Condenser mics can be awesome to record. But just like any type of mics, there are suitable ones and unsuitable ones. Neumann U47 and FET47 get much love in studios for bass. Beyond them, I'm clueless about condensers.
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What Mic are you using on your Cab.
- Thread starter AxtoOx
- Start date
I haven't been an engineer for a good many years, but I was back in the eighties. Condensers are great for bass - especially on lower-powered amps (read:B-15s) and upright basses. For larger, more powerful amps I trust the durability - and lower sensitivity - of dynamic mics for best results.
Large diaphragm mics sound great on B-15s and I had good results with large and small diaphragm mics for upright in various combinations. A large diaphragm condenser on the treble-side f-hole in conjunction with a small capsule like a 451 pointed right at the bridge from straight on is a cool combination. Play with distances until the phases line up.
That's not to say that you can't get good recordings of upright using an RE-20, SM7 or other large dynamic, but you'll have a little less "air", which is not often what you're looking for when you record an upright. SM-81s, I found, were sort of a middle ground: a condenser that sounded just a little like a dynamic. A great all-around mic, actually.
Large diaphragm mics sound great on B-15s and I had good results with large and small diaphragm mics for upright in various combinations. A large diaphragm condenser on the treble-side f-hole in conjunction with a small capsule like a 451 pointed right at the bridge from straight on is a cool combination. Play with distances until the phases line up.
That's not to say that you can't get good recordings of upright using an RE-20, SM7 or other large dynamic, but you'll have a little less "air", which is not often what you're looking for when you record an upright. SM-81s, I found, were sort of a middle ground: a condenser that sounded just a little like a dynamic. A great all-around mic, actually.
I use an EV RE-320 often (same capsule as the RE-27) but I gotta say for most stuff the SM57 does the job. You need a decent pre-amp for that mic but then it really shines!
I've had fun with an MXL R40 (ribbon mic) too, it gets a really fat, compressed sound. You have to set it a little further away but man, there's some magic there.
I've had fun with an MXL R40 (ribbon mic) too, it gets a really fat, compressed sound. You have to set it a little further away but man, there's some magic there.
