Phil O'Keefe: In The Studio Trenches

[jimbroni2]

Any suggestions? Typically I blend a a close mic and a DI. But this particular project is basscentric and the tones are heavy on the fuzz, octave pedals, and env filters. So I really wanna capture a room tone or distance tone as well. The band is really stripped down. Bass, Drums, Harmonica and Vox. So I really to thicken the mix with a huge bass sound. But as I said its a really fuzzy/gritty tone, but with alot of space between the beats. So I need big buzzy huge notes. Any thoughts? I currently have a DI, and a re20 mic close. But wanna a distance sound to add to it.. Maybe an LDC or Ribbon or whatever sounds right.

[jimbroni2]

Ohh and the bass cab is an Eden Metro, in a room with quite alot of absorption.

[jimbroni2]

Sorry I haven't figured out to how edit my posts yet on the new forum. Nor have I gotten my old ID to work it was jimbroni. But just wanted to add my budget . Trying to stay at $500 or under. But pipe dreams are always welcome. Thanks in advance.

[gubu]

I had a SE Electronics 2200a for a few years, and the only time I was ever happy with its sound was when I used it as a room/distance mic on bass cabs, in combination with a close mic or DI.

It should be right within your budget, and the hyped hi-mids are what make it useful for this type of application, I think. I don't remember ever having to apply much ITB processing on it.

I might be able to post a clip for you later so you can judge for yourself.

[mike.sartori]

I'd check out the AKG C214. I haven't tried it on this particular application, but it's my go-to mic for trying stuff, and I haven't been dissapointed yet. It's a great mic in the <$500 range.

[jimbroni2]

not to sidetrack my own thread have you ever tried the 214 on a snare? I've been eyeballin that mic for a while now, the price is right

After reading a variety of reviews, and seeing many people like U47fets for this.  I've been considering upping my budget slighty and looking at an AT4047/sv  anybody have any experience mic'ing bass with one of those?

[gubu]

Ok, here's a rough idea of what the 2200a sounds like as a room mic for bass cab:-

https://www.box.com/files/0/f/0/1/f_5854205148

8 feet from the cab, off axis. There is no DI or close mic used in that mix IIRC. I always liked the way the bass sounded on those demos.

[peanutroad]

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jimbroni2 wrote:After reading a variety of reviews, and seeing many people like U47fets for this.  I've been considering upping my budget slighty and looking at an AT4047/sv  anybody have any experience mic'ing bass with one of those?

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If you're looking to try out a 47-style mike at less expense, check the Kel HM7. Compares quite favorably to the 4047. I've never miked a bass cabinet with one but it's my go-to for standup acoustic bass.

Nice vocal mike too, of course.

[jimbroni2]

Yeah I've seen a handful of positive reviews for those kel hm7's. 

This stuff is always so hard because in the end I really need to just to hear it.  But my local stores don't really carry a whole lot, so I have order these kind of odd brands then if I don't like I have to deal with shipping it back.  The problem is that guitar center is about the only store in my area that has a decent selection and I use that term very loosely. They have alot of mics 90% I don't want or already have.  Heck, about 2 months I decided to spring for a 2nd Re20 just because they sound good on just about everything, and you never know when you want that flat dry sound.  Anyway, I had to go all over town to find one.  It was ridiculous.  Detroit music stores suck

Sorry for the rant thanks for the input.

[mike.sartori]

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jimbroni2 wrote:

not to sidetrack my own thread have you ever tried the 214 on a snare? I've been eyeballin that mic for a while now, the price is right

After reading a variety of reviews, and seeing many people like U47fets for this.  I've been considering upping my budget slighty and looking at an AT4047/sv  anybody have any experience mic'ing bass with one of those?

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I don't think I've used it on a snare, but I have used it as a room mic for drums, plus lots of percussion; shakers, tambourine, glockenspiel, as well as the obligitory guitars and vocals. 

[jimbroni2]

And what kinda sound came out. Accurate? Nasty? Vintage? Just curious there is no wrong answer

[mike.sartori]

It's definitely accurate, and the top end is very pleasing. I tried a bluebird on a lot of the same stuff and the AKG blew it away every time. It's basically just the cardioid setting of a 414, and those are used on just about everything, so it stands to reason. I plan to get another one for stereo stuff at some point, but I think I need a pair of multi-pattern mics first.

[Lee Knight]

As far as a 214 on snare, you'll find a 414-miking-the-snare-shell zealot in Lee Flier. I've since tried it based on her experience and advice, in cardioid, just like what a 214 is supposedly like, and it is fabulous. It has that modern but ultra natural sound. You hear the snare rattle, the shell resonance, the top pop and crack. It is a good sound, and very suited to an excellent drummer's finesse and technique.

As far as a mike for distance bass amp? I'd think, and have found, that it is more a matter of finding that spot that's got the complimentary room mode going on. I've tried a standard condenser, specifically, a 414, in omni, and moved it around searching for the room to go off a bit. It sounds like you're looking for some wild, which I was, and miking the room going a little wild is a great way to get that.

[jimbroni2]

Thats not the first time I've seen someone mention using an omni pattern to mic the bass room. hmm Interesting. I do have a multipattern, that I'm currently using in omni as a room mic for drums. And it does deliver some nice bass. Maybe I'll borrow it to test the theory. And Thanks for insight on the 214 guys. its funny everytime I research the 414, inevitably I end up reading bickering matches about all of its varieties at Gearslutz. That mic seems to stir up the pot for some reason.

[jimbroni2]

Follow up: I tested my multi-pattern on the bass amp last night and yeah omni all the way. Thanks for the suggestion Lee!! Ended up about about 6 feet back. It seemed the further away I went the more rich the bottom became. Which is good to know when we record some of the cleaner tracks. But at 6 feet it was just the right amount of snarly goodness. Re20 up on the grill, and the Cad equitek 200 in omni turns out be a great combination. Now I need to make a decision about what I'm gonna do for my ambient drum mic.

[Phil O'Keefe]

The AT4047FET is a very nice mic on bass cabinets IMO. I also really like the Rode NTK - that's my default "go to" for bass (both upright and cabinets) when I want to use a mic on one.

[Phil O'Keefe]

The RE20 is also another excellent choice for bass cabinets. Since you already have a couple of those, why not give one of those a try and see what you think?

[jimbroni2]

Thanks for the input Phil. Well I ended up ordering an AT4047 from GC, I shall receive it an a day or two. I'll post my opinion. Though I did put one of those Re20's up on the speaker close mic style, and put in combo with a CAD e200 in omni back a ways. I really really liked it. But I will def try the 4047 as well and AB and all that. Even if its not the choice, I was planning on trying it for the vocal part anyway. Which the singer has that sort of dark , Glenn Danzig or Mark Sandman from Morphine kinda voice, so that could be pretty killer.