Tape Project Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: King Arthur on June 13, 2010, 09:40:21 PM

Title: Microphones
Post by: King Arthur on June 13, 2010, 09:40:21 PM
So what microphones are all you reel to reel nuts using out there? Post some details/pics of your mics and how they sound!
Title: Re: Microphones
Post by: ironbut on June 13, 2010, 10:08:02 PM
Hey Aaron.
Microphone choice depends a great deal upon what and where you're recording. I think most of the guys here that do that sort of thing professionally will have a locker with a selection of current and vintage mics to choose from.
For more casual recording, it's nice to have a pair of mic's with capsules that can be changed to the different pick-up patterns. Of course, you can spend plenty of money on those.

If you're thinking about buying your first set of real microphones, I suggest that you do your homework and start out with something like a lower priced Chinese or maybe a Russian mic and fool around with a pair until you outgrow them. Even a cheap mic can sound great if well placed and the most expensive ones can sound like crap if they aren't.
Here's some good general info;

http://www.shure.com/americas/how-to/index.htm

http://www.dpamicrophones.com/en/Microphone-University/StereoTechniques.aspx
Title: Re: Microphones
Post by: King Arthur on June 14, 2010, 03:18:39 PM
At the moment I have a SM57 and a AT-2020 condenser Mic which is actually pretty good considering how cheap it was. I'm looking into getting a ribbon Mic at the moment as I hear they give the best vintage sound..
 
http://www.coutant.org/reslo/index.html (http://www.coutant.org/reslo/index.html)

Aaron
Title: Re: Microphones
Post by: docb on June 14, 2010, 03:35:38 PM
A few thoughts:

if you want something sort of universal (not really possible) get two of the same mic, so you can record in stereo

inexpensive ribbon mics are very mellow, aka a little rolled off. The Chinese ones tend to use very thick foil so they are more rolled off than the more expensive classic ribbon mics. I have modified one with thinner foil, but it's still kinda dull on top. The organ, electric guitar and (IIRC) the conga on The Number White were recorded with a Royer stereo ribbon mic - a very high quality ribbon that is more open on top. Ribbons can require a fairly high gain mic preamp. And you can wipe out the ribbon with a single plosive.

the Apex 460 is another cheap but usable mic, and one that responds well to modification. It will give a brighter presentation, and will also be a little more forgiving of mishandling.
Title: Re: Microphones- stereo ribbons
Post by: U47 on June 14, 2010, 04:58:14 PM
HI
I second Doc on the ribbon recommendation. Try a Royer Ribbon or B&O 200 with AEA preamp or old Advent mic preamp. SuperNatural sound. They take eq very nicely, as opposed to most condenser mics.

Rich Brown
Acoustic Arts
Portland, Oregon
Title: Re: Microphones
Post by: King Arthur on June 14, 2010, 05:18:37 PM
Thanks for the tips. Those royers looks really nice...
Title: Re: Microphones
Post by: Romo on June 17, 2010, 02:32:18 PM
The organ, electric guitar and (IIRC) the conga on The Number White were recorded with a Royer stereo ribbon mic -


Also the room sound in front of the drums, so some of the piano sound too. In the mixing, instead of reverb, some signals were sent out to speakers in the tracking room and mic'd with the SF-24.
http://www.royerlabs.com/SF-24.html

romo