Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 4:23 am Post subject: Favorite Mics
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>I was just curious what brand and model mics do you tend to use in >different situations.
>use
Shure PM-58's for most vocals
>-cheaper than the SM-58, almost as good a quality(have to put them >side-by-side to hear the diff), but can't take the same ungodly abuse >that the SM-58 can handle.)
Howdy, use of what type of mic's depends on situation as you know, and what ya got to
play with. SM 58's and their clones of PM and beta series are durable and great to use for general all around mic use. We use the beta 58's and 87's in general use. For specialized vocals we will use Beyer M88's, AKG 535's and the occasional Audix OM6 if desired.
>use
Shure SM-58's for any event that is outdoors or is attached to a >
portable setup
You can use most any mic in an outdoor situation, but as you know why put a $400 mic out in the rain when a 58 or 57 will be just fine<G> . =)
>Use
Shure SM-57's and PM-57's as
instrument pickups(guitar, bongos >(does anybody know of a better mike to use for picking up bongos?), and >piano
Well for stuff like snare drums and
electric guitar amplifierss, a 57 is pretty standard. Bongo's and other "toys" and stuff that is very crisp and round in sound, try a
condenser mic. Smaller, better cleaner sound then a 57 and about the same price range for some. One of my fave's for toys and bongo's
etc is a
Audio Technica 4041...very hot mic with a great
clear sound and you can get GREAT
pick up on toys and general area mic'ing. Meets or beats the SM81
IMO in sound... You wouldn't believe the sensitivity of it.
As for Piano--a Beyer M88 on a piano sounds very nice and needs little to no EQ for tonal quality. Beyer M-88--the vocal mic I mentioned above--its a versitile mic and thats due to its transparant sound and clean pick up--everything from kick drum to vocals and everything in between is what you can use it on. I wouldn't have anything else in my gig bag for a general "anything" mic. Other good mic's are AKG 535's--very nice and clean. In a pinch the AT4041 could be used, but you won't get the low round sound you will out of the others. Its
frequency response is in the medium-upper range. When you get into the 9' concert grand piano's, you may wish to double mic--one for the lows, and one for the high end. IMO--an M88 and a 535, or a pair of M88's. In wildness or lack of the above, a PCC160
boundary mic taped to the inside lid works well too. If anything goes, then go crazy and use an EV RE20 or AKG414 on low and a
condenser on the highs.
Throw them out of
phase of each other (for anti-feedback purposes) and tune each to the range its picking up. Also--so ya know, there are piano pick-ups (
flat pick
ups like on a guitar) you can install on most pianos...they are made by Helpinstill, C-ducer and Barcus Berry.
Hope that helps.... =)