--can re20 still kick it?

[keepitsavage]

Title pretty much says it; I'm about to pull the trigger on an re20 for its versatility in other projects, but I'd really feel good about the buy if I knew I could count on it for recording my bass too.

I often play my 5string in D standard, which'd bring that 'b' string down to 27.5hz, and I know the re20's response stops at 45--
Should I just assume I'll be mixing in the DI down there regardless? Would any other (affordable) mic preclude this necessity? Other relevant points?
Thanks!

 

[AGCurry]

It should work well ... but you may want to consider alternatively a Sennheiser MD 421. Every bit as versatile, around the same price or less, and it specs down to 30 hz.

 

[silky smoove]

First off, your speakers probably can't produce much down that low anyway so the mic won't need to pick up what isn't there. Second, your room (and most rooms) sound pretty bad that low so you wouldn't likely want to capture it that low even if you could. Third, almost no mix is going to rely on the fundamental of a bass guitar's lowest register, especially when drop tuning. So with all of that in mind, if you've got other uses where an RE20 is what you want I'd say go ahead and get it as it's a pretty classic mic for recording electric bass.

 

[tylerwylie]

Depending on the style of music usually you’re going to be filtering 40, 50, or even up to 80hz and below depending on what’s happening with the kick.

 

[Aloe]

1. record double signal from DI and mic
2. mix them to taste
3. enjoy

 

[Frank Tuesday]

It should work well ... but you may want to consider alternatively a Sennheiser MD 421. Every bit as versatile, around the same price or less, and it specs down to 30 hz.

According to published frequency response plots I've found, the 421 is flat down to 100Hz, and drops -6dD at 40Hz. The RE20 is flat to 75Hz and drops to -5dB at 40Hz. Neither plot shows the response below 40Hz.

 

[AGCurry]

According to published frequency response plots I've found, the 421 is flat down to 100Hz, and drops -6dD at 40Hz. The RE20 is flat to 75Hz and drops to -5dB at 40Hz. Neither plot shows the response below 40Hz.

You are correct regarding the response plots. However, those plots are recorded at a constant distance from the source, like "at 1 foot" or "at 1 meter."

The RE20 is designed to reduce proximity effect through its "Variable-D" design. That's a good thing for its originally-intended use in broadcasting speech, but it provides no method to adjust. The 421 addresses proximity effect with a 5-position bass-cut switch. If that switch is set to "M" (no cut), the 421 is likely to have a stronger bass response at, say, 2 inches than the RE20.

I have both, and they're both fine microphones. I just find that the Sennheiser works well for just about anything, and I can't say that for the Electrovoice.