Thinking about purchasing a condenser mic for bluegrass/acoustic

[Stinsok]

I've seen a lot of bands sing around a single condenser mic (with a couple of side mics for solo's.) I like that concept. For a buddy of mine, that method ended monitor wars. What are you using, what do you recommend?

 

[Zooberwerx]

I'm interested, as well, and for a good reason. I was doing sound for our band on a porto-trailer-type stage and was asked to do the same for a bluegrass band. They showed up with two cond. mics which worked but were hard-as-hell to tame in the feedback dept. I owe this in part to my inexperience with said mics and the dismal acoustic properties of the stage itself...it was pretty much a dumpster with a sunporch. The mics themselves were so sensitive that I was picking up the compressor on the beer truck some 30 yards away.

Riis

 

[uhdinator]

Bluegrass is usually done with an omni pattern condenser with all standing around it in a semi-circle.

Most omni capable (switchable pattern) condensers start around $250
Akg perception 420
Akg C414 xls $1000

Google a few terms like "bluegrass recording technique" or
"mic's used for bluegrass". It's pretty easy to find a months worth of reading on the subject.

http://www.crownaudio.com/mic_web/onemic2.htm
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun06/articles/qa0606_3.htm

 

[projectMalamute]

The AT4033 has sort of become the SM57 of bluegrass music. I've got one and have used it in this sort of an application with good results.

 

[prd004]

AKG C414

 

[TimmyP]

The AT3035 would seem to be the king of the BG mics. Try eBay.

 

[ggunn]

I'm interested, as well, and for a good reason. I was doing sound for our band on a porto-trailer-type stage and was asked to do the same for a bluegrass band. They showed up with two cond. mics which worked but were hard-as-hell to tame in the feedback dept. I owe this in part to my inexperience with said mics and the dismal acoustic properties of the stage itself...it was pretty much a dumpster with a sunporch. The mics themselves were so sensitive that I was picking up the compressor on the beer truck some 30 yards away.

Riis

Condenser mics have a lower threshold, i.e., they need less SPL to start producing a signal than do dynamic mics (hence your experience with the beer truck). This makes them more prone to feedback and limits how loud you can make the reinforcement. Couple that with the need to turn up to pick up a musician who is standing a few feet away rather than "eating the mic" as vocalists frequently do with dynamic mics, and you can have a challenge to deal with, especially in a live room. Be sure and place the mic as far behind the FOH speakers as is practical. You will be somewhat limited in what you can do with EQ because the freqs that ring tend also to be the ones you want to hear from the mic. There will probably be a volume ceiling that you cannot exceed without feedback.

Good luck.

 

[nysbob]

There will probably be a volume ceiling that you cannot exceed without feedback.

No probably about it.

The good thing is, bluegrass players are more aware of dynamics and listening to each other than some other genres that will go unmentioned.

 

[dscott11]

A number of years ago I saw Bela Fleck at an outdoor venue... Villa Montalvo, in California. They were using AKGs and Shure KSM32s all over the place... The KSM32 is a cardiod single pattern.

I've used it in live situations for vocals, acoustic instruments, horns and overheads with great results.

I would guess the ATs would do great too.

Cheers!

 

[MNAirHead]

Without more info this thread is silly-/////
Things like side wash, monitor level, and sound crew(or recording crew) become issues and factors

 

[TimmyP]

Condenser mics have a lower threshold, i.e., they need less SPL to start producing a signal than do dynamic mics (hence your experience with the beer truck). This makes them more prone to feedback and limits how loud you can make the reinforcement.

Condenser mics tend to have much wider pickup patterns than typical dynamic mics. This is what makes feedback more of a problem, not their wider dynamic range.

 

[4Mal]

I've seen a lot of bands sing around a single condenser mic (with a couple of side mics for solo's.) I like that concept. For a buddy of mine, that method ended monitor wars. What are you using, what do you recommend?

The mic is way less important than that the band knows and practices the technique. Playing in the circle is an art...

 

[ggunn]

Condenser mics tend to have much wider pickup patterns than typical dynamic mics. This is what makes feedback more of a problem, not their wider dynamic range.

Pattern contributes, certainly, but dynamic range is a big factor as well. Bigger, IMO.