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Author Topic:   Mics fro dobro
Dirk B
Member

From: Columbia, MO, USA

posted 18 March 2003 09:23 AM     profile   send email     edit
This is related to my other post on dobro pickups.

1. If one is to mic a dobro for LIVE performance, will a Shure SM57 do the trick? Or are there other reasonably-priced mics that are better? I've seen a lot of mics mentioned in older posts, but is Shure SM57 as good as any?

2. If one is going to use a mixer to blend the mic with a pickup, what's a good baseline mixer to get?

Many thanks to all,
Dirk

Dirk B
Member

From: Columbia, MO, USA

posted 18 March 2003 09:32 AM     profile   send email     edit
By the way, I meant to spell the word "for" instead of "fro" in the topic header, but I kind of like the way it rhymes with "dobro".
Jim Bates
Member

From: Alvin, Texas, USA

posted 18 March 2003 09:40 AM     profile   send email     edit
I played my Dobro live for many years using the SM57 which was o.k., but muddled up the dobro sound. Two years ago, I bought an AKG 1000CS (may have slightly different model numbers now), which is a unidirectional condensor mike. It's what I was looking for all along - made my guitar sound clean and clear with NO change of sound quality. I bought mike at local Guitar Store discounted to ~$180. Costs more than SM57, but what is your sound worth? Also, if possible stay away from the stage monitors as much as you can.
Erv Niehaus
Member

From: Litchfield, MN, USA

posted 18 March 2003 01:13 PM     profile   send email     edit
Audio-Technica makes an instrument mic for just such a purpose. It is model PRO 35X and the street price is $109.95. It comes complete with the mike attached to a little goose neck and a clip to hook to your guitar.
What a deal!
Dirk B
Member

From: Columbia, MO, USA

posted 18 March 2003 02:48 PM     profile   send email     edit
Is this it? http://www.audio-technica.com/prodpro/profiles/PRO35x.html
Erv Niehaus
Member

From: Litchfield, MN, USA

posted 18 March 2003 02:59 PM     profile   send email     edit
You got it, brother!
Stephen Gambrell
Member

From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA

posted 18 March 2003 06:00 PM     profile   send email     edit
I've got an Octava MK012, bought two from Musician's Friend for about 200.00, and I can't hear the difference between it, and a Neumann 184. Check 'em out!
David L. Donald
Member

From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

posted 19 March 2003 03:44 AM     profile   send email     edit
I have had an Audio Technica AT831b for 10 years or more now..
I put it in the little foam wind screen and dirctly into a hole in the dobro face plate.
We had 4 of these in a bluegass band. 1 on the banjo string anchor aimed upwards, another taped under the '34 F-5 pickguard aimed at the F hole,

And we put a stereo jack in the '53 D-28 with the mic wires cut and resoldered to the jack and a stereo plug on the power box side. The mic was glued into some foam, mounted aimed up and out from the sound holes lower rim. It got the strings and body tone, but not the floor monitors.

We were all happy with these set ups.
The AT Pro 35 is a nice unit to. The curve is flat through most of the dobro range, but with a high end peak. Great for making the guitar stand out in the mix just enough.

An Sm-57 just isn't in the same class for instrument micing.( nothing against Sure, a fine company) A 57 fo voices and snare drums yes, guitars never unless you have no choice. It will just muddy up the mix and fight with the vocals for the same frequency ranges.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 19 March 2003 at 03:59 AM.]

James Quackenbush
Member

From: Pomona, New York, USA

posted 19 March 2003 03:38 PM     profile   send email     edit
I use either a single MXL 603S or a pair of them on just about all acoustic instruments..
They work great for drum overheads also...
They're only about $100 new....Jim
Michael Brebes
Member

From: Northridge CA

posted 20 March 2003 07:42 AM     profile   send email     edit
I think the Audio Technica ATM35 is a great choice. It's a recording quality condensor mic and costs around $200. It comes with a mini gooseneck that clamps right on the cone cover. The belt pack runs off phantom power or a battery and has a switchable highpass filter. A cheaper version is the PRO 35, which is phantom power only and doesn't have the frequency response of the ATM, but at about half the price what do you expect.
Dirk B
Member

From: Columbia, MO, USA

posted 20 March 2003 10:29 AM     profile   send email     edit
The Audio-Technica ATM35 and Pro35 both seem like the ticket.

Dumb question, but what does phantom power entail? Will it not work unless it's getting powered through a PA? Can I put it directly into my preamp?

David Alexander
Member

From: Mead, Oklahoma, USA

posted 20 March 2003 12:01 PM     profile   send email     edit
The 2nd part of your questions asked about mixers to mix a mic and pickup. In my opinion the Raven Labs PMB-II is by far the best on the market. I've used the Fishman Blender for years and the PMB is much better. I have a crown condenser mic and McIntyre Acoustic Feather in my rig. You can look at the PMB at elderly.com or bob@gollihur.com which is where I purchased mine. The phantom power you mentioned is in either of these units and is initiated by a switch on the front panels.
Erv Niehaus
Member

From: Litchfield, MN, USA

posted 20 March 2003 02:46 PM     profile   send email     edit
I'm going to try mine through a Behringer DSP110 "Shark". This unit is the Swiss army knife of processors. It has feedback destroyer (good for dobro), noise gate, compressor and a mic preamp w/phantom power.
$69.99 on the street.
Erv
Dave Burr
Member

From: Tyler, TX

posted 20 March 2003 03:08 PM     profile   send email     edit
The Oktava MK219 is a great condensor mic that would work. You can actually get it cheaper than $99. As matter of fact, you can get the MK319 for $99. The MK219 retailed at $499 two years ago.

Here is a link to the MK219.

Respectfully,


------------------

Dave Burr
Remington Sustainmaster SD-10 3x4


Edited by Brad Bechtel to shorten the URL.

[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 21 March 2003 at 10:40 PM.]

Michael Brebes
Member

From: Northridge CA

posted 21 March 2003 07:09 AM     profile   send email     edit
Regarding phantom power:
Most mixers made now have phantom power on the microphone inputs. This is usually 48VDC, which is applied to the plus and minus ins of the microphone. It is usually marked "phantom power" or "48V" on the mixer. If the PA doesn't have phantom power, a phantom power box will cost $40-60. With the AT microphones the PRO35 is phantom only, but the more expensive (and better sounding) ATM35 has a belt pack that will take a 9V battery.
EugieBaange
Member

From: San Francisco, CA

posted 21 March 2003 03:13 PM     profile   send email     edit
Just to chime in with my $0.02
I, too, use an AKG C1000 - a clear, wonderful mic

I also have a Shure SM-94 condenser. Not bad but I like the AKG better.

I'll be checking out an Audio-Technica 35 (of some sort) *very* soon.

I kinda collect mics

Dirk B
Member

From: Columbia, MO, USA

posted 22 March 2003 02:53 AM     profile   send email     edit
This is all very helpful, thanks guys...

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