Members Lucky #9 Posted August 5, 2009 Members Share Posted August 5, 2009 My concern is for condenser mics and their SPL ratings.I have a Shure KSM44, among other condensers, that I would like to mic cabs with, but am hesitant... Do you actually measure the loudness of the amp before throwing a condenser in front of it? If so, what type of meter do your measure the sound level with? Many thanks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted August 5, 2009 Members Share Posted August 5, 2009 personally I wouldnt use that type of mic for guitar. The frequency responce is too wide and it has too much low end. You wind up trimming off all that extra responce to get it to fit in the mix. I suppose used as a room/reflection mic it might work, but if you use it for vocals too, that same reflection can interfere with the vocal responce unless you again use EQ surgery It can handel 132db which is probibly a 50w tube amp cranked up fairly close. Turn the attenuator on and go for it. Just put headphone on and adjust it with your ears. Output Impedance 150 ohms (actual) Attenuation Switch 0 or 15 dB attenuation Low Frequency Response Switch Flat; -6 dB/octave below 115 Hz;-18 dB/octave below 80 Hz Phantom Power 48 Vdc (IEC-268-15/DIN 45 596), positive pins 2 and 3 Current Drain 5.4 mA typical at 48 Vdc Common Mode Rejection > 50 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz Polarity Positive pressure on front diaphragm producespositive voltage on output pin 2 relative to pin 3 Directional Polar Patterns Cardioid Omnidirectional Bidirectional Sensitivity(typical; at 1000 Hz; 1 Pa = 94 dB SPL) -31 dBV/Pa -37 dBV/Pa -36 dBV/Pa Self-noise(typical, equivalent SPL; A-weighted, IEC 651) 7 dB 10 dB 10 dB Maximum SPL @ 1000 Hz 2500 ohm load (Attenuator on) 132 (149) dB 138 (151) dB 137 (150) dB 1000 ohm load (Attenuator on) 127 (144) dB 132 (145) dB 131 (144) dB Output Clipping Level* 2500 ohm load 7 dBV 7 dBV 7 dBV 1000 ohm load 1 dBV 1 dBV 1 dBV Dynamic Range 2500 .ohm load 125 dB 128 dB 127 dB 1000 ohm load 120 dB 122 dB 121 dB Signal to Noise ratio** 87 dB 84 dB 84 dB Dimensions and Weight 55.9 mm (2.20 in.) maximum body diameter, 187 mm(7.37 in.) long; 490.5 grams (17.30 oz). **S/N ratio is difference between 94 dB SPL and equivalent SPL of self-noise A-weighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted August 5, 2009 Members Share Posted August 5, 2009 My concern is for condenser mics and their SPL ratings.I have a Shure KSM44, among other condensers, that I would like to mic cabs with, but am hesitant...Do you actually measure the loudness of the amp before throwing a condenser in front of it?If so, what type of meter do your measure the sound level with?Many thanks... Never have. I usually have my condenser several feet away anyway, with a dynamic up close. Also, I use a 14/28 watt amp (switchable), which as it is can get extremely loud. But I've never had a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Honestly, I rarely do. I usually have a pretty good idea where the SPLs are sitting just by using my ears, although I do have a Radio Shack SPL meter and another one on my iPhone. I'd be more concerned if it was a ribbon mic instead of a condenser. My advice? Engage the pad and the HPF and don't worry about it too much. The KSM44 is a very nice mic, and I wouldn't hesitate to use one on a guitar cabinet, any more than I'd hesitate to use an AKG C-414 - and I use those on guitar amps fairly often. Having said that, an SPL meter is something I consider a nearly essential tool for anyone who regularly records and mixes music. Radio Shack sells a fairly inexpensive model, and as I mentioned, if you have an iPhone, there are SPL meter apps available for it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lucky #9 Posted August 22, 2009 Author Members Share Posted August 22, 2009 Many thanks for clearing up this issue, gentlemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nerol1st Posted August 22, 2009 Members Share Posted August 22, 2009 I don't because most of the mics I like to use are rated high enough not to bother. Plus even though I get the cab moving pretty good, it's not ear deafening loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members st.bede Posted August 24, 2009 Members Share Posted August 24, 2009 I haven't because I tend to use mics that can handle high SPL but, after reading Phil O'Keefe I am thinking about picking one up now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DontLetMeDrown Posted August 25, 2009 Members Share Posted August 25, 2009 Never ever. Like WRGKMC, I normally wouldn't mic a cab with a condenser. However, I've been listening to Gojira - "From Mars to Sirius" (loving it, btw) and I read that they used a TLM103 close mic'd to record the guitars. Needless to say, I will be trying it next chance I get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gregovertone Posted August 25, 2009 Members Share Posted August 25, 2009 Honestly, I rarely do. I usually have a pretty good idea where the SPLs are sitting just by using my ears, although I do have a Radio Shack SPL meter and another one on my iPhone. hey phil- i have the iphone app too. seems solid. have you tried using both the app and the RS meter to test their consistency? i'd be curious in seeing how accurate the results of the app are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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