|
This page: Different Mics for Different Tasks; Character Versus Precision; Off-Axis Response
'Even with their superior transient response, small-diaphragm condensers are not always the best choice.'
Different Mics for Different Tasks
Shure SM57 |
Not all mics handle all situations the same way, and your choice of microphone should depend on the larger sonic picture. If I'm shooting for a percussive, strummed guitar sound, and I know the track(s) will ultimately sit in a dense mix, I'll record the guitar with a small-diaphragm condenser to ensure that I'll have enough detail to cut through the mix. If, on the other hand, the guitar track isn't competing with a lot of other full-bandwidth tracks, I might go with a large-diaphragm for a rounder, more full-bodied sound.
Keep in mind that these are generalities, and every mic should be judged by its own unique attributes. A large-diaphragm condenser may offer superior transient response if its diaphragm is unusually thin. (2.5 microns is about the thinnest they come.) This measurement is often omitted from a mic's spec sheet, so you may have to ask the manufacturer for details.
A mic's transient response is also tied to its high-frequency response. The AKG C 414 B-TL II ($1,165), a large-diaphragm mic that has a considerable boost between 5-12kHz, captures plenty of detail on acoustic guitar, trap drums, and hi-hat.
Character Versus Precision
Even with their superior transient response, small-diaphragm condensers are not always the best choice. They can sound a little glassy on vocals, as well as on instruments that have a voice-like quality, such as saxophone. Large-diaphragm condensers tend to smooth the edges on such sources; this creates a rounder tone that nevertheless has plenty of detail and nuance.
DPA 4011
|
Check out these audio samples of female vocals. The DPA 4011 makes consonants sound a tad crisper than the large-diaphragm Neumann U 87 A ($2,825 list). Once again, both mics produce a more detailed recording than the Shure SM57 dynamic mic.
 |
As you listen to these three audio samples of a female vocalist, focus on the way each mic reproduces the "s" in the lyric "something." The DPA 4011 (MP3 58k) is a tad sibilant. The Neumann U 87 A (MP3 58k) has a slightly softer high end. Although it's the brightest of the three mics, the dynamic Shure SM57 (MP3 57k) reproduces very little extreme high-frequency content, causing fricative consonants (such as "s") to sound relatively dull. |
AKG C414u |
For vocals, you might consider using a tube mic. Tube condensers can add musically pleasing overtones to a recording, and as a result the source can sound warmer, bigger, and more three-dimensional -- just the ticket for the "money tracks," such as vocals, sax, and guitar solos.
What about using a tube mic on a kick drum? If you want a big, fat sound, a tube mic may be your answer. Just make sure it can handle the high sound-pressure levels a kick drum produces. (Many tube mics can't.) If you're looking for a more focused and precise kick sound, a solid-state mic might be your best bet.
Off-Axis Response
Small-diaphragm mics are generally the best choice when off-axis frequency response is critical. A mic with a good off-axis response will offer relatively uniform frequency response for sounds that arrive at the sides and rear of the mic (off axis), as it does for those that arrive at the front of the mic (on axis). This helps prevent room bleed from sounding harsh or otherwise weird.
If you're recording several instruments in the same room, any given mic will pick up a little bit of the instruments it's not pointing at. A mic with ragged off-axis response can ruin the sound of a multi-mic setup by coloring the sound of off-axis instruments in the final mix -- you'll hear both the instrument's intended mic and the off-axis mic, and the interplay between the two can be jarring. Because of their flatter off-axis response, small-diaphragm mics excel at multi-mic recordings. Generally, the smaller the diaphragm, the better the off-axis response.
Next Page: Noise and Dynamic Range; Dynamic Range; It's a Wrap!....
|
