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Topic: Recommend me a mic for recording acoustic lap slide guitar |
Hans Henrik Rasmussen
From:
Denmark, Copenhagen
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Posted 13 Jan 2010 4:39 pm |
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Hi all,
I’m looking to get a better microphone for home recording of acoustic guitar (primarily lap slide, but also some conventional) at a budget of $200-$300. I’m using a M-Audio Fast-track Ultra usb interface (and an AT2020 mic for vocals). I'm looking to record vocals and guitar at the same time.
Which microphones would you recommend?
And would the advantages of a pair of microphones beat the advantages of spending twice as much on a single one? (also, I'm unsure if such a set up works as well when the guitar is lying in your lap). Oh, and should I at this point think about spending less on the microphone(s) and instead getting an outside preamp to replace those built-in to the fast track ultra?
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Hans |
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John Gould
From:
Houston, TX Now in Cleveland TX
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Posted 13 Jan 2010 5:44 pm
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this is a mic that I have used with great results for a bunch of different acoustic instruments. Not very expensive.
I hope this helps
_________________
A couple of guitars
Fender GTX 100 Fender Mustang III Fender Blues Jr. Boss Katana MKII 50
Justice Pro Lite and Sho Bud Pro II |
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Justin Douglas
From:
Austin, TX
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Posted 14 Jan 2010 9:47 am
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i'd recommend something from NAIANT (http://naiant.com/studiostore/microphones.html) or a KEL audio HM-1 or HM-3C (http://www.kelaudio.com). Bang for the buck, they're some of the best, most natural sounding mics around.
Especially the Naiant stuff. I'd be happy to email you acoustic guitar examples recorded with both brands of mics if you'd like.
Good luck! |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 14 Jan 2010 11:29 am
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I generally use a small condenser on acoustic guitars. AKG C-1000 just because that's what I have. Don't get caught up in the "best mic" game. You'll end up in the poor house. The mic is just a part of it, it greatly depends on your other gear and how you go about mic placement, EQ, compression, etc.... There's been a lot of great recordings made with Sure 57 and 58's and a lot of junk recorded with $3000 Neumans.
FYI: I have a buddy in the business that let me borrow some expensive mics for a weekend. I recorded about a dozen tracks of the exact same playing using cheap and expensive mics. They all sounded okay, none of them sounded bad, I could hear a little difference in them but nothing to get excited about. I had others listen and nobody chose the same mic, and nobody chose the most expensive one.
If you do a lot of reading you'll get the idea that "if I just had the right mic, my recordings would sound much better" I've been there, and I can tell you from eperience, the difference is not drastic. No, a $20 Radio Shack mic is not a recording mic, but especially for home studio use, you don't need to spend $1000 either.
I have a friend that bought this $99 large and small condenser package and he loves it. I heard some of his stuff and it sounded great.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-MXL-990MXL-991-Recording-Microphone-Package?sku=273166 |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 14 Jan 2010 8:11 pm
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http://www.cascademicrophones.com/cascade_VIN-JET.html
I really like this mike on my resonator. If you go to the home page link after the above link, you'll see a picture of Shelby Lynne using it to record a Gibson mandolin. I also use it exclusively for recording amps for my lap/pedal steel recording.
_________________
Al
My equipment:
One heck of a Wife
The ghost of a red Doberman
Several pairs of reading glasses strewn about |
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Robby Springfield
From:
Viola, AR, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2010 10:50 pm
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Take a look at the Kel mics. These are absolutely wonderful mics.
_________________
Robby
www.power3productions.com |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2010 12:59 am
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Robbie,
Just curious. Which KEL mics do you own or use personally? There's like three diffrent models. |
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Robby Springfield
From:
Viola, AR, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2010 12:00 am
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Hey Rick,
I have the HM-1. This little mic is very versatile and I have found nothing in it's price range that even comes close. It doesn't have the high-end edge boost that most of the mics out there have. Makes it really nice on vocals and acoustics. It's a 1/2 inch diaphram so you get a big mic sound but it is not so big that you pick up a lot of bad room stuff...which works well for those that are working in less than perfect invironments.
_________________
Robby
www.power3productions.com |
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Johan Jansen
From:
Europe
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2010 6:56 am
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| Robby Springfield wrote: |
Hey Rick,
I have the HM-1. This little mic is very versatile and I have found nothing in it's price range that even comes close. It doesn't have the high-end edge boost that most of the mics out there have. Makes it really nice on vocals and acoustics. It's a 1/2 inch diaphram so you get a big mic sound but it is not so big that you pick up a lot of bad room stuff...which works well for those that are working in less than perfect invironments. |
Thanks Robby.  |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 21 Mar 2010 4:36 am
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also don't be afraid to watch the
"SALES" and blowouts.
I couldn't agree with Rick more on this MIC subject and make sure you understand your purpose, which is understood to be home recording of Guitar and vocal at the same time which means lots of cross talking going on.
Over the holidays I found one of the net stores blowing out CAD CM217 small condensers, normally $60 each blow out 2 @ $50...It was a no brainer. I think Musicians Friend.
I have used them for Acoustic Guitars ( don't forget fresh strings) and Dobro and they are quite fine for the intended low budget purpose. I bought them for drum overheads but have not used them for that purpose yet. Believe it or not I prefer them to the old AKG D19 for AC guitars but that's also very nice.
I also use the standard dynamics and some LD condensers which everyone loves, even me...but for the intended purpose,bright acoustic guitars, these are nice little mics. The roll off allows for some flexibility. Purpose is everything...
I don't really own any really hi end mics because at the end of the day fresh strings and "good in tune playing" yield the best results anyway !
Here they are with the AKG... For $50 there wasn't much decision, they even came with 20 ft cables !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Ulf Edlund
From:
Umeå, Sweden
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Posted 21 Mar 2010 12:13 pm
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Line Audio CM3.
A small diagram condenser.
This is a VERY good high quality michrophone at a more than reasonable price.
http://www.lineaudio.se/linemic.htm
_________________
1983 Emmons D10 SKH, Carter SD10, Nashville 112, Session 500, ProfexII, Lapsteels, GT-Beard reso, guitars of all kinds...
http://www.myspace.com/ulfedlund |
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Chris Dorch
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2010 5:33 pm
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I have used a pair of MXL's 992/993 (marshall mics) and they sound really good.. Cheap too.. sounded better than quite a number of AKG's, Shures and Neumans...
YMMV |
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Brick Spieth
From:
San Jose, California, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2010 4:05 pm
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| Shure SM81 is a very nice small diaphram condenser. Two is really good for all kinds of acoustic instruments or drum overheads. |
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Ulric Utsi-Åhlin
From:
Sweden
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Posted 25 Mar 2010 12:53 am
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It´s true that the difference between expensive &
cheap mikes will prove negligible if You don´t know
how to use them,but "You get what You pay for" is
also 100% correct;professional studios don´t invest
in equipment they could do without.McUtsi |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 25 Mar 2010 10:13 am
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Amen, Ulric...
_________________
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 26 Mar 2010 3:20 am
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Of couse that is true ( above ) but the purpose of a professional studio is to provide PROFESSIONAL results which they charge moderate to high fee's for and they are competing with other professional studio's. Some studios charge more per hour than the cost of a low cost mic which can do a decent job in a home studio. EX: A Shure 57 can be bought for about $80.
The question in this thread is about simple home recording and fine results can be had with simple gear.
I may be wrong but I don't think the OP is recording his Lap Steel and sending the track to Sterling Sound for mastering.
purpose.....
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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