What Mic are you using on your Cab.

[Jeff Scott]

Actually, at the moment, I don't mic my bass cabinet, I go direct out of my LA-610, but I have been looking into microphones, not sure which, yet.

 

[Double Agent]

I've been DIing an Ampeg SVT-CL and I want to mic the cab instead. I was thinking of a Sennheiser 609. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Mod if this is in the wrong place, feel free to move it.

I have the same mic and was planning to try it out at a gig on Saturday. I am a microphone newb, too, though I used them frequently when I used to play guitar. I've doing some research here for ideas, but there isn't much info on those mics here. However, I think that mic can work for bass cabs. A look at the frequency response chart (found here: http://www.sennheiserusa.com/media/productDownloads/productSheets/e609Silver_ProductSheet.pdf) shows that this mic is fairly flat has a spike in the highs at around 3kHz-4kHz, so you may way to keep that in mind when EQing your amp. Don't want an overly bright, shrill bass tone.

A lot of kick drum mics are also marketed as bass cab mics. But, looking at the same frequency charts for those mics, you'll find most of them to be INCREDIBLY scooped...lots of lows (for boom) and highs (for the click) with almost no mids. I would stay from any mic with that kind of frequency response, you'll just sound muddy. This kind of thinking is probably why so many soundguys are "afraid" to mic a bass cab, if they've done it, or heard it, with one of these kick drum mics, the results were probably very poor. Also, I know that frequency charts won't tell the whole story...you need real-world results to determine what works well and what doesn't.

Basically, we need you to experiment with it and see what happens. Like I said, I'm gonna try it out this weekend, giving the sound guy a DI from my amp as an alternative, in case it doesn't work well. I'll report my findings here after the gig. If you have a chance to, try it out and tell us what happened.

 

[JimmyM]

i've used a lot of mics named, and the only ones i really don't like are kick mics. the 58 combined with a di getting the lows is great if you're on a budget. with an la-610, i don't see you being limited that much if money is no object get a fet47. if it is but you still want quality, the heil pr40 is unbeatable. it's a dynamic that sounds like a condenser. and if you're someone who likes lows like you can get in a 410hlf, i'd say it's the only sub-$500 mic to use.

but all of the ones named (except kick mics...sorry, kick mic fans) have their strong points and work well for bass, with my favorites in the lower $ range being the pr 40, 421, re 20, and m 88. i've only used that 609 once but it's a real strong mic for bass as well.

 

[AxtoOx]

I have the same mic and was planning to try it out at a gig on Saturday. I am a microphone newb, too, though I used them frequently when I used to play guitar. I've doing some research here for ideas, but there isn't much info on those mics here. However, I think that mic can work for bass cabs. A look at the frequency response chart (found here: http://www.sennheiserusa.com/media/productDownloads/productSheets/e609Silver_ProductSheet.pdf) shows that this mic is fairly flat has a spike in the highs at around 3kHz-4kHz, so you may way to keep that in mind when EQing your amp. Don't want an overly bright, shrill bass tone.

A lot of kick drum mics are also marketed as bass cab mics. But, looking at the same frequency charts for those mics, you'll find most of them to be INCREDIBLY scooped...lots of lows (for boom) and highs (for the click) with almost no mids. I would stay from any mic with that kind of frequency response, you'll just sound muddy. This kind of thinking is probably why so many soundguys are "afraid" to mic a bass cab, if they've done it, or heard it, with one of these kick drum mics, the results were probably very poor. Also, I know that frequency charts won't tell the whole story...you need real-world results to determine what works well and what doesn't.

Basically, we need you to experiment with it and see what happens. Like I said, I'm gonna try it out this weekend, giving the sound guy a DI from my amp as an alternative, in case it doesn't work well. I'll report my findings here after the gig. If you have a chance to, try it out and tell us what happened.

Thanks.

 

[rockstarbassist]

Subbed.

About to get a mic for my new setup, and have some I need to try out.

 

[Foz]

The first 2 mics I would add to a bass recording tool box would not be mics but rather an Avalon 737 pre/compressor and one then probably on of the Universal Audio pre/compressor boxes [I jones for one of these].

After that a RE20 I guess, because it is versatile / uncolored / tames the loose edges.

