Klarinet Archive - Posting 000122.txt from 2003/12

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Microphones
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2003 23:21:12 -0500

First of all, get a real preamp if you are going to spend big bucks on
microphones. A pair of Grace 101's will run you about $1200 and will
provide amazing detail for your mics. For a bit cheaper, RME audio =
makes a
4 channel preamp that is supposed to be quite good. FMR Audio also =
makes a
good preamp called "the real nice preamp" The RME and FMR are about =
$500 a
set if I remember correctly. =20

All of these will be better than a biamp... Heck, a Mackie 1202 will be
better than that Biamp thing...

Second- microphones. Ribbons are amazing. Coles 4038 are indeed a
favorite, but you'll have issues doing stereo micing with them as they =
are
quite difficult to mount on a stereo bar. Instead, check out something =
like
the Shure KSM 44. A great mic that runs about $700-$800/each new. You =
can
find them on ebay for $500/each. One of these days when I have some =
extra
cash, I'll get a bunch of them for micing big band sax sections and =
studio
woodwind sections. Until then, I rent them...

For a bit more money, Schoeps CMC6-MK4 would be great as well. You'll =
find
them in just about every major studio that records acoustic music.
Completely transparent mics. The pair will run you about $2K, though.
Doesn't leave much for preamps. Same can be said for Sennheiser MKH-40s
which are also great and will sound better in crappy rooms. A new =
favorite
that I've been using lately is the Microtech Geffel M930.

As for interface- I'd stay away from Echo stuff. It is ok, but not
fantastic. The M-Audio interfaces (like the Delta 1010) are better. =
Your
best interfaces are going to be made by RME and Lynx. Motu is good if
you're running on a Mac, but their PC drivers are pretty unstable.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Fifth Circle Audio
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.fifthcircle.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Spencer [mailto:laparadox@-----.com]=20
> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 2:20 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Cc: benmaas@-----.com
> Subject: [kl] Re: Microphones
>=20
>=20
> Ben, Eric, et al.
>=20
> Since two people asked, I'll discuss my proposed home
> recording. If I'm off-topic too much, just let me
> know privately. =20
>=20
> I have an existing 8-Channel Biamp Advantage One
> pre-amp and am willing to upgrade. I'm in the process
> of selecting a sound card and will use my desktop
> computer for recording. I'm favoring the Layla 24
> recording system (24-bit/96kHz). I have past
> experience with Layla and there have been very few
> complaints about their new system. Also, in the
> future I can see if I can get their PCMIA card option
> working with my laptop. I will probably get a fast,
> large IDE hard drive to go with my 900+MHz Athalon
> Processor. =20
>=20
> Back to microphones, Ben in a past posting you listed
> the Coles 4038 ribbon microphone as your all time
> favorite. Is this still true? I know it varies on
> location, setting, moon phase, etc., but overall is
> this still your favorite? I noticed that the Coles
> have a better response at the low frequencies.=20
>=20
> By the way after several hours of going through
> outdated & confusing websites on home recording, I
> found a great one at:
>=20
> http://www.tweakheadz.com
>=20
> If you want to know the basics about home recording,
> it's worth spending the time going through their
> "Guide". =20
>=20
>=20
> -Spencer
> (squong__yahoo__com)
>=20
>=20
>=20

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