Cab Mic Choises (Option Paralysis)

BeZo

BeZo

Well-known member
I'm getting ready to mic up my cab to record. I got everything set up (mostly), but I'm having second thoughts on which mic(s) to use. I know it's going to be a ribbon mic and a dynamic mic close, and a condenser mic back a few feet. My ribbon mic is the sE Electronics VR1, and I love it. That will be the core of the sound. For the condenser, I'm using the sE Electronics 4400a set up about mid cab roughly three feet back. I haven't used this mic on a cab yet, but I like it on everything else, and I trust it. Plus, I don't use much of it in the mix. We'll see.

For the dynamic mic, I have options:
Shure SM57
Audix i5
Audix D3
Sennheiser E609
Shure SM7B
CAD TSM411

They all have their strengths and weaknesses. I'm leaning towards the D3 because it is the most neutral of the bunch. What do you guys think?
 
I don’t know about recording but for live sound I like the i5 on guitar cabs. And snare.
 
I'm not recording expert so this might not help much...

Pretty much ever one you listed is a good option. Try thinking about it based on the speakers you'll be using. Which mic will play the nicest with them and the recorded tone you're going for?
 
Floyd Eye said:
I don’t know about recording but for live sound I like the i5 on guitar cabs. And snare.
Click to expand...
I still haven't tried it yet, which is why I hesitate. Just looking at the frequency charts, the i5 has more bottom end than the others, but they all have the same peaks around 5k and up.
 
RaceU4her said:
I did this a while back with a few of them. Right now I’m liking my D4 the most


RaceU4her

Thread 'mic comparison clip'

this is my DSL 100h with everything at noon, each mic is right on the center of a T75 in the 1960. i changed nothing but the mics, just two raw tracks left and right. the order is:

57
D2
D4
421
Uni57
samson Q7
audix i5

hope this helps some of you out



https://app.box.com/embed/s/ha81txs1gisqsx7y99t65xeio28a8tjg
  • Like
Click to expand...
I have a D2 and a D4 also. I feel like the D3 is the best of both worlds, as it's frequency response is right in between them. You should give one a try. There are a couple on Reverb right now for about what I paid for mine.

I'm definitely leaning towards the D3.
 
BeZo said:
I have a D2 and a D4 also. I feel like the D3 is the best of both worlds, as it's frequency response is right in between them. You should give one a try. There are a couple on Reverb right now for about what I paid for mine.

I'm definitely leaning towards the D3.
Click to expand...


I probably should, I’m under the paralysis by analysis thing as well with mics though lol, the D4 right on the center I’m finding I need the least amount of eq and post work, it’s just works, the 3 I’m sure isn’t far off
 
I've recently gone through a similar dilemna and end of day, just double up any of two mics. I also am an I5 guy on snare but dig a 57 paired with something (anything) else for the rest. So go VR-1 + 57 and don't look back. Focus on the performance.
 
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