microphones for home use

[scottb]

First, let me preface this question with some basic facts:

1. I know next to NOTHING about microphones. Don't know any brands, what frequencies ranges are good for what, don't know about diaphragms, cardioid, or condensors.

2. I am not and never will be a professional musician who needs studio quality equiptment.

3. I enjoy making multitrack recordings on my computer with some basic studio software.

4. Currently I achieve #3 by recording from guitar through a digital processor straight to my soundcard. The results are a VERY "nontube-like" sound.

5. I would lke to capture the great all tube sounds I get from my amp into my soundcard.

Now the question:

What would be a good microphone to mic an amp for these purposes?

I get Musician's Friend so it would be easiest to recommend one from their selection. How about the MXL 990 cardioid condensor mic on sale for $59?

[Jim Alfredson]

What do you have for a microphone preamp?

The best all-purpose guitar amp mic you could buy for under $500 is the Shure SM57. Pair it with a decent preamp and you'll be set.

Remember, mic placement oftentimes makes more of a difference than the mic or the preamp or the recording medium. If you like the sound of the guitar and the amp in the room, then you should be able to get that sound into the computer with the right mic placement.

[scottb]

What do you have for a microphone preamp?

Didn't know I needed one. I guess I was thinking on going straight into the microphone jack on my soundcard but I could send it into the input on my preamp / digital processor (I have an ART SGX LT designed for guitar. Would that work?)

[Jim Alfredson]

No, that would not work. That is most likely a guitar input, not a mic input. Microphones need a lot of clean amplification to boost their signal to usuable levels.

What kind of sound card do you have?

[scottb]

It's just a SoundBlaster Audigy 2.

[Jim Alfredson]

That should be fine. For the best possible sound, what you should do is get the Shure SM57 and a short mic stand (for mic'ing the amp) and a stand-alone mic preamp, single channel.

I suggest the Studio Projects VTB-1 (it has gotten great reviews compared to other products in it's price range) or the Presonus TubePre. Both are good and can be had for around $100. Be careful... the Presonus Blue Tube sounds like crap, but the TubePre is good. The tube pre is here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...7330104461&rd=1

What you do is run the microphone into the preamp and then the preamp out into the line input on your soundcard. You'll be in mono, so you'll only go to the left or right side (doesn't really matter).

Does that help?

[scottb]

That helps a lot! I just had no idea where to start.

[Alexander Hawkins]

Next question...(from someone who is equally technically at sea)...

I'm looking at buying a hard-disc recorder (perhaps the Tascam DS01), and am interested as to what would be good microphones to have...I'm interested in a budget stereo pair, I guess. People have suggested a pair of AKG C1000s, or alternatively Rode NT3. How are these? Could I get something of similar quality for less? Or should I really be spending more if at all possible?

Thanks in advance!

[Sundog]

Check out the link for some nice general information. Actually, not a bad little preamp. In the past I've used the orginal version of this preamp along with an SM57 and consistently got very good results.

Preamp Primer

Re: Condensor Mics: AKG C1000's are excellent for the price. I own two myself. Great for acoustic instruments.

[Alexander Hawkins]

Sundog - thanks for the link - I'll check it out!

[Alexander Hawkins]

If you're recording with just a stereo pair, can you capture vocals satisfactorily, or is it better to have a separate vocal mike?

[Jim Alfredson]

If you're recording with just a stereo pair, can you capture vocals satisfactorily, or is it better to have a separate vocal mike?

What are you trying to record? Where is it being recorded? With a good stereo pair the acoustic space is going to have an enormous impact on the sound.

AKGs are nice. I would also look at the MXL 603s and 604s.

[Alexander Hawkins]

Hi Jim - thanks for the advice. Basically, I'm keen to get a simple mobile setup, so the space itself will vary (although I do have access, luckily, to a couple of very nice sounding rooms whenever I need them)...most of my work is with a piano trio + a horn, but I can see a situation where I might want to get a vocalist...

Because budget it tight (as ever!), I was looking at a Tascam DP01-FX. However, it's only got provision for two tracks simultaneous recording, so then I started looking for the next model up with a few more simultaneous tracks. The Tascam 2488 offers 8...I figured that although the sound I like is just the stereo pair, situations might arise (recording other people, unusual instruments/combinations of instruments) where two simultaneous would just not be enough.

As far as the microphones are concerned, thanks for those tips...AKG and RODE were the two names mentioned to me before, but I'll check out those MXLs.

Essentially, I want an affordable (but as good quality as possible) setup where I can record my gigs, and begin to learn a bit about recording...

Edited June 26, 2006 by Red