OT: Mics for strings

[Meterbridge1]

Hi people,

I was wondering if y'all have any suggestions for a pair of inexpensive (read as: cheap) mics to record a string quartet. I'll be using a Mbox. I'd consider renting mics, but only as a last resort.

Thanks.

[where02190]

If you want a cheap string sound, any cheap mic will do.

If you want a good string sound, I'd recommend Shure SM81's or AKG C4000B's.

[Aussie169]

Hire a pair of AKG 535EB. These mics never cease to amaze me with their versatility.

[Phil O'Keefe]

The C-535EB's are pretty cool mics and are indeed, very versatile.

If your budget is even tighter, try a pair of Oktava MC012's. They normally go for around $100 ea. at Gtr Ctr, but are currently on sale for $100 for a pair.

If money was no object, I'd start recommending some good ribbon mics - I'm partial to the Beyer M160's, or a M130 and M160 in a M-S arrangement.

[Meterbridge1]

I've never tried the AKG C-535EB's before. Looks like a good price too.

I've actually tried the Octava's before and I thought they were a good deal for the money. I'd actually forgotten about them. Don't they come with different capsules also?

Thanks for the suggestions.

Uncle T

[where02190]

You can get different capsules/patterns for the octavas, however, beware, their quality control is the pits. check all mics against eachother to make sure you ahve reasonably matched mics BEFORE you buy. I know many people who have had problems with Octava mics, I don't recommend them.

[yessiree]

Do yourself a favor and try a pair of omnis. The oktavas have the option to get them with an omni capsule in addition to the card that comes with the cheap deal. It is well worth it. I love omnis. I prefer a pair of omnis for drum overheads any day of the week to cards. However I prefer real, natural sounding recordings as opposed to the usual hyped stuff that has had the life taken out with eq and overuse of compression.

If you can find a friend or are yourself handy with a solder iron, check out the DIY omni mic plans online.
http://prosoundweb.com/recording/tap...mic_16_1.shtml

Here are two mp3s of a string quartet recorded into an Mbox with a pair of these DIY mics. The thing I like about them is that what you hear is what you get. Frequency response is nearly ruler flat. Nothing was done to these tracks whatsoever, what you hear is what was captured. I was very pleased.
http://www.a2detail.net/etf/rizner1.mp3
http://www.a2detail.net/etf/rizner2.mp3

[ecalcagnino]

Hey NICE! Thanks for the link to the mics. These don't look difficult to build but I am no expert. How long did it take you to build these?

Eric

[yessiree]

You're welcome, I love 'em. I actually did an a/b test with a pair of oktavas with the omni caps, and a pair of the original Stapes Audio omnis (really just a modified design of the DIY to take phantom power) and the DIY mics held their own. In fact I found the differences very hard to discern thru the mbox pres and my little mackie's pres.

I had a friend of mine who is more electronically inclined and has a steady hand on the solder gun help me out, and we made 3 of them in one evening, maybe spent about 3 hours. Get your parts from digikey.com, and you are good to go. You should be able to get neutrik xlr jacks and boots online. Try a google search, I can't recall where I bought mine.

I picked up some outdoor rated electric junction boxes for the power supply (9v battery) that are a nice matte grey finish. You can paint 'em and stencil or make a custom sticker if you like. The circuit can be modified from the plan to take phantom power from your mixer, but I didn't do that this time around. That is the only downside to these, gotta make sure you DON'T give 'em phantom power and make sure you unplug one cable from the power supply box when you aren't using them so the battery isn't drained.

Actually the new tape op has a cool mic pre project I hope to try. Long live DIY! A pair of mics that sound like several hundred dollar mics - $40. Bandaids for solder burn - 99 cents. Satisfaction you made them yourself - priceless.

[bjoneill74]

I agree with Where on this.. What you buy is more or less what you get.. There are few exceptions to that rule.

I agree with Phil on this.. Ribbon mics are fantastic for strings, but a bit expensive. Very versatile though.
I'd opt for a mix of ribbons, large diaphragm condensors and small diaphragm condensors.
A friend of mine just got one of those Wes Dooley/AEA R84's and man that things kicks but.

As always none of this is as important as the instrument, how it's tuned, how it's played, where it's being played.
Performance and Song.

Cheers,