Skip to main content

Hi
Looking for some feeback on best mics for
recording violin, viola and cello. Can't
afford U87s but wondered about K184 if I can
find one ( or more ).

Also would like feedback on response of
studio monitors deteoriating over long period
of time as I am considering buying used pair of JBL 4411s or possibly even 4311s if in good
shape. ( used them in the eighties and liked
results )

Ted Kent

Topic Tags

Comments

sdevino Thu, 09/25/2003 - 17:39

Nothing better for strings then a great SD omni. Generally the more accurate the better for strings. I use Earthworks QTC30 or QTC1.

The U87 cannot even get close to sound of these mics (I have both).

regarding monitor wear. Take the drivers to a great speaker tech and have them reconed for between $35 and $100 per speaker. Reconed speakers are essentilly the same as brand new. Used speakers have to be one of the cheapest and easiest things to refurb to like new condition.

Steve

sosayu2 Thu, 09/25/2003 - 19:46

you might also try the royer 121 ribbon mic, i've had great success on everything i've used it on so far. a nice fet47 also sounds great on strings. km184 should do the trick, they have a nice midrange responce try that and use a 414 a little closer to the body of tghe instrument as well, then combine the two.

anonymous Sat, 09/27/2003 - 19:04

Here's answer given by Al Schmitt's assistant for Al in another forum:

"Al's not around today but I can tell you the mics that we usually set up for an orchestra date. The room mics are usually M50's or M149's. Violins & Violas are U67's, and celli are km84's or km140's. Brass and woods are usually U67's. The set up and amount of mics depends on the instrumentation and what room we are in. Hope this helps. Steve"

Check out some of Al's work with strings. He's one extremely talented engineer. Get a copy of Diana Krall The Look of Love or any of his other works and listen to the clarity of everything.

Do not pass a test with a Gefell M300 or a Josephson C42 either. BTW if you've never heard of Microtech Gefell think of them as George Neumann's East German plant. I just bought a pair of M300 but the jury is still out on them. So far they are performing real well here but not nearly enough experience with them yet. I have no experience with the 84 nor the 184 but have been told the M300 is between them in sound.

anonymous Sun, 09/28/2003 - 03:22

Originally posted by jeeper:

Check out some of Al's work with strings. He's one extremely talented engineer. Get a copy of Diana Krall The Look of Love or any of his other works and listen to the clarity of everything.

Al Schmitt is a very talented engineer indeed and the orchestra on Krall's look of love sounds decent.

But compare this to Frank Sinatra's "It was a very good year", recorded on april 22 1965.
And tell me what sounds nicer.