What Is A Good Mic?

[phangeaux]

Brandon's Article on this subject is? here:
http://www.recordingreview.com/artic...-A-Good-Mic%3F

I have dreaded this topic because after reading about home recording hardware for several months I began looking into microphones and there must be half a thousand different ones on the market.

I think it would be much easier to start with learning the basic fundamentals of microphones and go from there- Where is that article?

My initial thought for an answer to the topic question is "Any mic that works" since any of those is better than no mic at all.

I knew I was getting two microphones with the BR864 I bought. I had photos of them but had no idea what they were.? ?They arrived today and I am happy.

One is a Shure? BG (Beta Green) 5.0 condnser mic and it looks like a very good quality mic.? I read one comment that it is comparable to an 86(?) but less expensive.? Although the BG 5.0 (circa 1992-1997) is discontinued I was able to get the spec manual at the SHURE website. Technical data and spec sheets for SHURE products:
http://www.shure.com/datasheets/default.htm

The second mic is a Realistic 33-919A 'Dual Pattern? Stereo Electret'? microphone.? It is not as expensive as the SHURE or course but it is a fascinating looking thing. I couldn't find any information on this one.

These were used to record Viola (violin) and Guitar- I assume voice also.

My first question would be,? how? should? I use these respective mics for recording, acoustic guitar, vocals, electric bass (if I mic an amp)? electric guitar (mic an amp) and? makeshift percussion and miscelleneous instruments and noise makers.

I am just looking to be pointed in some general? direction for a quicker start so I don't have to learn as much by trial and error.
For example,what is the Realistic mic good for

Nextly, I thought this might be a good topic to ask questions about microphones that people use etc.

I wish I wasn't such a newbe to this but I have to start somewhere.

I am attaching a small photo of the realistic mic since many may not know what it is. Everyone knows what a Shure mic looks like, so I don't need to post that.? The key is in the discription- I think it is a condenser mic but I am not sure, but like, what's it good for?:

Oh yeah, am I tired or what?? ?I see it is a 'condenser mic' because I just read it on the phot-? that was not my photo btw, got it off the web yesterday-? man, I don't even know what time it is 6:15 AM or 6:15 PM? Seriously!? ayeyayai,? Do I get enough sleep?

I guess my question is about the description 'Dual Pattern Stereo Electret' Not sure what that's good for.

Anyhow....? uh.? here we go

[brandondrury]

My first question would be, how should I use these respective mics for recording, acoustic guitar, vocals, electric bass (if I mic an amp) electric guitar (mic an amp) and makeshift percussion and miscelleneous instruments and noise makers.

Well, I can't really tell you how to record anything with those mics at your place, because I'm not there.


2 weeks ago I recorded a flute for the first time. I had no idea what the hell to do and I was in hurry. I grabbed an AT 4050 and put it about 2 feet in front of the flute player guy. In my experience, you can't go wrong with putting a mic 2 feet in front of an instrument. It's about as natural as it gets. Then again, our ears are trained to like things that not always as "natural". Most guys don't start by micing an electric guitar by putting a mic two feet away (sometimes they should). This is because our favorite records usually weren't done this way. In that case, you have to work MUCH harder to compete with a sound that uses a little more advanced engineering. Someone one the forum recently asked why would use 2 mics on an electric guitar cabinet. He said "why complicate it?". He was exactly right...most of the time. Some sounds require 2 mics on a cabinet in order to make the band happy.




Just for the hell of it, let's go through my though process of recording an acoustic guitar that I've never recorded before.

1) Figure out it's role in the song. Is it a acoustic guitar/ vocals type of song or is it a dense rock song. If it's by itself I may go stereo ( or I may not). If it's in a dense mix, I'm going mono and I'll probably just use a 57. I'm looking for cut.

2) Assuming I'm going mono in an acoustic guitar / vocal type of deal, I need to listen to the guitar. Is it bright, thick, dull, muddy, great, boring, etc? Actually, regardless of what it is I'd start with my Soundelux U99 just because I've only used the mic on one acoustic guitar. I'll try micing in a number of places. Right on the soundhole, on the 12th fret, 2 feet back from the soundhole, above the guitarist facing down, etc.

Did the U99 work? Maybe, maybe not. Let's say it didn't.

