Comments on: Making the Best of a Cheap Mic http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/ Home recording and project studio blog Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:14:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Peter Pav http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/comment-page-1/#comment-66697 Peter Pav Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:22:55 +0000 http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/#comment-66697 I want to agree on the mic pre thing. On another site all these guys attacked me because I said I think a mic needs a little, I mean a little compression and EQ before it hits the Digital converter. Can a mic plugged straight into a DAW and then processed with a plug-in after, really get the same or better sound ? I want to agree on the mic pre thing. On another site all these guys attacked me because I said I think a mic needs a little, I mean a little compression and EQ before it hits the Digital converter. Can a mic plugged straight into a DAW and then processed with a plug-in after, really get the same or better sound ?

]]> By: Tony G http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/comment-page-1/#comment-46316 Tony G Sat, 23 Feb 2008 06:49:05 +0000 http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/#comment-46316 Paiste Signatures have nice high end decay and clarity Problem is I do alot of mixin shit I didn.t track so I don;t always get to use em Paiste Signatures have nice high end decay and clarity
Problem is I do alot of mixin shit I didn.t track so I don;t always get to use em

]]> By: Music maker http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/comment-page-1/#comment-39388 Music maker Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:20:05 +0000 http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/#comment-39388 if you talk cheapest - probably no one beats Shure C606 Spotlight Dynamic Microphone... anyway works cool for a bedroom musician with no vocal booth if you talk cheapest – probably no one beats Shure C606 Spotlight Dynamic Microphone… anyway works cool for a bedroom musician with no vocal booth

]]> By: Kay Kastum http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/comment-page-1/#comment-38230 Kay Kastum Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:31:25 +0000 http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/#comment-38230 I use el-cheapo mic all the time so I guess I'm still in the 'practice zone'. Even an SM57 considered 'expensive' here in sunny Malaysia. But yeah. That's a really good tip. I use el-cheapo mic all the time so I guess I’m still in the ‘practice zone’. Even an SM57 considered ‘expensive’ here in sunny Malaysia. But yeah. That’s a really good tip.

]]> By: des http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/comment-page-1/#comment-37718 des Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:22:23 +0000 http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/#comment-37718 Thanks for the cymbal breakdown, Bryan. > <em>Cleaning cymbals does nothing. I'm a professional drummer</em> Odd, that hasn't been my experience. I agree that simply polishing an already-clean cymbal won't change the sound (and I probably should be clearer on that above.) But I've gotten extra sparkle out of several cymbals by cleaning off the residue/tape gunk/beer/whatever the drummer happened to have left stuck on the damn thing. (All that comes with the huge caveat that I'm NOT a professional, of course! Probably obvious in that I've worked with beer-covered cymbals.) > <em>I believe most of what you suggest applies to all mics.</em> Yep, absolutely. Well, except that I'd be a little wary mod'ing a U87 :-) Thanks for the cymbal breakdown, Bryan.

> Cleaning cymbals does nothing. I’m a professional drummer

Odd, that hasn’t been my experience. I agree that simply polishing an already-clean cymbal won’t change the sound (and I probably should be clearer on that above.) But I’ve gotten extra sparkle out of several cymbals by cleaning off the residue/tape gunk/beer/whatever the drummer happened to have left stuck on the damn thing.

(All that comes with the huge caveat that I’m NOT a professional, of course! Probably obvious in that I’ve worked with beer-covered cymbals.)

> I believe most of what you suggest applies to all mics.

Yep, absolutely.

Well, except that I’d be a little wary mod’ing a U87 :-)

]]> By: Bruno Afonso http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/comment-page-1/#comment-37685 Bruno Afonso Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:24:46 +0000 http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/#comment-37685 Actually, I believe most of what you suggest applies to all mics. From el cheapos to u87. The most expensive mic in the hands of a clueless person will not be used to its fullest capabilities. I would also encourage anyone with less than top notch mics to invest in a really good pre. Only then you will see how not so bad the mics you have are. Most people tend to use m-audio's and lower end gear mic pres and that will make even the best mic in the world sound bad. It also doesn't let the person learn about micing because it lacks the resolution to understand mic positions nuances and differences. stay cool b Actually, I believe most of what you suggest applies to all mics. From el cheapos to u87. The most expensive mic in the hands of a clueless person will not be used to its fullest capabilities.

I would also encourage anyone with less than top notch mics to invest in a really good pre. Only then you will see how not so bad the mics you have are. Most people tend to use m-audio’s and lower end gear mic pres and that will make even the best mic in the world sound bad. It also doesn’t let the person learn about micing because it lacks the resolution to understand mic positions nuances and differences.

stay cool
b

]]> By: bryan tewell http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/comment-page-1/#comment-37546 bryan tewell Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:06:59 +0000 http://www.hometracked.com/2008/01/21/making-the-best-of-a-cheap-mic/#comment-37546 Cleaning cymbals does nothing. I'm a professional drummer and I think cymbal cleaners are in most cases the biggest waste of money and on top of that, all it does is make the cymbal look better, if anything it will make the cymbal sound worse though. Try different cymbals. Brilliant (shiny)finish cymbals have way more high frequencies (brighter) than natural finish cymbals. Examples of natural cymbals are A zildjian, and K zildjian. Examples of brilliant cymbals are Zildjian A customs/ Z customs. Paiste Signature. (I dont use sabian so I couldnt tell you which ones which. If you can see your reflection (or something similar) in the cymbal, than its going to be way brighter sounding). Also, Thinner cymbals are generally darker (and not as loud, but more sensitive and articulate) And yes, tell your drummer he doesnt need to bash away at the cymbals, unless he really does like spending money constantly on new cymbals. Cleaning cymbals does nothing. I’m a professional drummer and I think cymbal cleaners are in most cases the biggest waste of money and on top of that, all it does is make the cymbal look better, if anything it will make the cymbal sound worse though. Try different cymbals. Brilliant (shiny)finish cymbals have way more high frequencies (brighter) than natural finish cymbals. Examples of natural cymbals are A zildjian, and K zildjian. Examples of brilliant cymbals are Zildjian A customs/ Z customs. Paiste Signature. (I dont use sabian so I couldnt tell you which ones which. If you can see your reflection (or something similar) in the cymbal, than its going to be way brighter sounding). Also, Thinner cymbals are generally darker (and not as loud, but more sensitive and articulate)

And yes, tell your drummer he doesnt need to bash away at the cymbals, unless he really does like spending money constantly on new cymbals.

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