You could do a lot with those three tools especially if you double tracked [Use one of the pre's direct and then run the RE20 through the other]. If I couldn't get a great track with that set up its time to tell the guy he did a great job and then lay down the damn track myself behind his back and tell him "Daddy fixed it in the mix".

 

[rockstarbassist]

The first 2 mics I would add to a bass recording tool box would not be mics but rather an Avalon 737 pre/compressor and one then probably on of the Universal Audio pre/compressor boxes [I jones for one of these].

After that a RE20 I guess, because it is versatile / uncolored / tames the loose edges.

You could do a lot with those three tools especially if you double tracked [Use one of the pre's direct and then run the RE20 through the other]. If I couldn't get a great track with that set up its time to tell the guy he did a great job and then lay down the damn track myself behind his back and tell him "Daddy fixed it in the mix".

1. A 737 isn't a mic- you can't put it in front of your cab for FOH purposes.

2. If 737's were all about $200-400, as most mics in this thread are, we'd all have them...

 

[metalmariachi]

I was using a CAD KBM412 a CAD TSM411 instrument mic.
They worked very well and do sound good live.

Last year I replaced the 412 with a Sennheiser e902 which has a much better frequency response very noticeable when recording.

Some time in the near future I intend to replace the CAD TSM with a Sennheiser e914.

CAD mics are great for the money and do a good job.
The Shure SM57 and Beta 52A are industry standards.

You can’t go wrong with either.

I’ve recorded with all the above and prefer the sound of the Sennheiser mics for recording.

MM

 

[beans-on-toast]

For bass, I like the U87Ai. Any large diaphragm condenser that can handle around 50Hz would be worth trying. I'd like to try an AKG C414.

I have an old Peavey PVM-45 dynamic mic that I also use. It was very inexpensive but works really well.

 

[Jim C]

As a recording and live sound engineer as well as a player I would recomend the following:

Rock / R&B - RE20 or MD421
Light to medium Jazz - U87 (for either upright or quiet amp)
Orchestral - U87
Old Telefunken's or U84's are also nice but chances are you won't see one of those in anything but high end studios
Some of the Chinese U87 copies are also decent

Of course unless you bring your own, or are playing at a pro club /touring situation, you'll be lucky to get a non abused SM 57/58. And with a less than stellar PA, you'd be hard pressed to hear much difference based on typical bad room acoustics and all the other racket

Another good stickie topic with the same answers from the same folks

 

[gnergaard]

My two faves are:

Sennheiser 421

EV- the old broadcasters mic- whatever model that is. Duh- per the above post that's the RE-20.

The Sennheiser 421 is a good choice for live and for many, many different applications- not just bass. It's a good investment. Also very durable. In the studio mics like the U87 might sound great but I just wouldn't use one live. I'd also be scarred to put one infront of any but the quietest of bass amps.

 

[iriegnome]

When we mic my cabinet I use a Shure Beta 52..

 

[MrBEAR]

Currently using an Audio Technica ATM250DE.
Dual Element microphone, two xlr sends, and tends to irritate board engineers, not because of the sound, but because it makes them think about mixing the bass signals. lol
Plus a DI signal makes three channels for the bass alone.

Alternative choice for live would be a Sennheiser 421.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR

 

[nato101010]

A simple 57 and a XLR line out.

 

[silky smoove]

Mics I've used and not liked:
1. AKG D112 (hyped in all the wrong places, like a smiley faced EQ)

Thank you!

I've never figured out why engineers put these mics on a bass cab. For the reasons you listed, plus the top end is very nosey/nasal sounding... Bleh... I know they're supposed to be a kick drum mic, but I don't even like them for that!

 

[AxtoOx]

OK, w/ my budget it's between a Sure Beta 52 and a Sennheiser MD421.
For cost reasons, the Sure makes sense. Is the MD421 that much better?

 

[johnk_10]

i own both of those mics, and i definitely would not recommend the beta 52 (way too scooped sounding). IMO, the 421 is alot better, and can also be used on just about everything.

 

[Ric5]

I don't always use a mike ... but when I do I use an SM57.

 

[johnk_10]

in the studio, i've used this one direct into my Amek with an 1176LN with excellent results:

 

[rockstarbassist]

Get the 421 for sure.

Go lookup those freq response stats for those kick mics and you'll see why they don't always fly.