Then based on what I was missing, I'll go with something else. I may try my V69. It gets a little too clicky though so I may do something different there, too. If the guitar needs a little more low mid energy, I'd probably go with the AT4033. What spot? Hell, I don't know. I'd just have to try it out?

3) If I was going stereo, I'd try a bunch of things. I'd probably try X/Y in a few different places. I'd try space pair in a few places.



In the end, there are way to many factors to predict. The situation is different EVERYTIME.

So, I guess the only definite answer to your question is your asking the wrong guy. Instead of asking a forum, you should be asking your studio monitors?

Does that help?

Brandon

[Ronan Chris Murphy]

Your Realistic (which means Radio Shack brand) might be junk or it might be cool. Some of the old Radio Shack mics were actually made by Crown. You will have to try it and see how it sounds, but I would recomend, like Brandon said, putting it a fair distance in front of things and move it around and see how it sounds.

I tell people this all the time, but if you are starting to learn about micing save up 70 bucks and get a used Shure SM57. Its a great mic that sounds good on tons of things and you will not be able to hurt it. Or you could post like mad on this site and get Brandon to give you one 8) ;D 8) ;D

[brandondrury]

Brandon to give you one

Ha!! I don't give anything away (except for maybe the Christmas thing).

You've got to earn it here!!

Great advice dude.
Brandon

[phangeaux]

Yeah, that does help, my next obvious step is to get my apartment cleaned up so I can set up my system and SEE and HEAR what I have and just play around with it for awhile.

I am not too tired tonight (like I was last night) to use google and just did a search on "understanding microphones for recording"

I found some good information web pages right from the start. I do have to learn the performance characteristics of the microphones I have and general techniques. I have to be able to use them effectively and so there's no way to get around learning something about microphones.

I should be set up pretty well with these, the guy who used them is far from an amateur. that's for sure, classically trained (University) guitarist and violinist.

I can hardly wait to get set up!! I have to clean up my place, re-arrange things so I can get everything where I want it right from the start so I can just focus on music and don't have to keep changing things around later. That is going to take awhile.

Regarding the micing of guitar amps, I was referrring to something I had read about micing a guitar amp in addition to playing directly into a recording device, but right now that is above my head.

I'll just get set up and go from there.

Thanks

[phangeaux]

LOL, Ronan,

Thanks for the advice. Yeah that little realistic mic sure has captured my curiousity. It looks cool and I am thinking about my tricone resonator when I look at the mic. The Shure Mic I trust will be good I can get lots of related info on that. As I mentiuoned the guy who owned this stuff is an advanced classically trained musician, guitar viola and violin, he is now in Vienna. He may have been on a Low budget with this stuff but I trust it is going to be fun and rewarding in any case. I am very fortunate to have recieved 2 mics with the studio, for the price of just the used studio.

I have an acousitc Continental Tricone Resonator, a very finely made instrument capable of some very interesting sound and I am very much looking forward to recording and experimenting with it. Traditionally they are associated with for Hawaiian, slack key and slide, and Blues/bottleneck or lapstyle, but I have found it is great for alot of stuff. It's going to be fun.

Thanks again,

phangeaux

Originally Posted by Ronan Chris Murphy

Your Realistic (which means Radio Shack brand) might be junk or it might be cool. Some of the old Radio Shack mics were actually made by Crown. You will have to try it and see how it sounds, but I would recomend, like Brandon said, putting it a fair distance in front of things and move it around and see how it sounds.

I tell people this all the time, but if you are starting to learn about micing save up 70 bucks and get a used Shure SM57. Its a great mic that sounds good on tons of things and you will not be able to hurt it. Or you could post like mad on this site and get Brandon to give you one 8) ;D 8) ;D

[phangeaux]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Ha!! I don't give anything away (except for maybe the Christmas thing).

You've got to earn it here!!

You'll probably want to trade me, this rare Realistic *Stereo Microphone* for one of your Shure SM 57's, but I don't know, this thing is really cool and I might keep it. I will keep you on my consideration list for a trade though, Brandon.

Meanwhile, I have to get busy here and get my place in order so I can get it all set up. I have 2 new 'professional' boom mic stands also.

Gotta get off of here and get the work done,

later