I record a lot of acoustic guitar in my home studio. I currently switch between an AT4040 and an SM57. The 57 sounds, well, like a 57 - a bit chunky for guitar. The AT4040 has a slight kick in the low mids that make my guitar and mandolin sound a bit boxy. I usually have to EQ it out. So, I'm looking for an additional mic for acoustic guitar/mandolin/fiddle micing.
I'm also interested in getting a new match pair of condensers and was gravitating towards the C4s.
So, my obvious question is ... can I make this a good dual purpose purchase? Are SP C4s good for Micing acoustic guitars and such? How do they sound? Bright? Warm? Tinny? Full? Flat? Boosted in any frequency(ies)?
Thanks!
Btw, how's the Kel HM-1 compare on acoustic guitar?
Comments
I have a Kel HM1. I will tell you straight up that this mic is G
I have a Kel HM1. I will tell you straight up that this mic is GREAT on certain sources. I cant remember a session I havent used it somewhere.
For acoustic guitar heres the funny part.... The WORSE your guitar sounds the better this mic works. A really really cheap old Yamaha plywood guitar will sound very good with this mic. Something thats a solid wood guitar with an appropriate pedigree, not so good. Funny huh.
It KILLS on electric guitar. Think SM57/MD421 on steroids. Its a very very good kick drum mic for quieter music...jazz, some americana..etc.
For the money, the risk is minimal. I can't tell you what your
For the money, the risk is minimal. I can't tell you what your guitar, in your own space is going to sound like, but you may like them. I keep a pair around for all kinds of things in a pinch. To me, they're a bit of a "poor-man's" KM-84. Not as rounded or rich a sound, but really not bad at all.
If they're still sellin them in the same configuration, you should get them in pairs, with omni capsules included with them as well. This is a great deal for the $$. You'll have two types of mics this way; a pair of omni's that you can switch to cardioid.
The clips used to be really cheap and break, I think they've upgraded the plastic in them a while back. Again, for the price, the risk is really minimal. (You couldn't buy a single KM84 for the same money, much less an additional set of capsules.)