boxboy. I just recorded using a 70 dollar CAD GXL2200 large condenser mike.
my vocals came out really good. converting to MP3 despite the high bit rate makes it sound less stellar.
none the less, this is a versitle mic as I played around with it and it picks up my acoustic really well.
so this is my recommendation.
if you go over to Hear Here on this forum I posted the a song using the mike.
look for Birthday tribute for Dylan
great, db! i listened to that last night and it sounded great (nice job!).
i misunderstood and thought you had plugged an AE martin into the audio interface on a separate line to get the guitar.
thanks again :)
Don
great, db! i listened to that last night and it sounded great (nice job!).
i misunderstood and thought you had plugged an AE martin into the audio interface on a separate line to get the guitar.
thanks again :)
you did not mis understand. the guitar went into the audio interface..I did not mic the guitar, just vocal.
my mistake in not being more clear in the post. I did, however, play around with the mic. my guitar sounded really natural using the mic.
I needed to test it for vocals so I recorded that way.
what I have read about these large condensers is that they are great for amps, instruments, and room ambience. they are sensitive and can pick up alot.
I sang with the mic about a foot and a half away and level with my face.
I have to go with the SM57. I have one and its great for recording acoustic instruments, amps and good for vocals in a studio setting. The SM57 and SM58 are the same mic except the ball on the 58 is round and better suited for vocal and not very good for recording amps and instruments. So the SM57 would be a good choice. Studio's that have $4,000 mics will have and use SM57's and 58's also.
At home, I use one of two different mics depending on the situation: an SM57 or a Rode NT1. I've gotten those two mics to sound pretty decent, and actually prefer the SM57 in some ways for some acoustic instruments. When I use someone else's studio, then I usually use nicer condensers and pres. But I've gotten a lot of mileage from relatively inexpensive mics. For myself, my next purchase will be a better preamp and a decent compressor for the mics I have.
I bought a cheap mike (20 feet of good quality mike cable almost doubled the price!) a while back and finally got around to trying it out.
If any of you fine folks who know about mikes has a sec, please check out the sound sample and tell me what you like, or don't like, or how to make it better.
Specs:
Audio Technica dynamic; cardiod pattern
It's about 4 inches from the soundhole of my (fingerpicked) acoustic.
The raw signal was really weak (about a 2 on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the clipping point). So, after recording, I applied a preset from my audio software: EQ, Compressor, Reverb and Gain. That boosted the signal to a point just below clipping in the loudest areas.
Any and all feedback much appreciated. :)
Mike Test
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=640626
Don
Try not to mic directly in front of the soundhole or if you do, back the mic off a bit more. Try at around 12" -20". Try micing the soundboard instead. Try micing near the neck joint. The sound you got was ok but a little boomy for my taste. Try micing with the mic inside a closet facing out. (no. really. I'm serious.) try with you inside the closet.
It's a matter of trail and error. What works best is going to change depending on your guitar and the room you are in.
Great stuff, Hue. Thanks for taking the time. 8)
If you mike the neck joint is the mike still perpendicular to the guitar? Or do you angle it up from below?
Don
I use a set of three dynamic behringer microphones. Came in a case for E29,-. the sound quality ain't brilliant, but I've got a cheap pre-amp anyways so who cares. :P
Great stuff, Hue. Thanks for taking the time. 8)
If you mike the neck joint is the mike still perpendicular to the guitar? Or do you angle it up from below?
If you're micing at the neck joint, try micing from overhead(this leaves your hand room to move) and pointing toward the soundhole slightly. You should be able to come pretty close to the guitar this way. Play with the angle. This will have a lot of affect to the way it will sound. SM57's have very good off axis rejection so, sound coming from the sides and of course the rear of the mic are greatly attenuated. Of course the closer you get the guitar, the more bass there will be.
