Advice on supercardioid microphones

[.:.impossible]

Hello all. I know there is a good amount of knowledge and experience here at org.org on electronics, recording, amplification, etc. I am looking at options for amplifying a Deagan 582 vibraharp. Two options: piezo pickups or microphones. There are pros and cons to each, but I have decided to start my experimentation by going the microphone route. While AMT has developed a three mic product specifically for the amplification of a vibe, I have all but ruled it out as my first step.

Instead, I am looking at other supercardiod microphones to achieve similar results. At this stage, I am still budget-concious, which is the main reason I have decided against AMT at the moment. In the end, I am probably going to end up spending as much, or more, on amplification etc. as I did on the instrument itself. In addition to the microphones, there is the mixer, cables, and monitor, along with whatever else I will be running the output through. I am fine with that. I have an ideal that I want to achieve. It will be a long experimental process, but that is what I am looking for!

FWIW, I am not interested in applying "guitar effects" to the vibe the way Bill Ware has in the past. I am looking for something a little more subtle.

Historically, two microphones are set up above the keyboard on boom stands. One above the low octave, the other above the upper octave. These are balanced through the mixer, obviously, then output to the monitor(s). AMT has added a third microphone. Positioning is up to the player, but it looks like they recommend playing it below the instrument under the middle octave.

I am at the first scenario. Two microphones on booms.

Any suggestions? Ideas?

Thanks!

[Jim Alfredson]

An inexpensive super-cardioid to try would be the MXL (otherwise known as Marshall) 603s. They are usually around $90 a piece and are made in China. However, they are very high-quality mics. I got turned on to them by the engineer who recorded our two albums, who has every kind of expensive mic you can think of.

I've been using them as drum overheads, as a stereo pair for simple ORTF micing, as Leslie mics, even as acoustic guitar mics. They sound great! They need phantom power (being condensers) and they have a very high output. There is also a modification you can do to them to make them sound even better which consists of changing a cheap capacitor on the circuit board to a higher-quality, higher tolerance capacitor. I haven't done it yet, but I've read it makes quite a difference. However, for live work, I wouldn't worry about it.

If you're interested, PM me. I can get them very cheap.

[Jim Alfredson]

If you want to hear them in action, check out our myspace page. The tunes on there were recorded with the MXL 603s set up in an ORTF configuration, out in front of the drums. In fact, that's the only mics that are on the drums except a bass drum mic. I then used a Shure SM57 on the guitar amp, another kick drum mic on my Leslie bass rotor, and another SM57 on the top rotor. 6 mics. That's it.

Granted, the tunes are compressed pretty heavily on myspace, but you can still hear what those mics sound like in a simple setup.

[.:.impossible]

I was hoping you'd reply Jim! Thanks. I will check out the MXL. Another microphone that I am interested in learning more about is the Shure Beta 5a. Do you have any experience with this?

I am looking toward supercardioid because I will need to reduce bleed as much as possible. The MXL almost looks omnidirectional. Do you see this as an issue?

[Jim Alfredson]

It looks omni, but it is not. It's probably closer to hyper-cardioid, which means the pickup pattern is a bit wider than a traditional cardioid pattern. I have not had an issue with this.

I don't know anything about the Shure Beta 5a, but Shure is always quality stuff and the Beta line is a good one.

[.:.impossible]

I really like the sound Jim. You did a great job recording. Do you think it would be wise to set the mics up ortf for the vibes as well? Most of the set-ups I've seen have the mics mounted above the keyboard.

[.:.impossible]

Well, I pulled the trigger on a pair of mxl603s today. shock mounts and case, two cables and a stereo mount included for around the price you gave me Jim.

I'm stoked.

I've got an ibook running ableton live. All I need now is a firewire mixer and I'm in business.