Hey, me and my mate are planning to record some music onto our computers and I need a mic to record with. I was wondering if people could give me any ideas what mics to use.
Thanks
Thanks
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
What Bass Mics Do You Use?
- Thread starter danwainwright
- Start date
I've heard nothing but good things about EV RE20's and Heil PR40's. I plan to get a PR40 myself.
A Shure SM7B is also a nice choice.
For less expensive options, people do have success using a good ole SM57. It's not my first choice, but I have used them on a few occasions.
A Shure SM7B is also a nice choice.
For less expensive options, people do have success using a good ole SM57. It's not my first choice, but I have used them on a few occasions.
+1 although i also use akg d112...i split the signal from my mxr m80 into a board/mixer/recorder,and into an ampeg b100r(love this amp).then i mic the amp with akg d112(close up ofc) and,eventually, shure sm57 catching a bit of the room(20 cm off axis) and natural amp responce...this way you have 3 bass channels to blend or choose from.
must admit,though,i use A LOT of effects,so,naturally,board/mixer/recorder channel is ALWAYS clean,
and mic'ed channels are used for effects.and i try to get the lows from the b/m/r channel,and mids/highs from mic's...
SM57 mixed with a DI signal is a versatile and inexpensive option.
I've gotten good results with a cheap bassdrum mic mixed with a condenser.
So, experiment with what you have and see what you like.
Both the 421 and the D112 are good options.
Try it with a direct signal as well and blend the two together, the DI may help to get some more punch to your tone.
Try it with a direct signal as well and blend the two together, the DI may help to get some more punch to your tone.
The best mic I have used to record my bass amp is a Brauner Phantom mic. It captures every frequency detail accurately that comes out of my amp. I have not found this the case with any dynamic mic.
I put my bass through a Radial passive box. One signal goes into my Manley Voxbox and the other into my Mesa/Boogie amp. Then I blend the two signals together. To be honest with you the DI in the Manley sound amazing. I use the mic'ed amp to add a little live sound to the recording.
I put my bass through a Radial passive box. One signal goes into my Manley Voxbox and the other into my Mesa/Boogie amp. Then I blend the two signals together. To be honest with you the DI in the Manley sound amazing. I use the mic'ed amp to add a little live sound to the recording.
I have an Audio-Technica ATM25 which cost me about $150; also works very well as a bass drum mic.
Have any of you had noticeable issues with the sm57's low end tapering off around 60Hz? I thought it might loose the lower end or so. Low E is somewhere between 42 and 48 Hz IIRC. For my choice, I would go with a Sennheiser 421 first and maybe an AKG D112, and then blend whichever mic with a dry signal.
when you factor in proximity effect, you make up for a little loss in low end. most people will blend with a DI for this exact reason. the fundamental is hardly what you want loud in your mix. mudmudmud.
i always take as many signals as possible. theres always a DI track being recorded, even though i never use it. ill take the DI from the amp, from the BDDI (when applicable), and run a split to a guitar amp. people hate looking at my sessions because i'll blend 2 or 3 bass sounds when they'd be content with a DI and a sansamp plugin.
with that said, im a 421 fan as well.
I picked up a PR40 earlier this week. I messed with it for all of 15 minutes last night and it sounded pretty good with very minimal work. I put the mic on the grill, pointed it straight on at the center of the speaker, then turned up the gain on my mixer...that's it.
I'll put it through the paces next week at gig. I'm excited!
I'll put it through the paces next week at gig. I'm excited!
Hey, me and my mate are planning to record some music onto our computers and I need a mic to record with. I was wondering if people could give me any ideas what mics to use.
Thanks
Many great records were recorded with just the SM57 (you can also use the SM58 - they have nearly identical frequency range and polar patterns). The freq range goes down to 40hz...
That said, I prefer the RE20/27, MD421, N/D868 and N/D468... These are used straight to the grill, with no room sound, nothing fancy...
There are also a ton of tricks for recording bass, including the aforementioned DI mixed with mics... But best to keep it simple. Your project will move along more quickly if you do.
According to Alan Parsons, the only difference between a 57 and a 58 is the "screen" on the 58. Behind that screen they're apparently identical.
