New Condenser Mic with iBeam

Started by drathbun, July 09, 2005, 10:03:39 PM

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I've just purchased a new medium diaphram condenser microphone for recording. Even though it isn't a $400 Neumann, I'm impressed with the sound quality difference from a cheap dynamic mic.

I've recorded a short MP3 of my Larrivee L05, putting the LRBaggs iBeam active pickup on the right channel and the Apex 435 on the left channel. The only processing I did was, I saved the mix straight out of Sonar 4.0 and compressed it in SoundForge 6.0 with "WaveHammer" on smooth compression.  The mic was about 3" from the 20th fret.

It sounds a whole bunch better than just the iBeam itself.   -_-

Here is the link:

Anybody Out There?

The song is "Anybody Out There?" by Pink Floyd.
2016 Martin 000-28vs 12 fret

2014 Taylor 814ce

2014 Godin Multiac Classical

2012 Gibson "The Golden Age 1930's" SJ200

2012 Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass

2010 Gretsch Electromatic G5122DC

2009 Taylor GA3-12e

2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

1981 Rickenbacker 320JG

1968 Yamaha FG150 Red La


good sound quality (and clean playing).
Randy R., Georgia, USA
Opinions available. Inquire about qty discount.
Forum Guitar III LS03 #15 ser no 108519

Good job, Good sound and good playing. I enjoyed that.

Sounds really good.  Nice playing too.  What preamp & soundcard are you using?

Zach

Thanks folks!

I played through an Alto 6 channel mixer (phantom power and non-tube preamps) to an M-Audio Audiophile USB external soundcard. I had the EQ flat on the mixer.

In reading some of the other threads about microphone placement, I guess I should place the condenser further away from the soundhole? Some say at least 24"? Anyone have expertise with condenser mic placement over the soundhole?



2016 Martin 000-28vs 12 fret

2014 Taylor 814ce

2014 Godin Multiac Classical

2012 Gibson "The Golden Age 1930's" SJ200

2012 Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass

2010 Gretsch Electromatic G5122DC

2009 Taylor GA3-12e

2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

1981 Rickenbacker 320JG

1968 Yamaha FG150 Red La

Sounds good! What is the brand and make of condensor you are using? I have three AKG C-3000 condensors. One is the older model with the 2nd element wired out of phase, that when switched in, narrows the pickup field to "hyper-cardioid". plus a bass cuttoff and a volume cut switch.. They are great, and you can find them for about $100 sometimes, with shock mounts.

Doug J
Larrivee (1996) LC-09
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The condenser mic is an Apex 435 wide diaphram in a shock mount (search for  Apex 435). I got it for $70 Cdn.

I also picked up a Behringer MIC200 modeling tube preamp.
2016 Martin 000-28vs 12 fret

2014 Taylor 814ce

2014 Godin Multiac Classical

2012 Gibson "The Golden Age 1930's" SJ200

2012 Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass

2010 Gretsch Electromatic G5122DC

2009 Taylor GA3-12e

2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

1981 Rickenbacker 320JG

1968 Yamaha FG150 Red La

Wow! That sounds REALLY GOOD! Thanks for sharing! Any more?

Jeff
Stanford PSD10 (best Martin D-18 copy out there!)
Stanford PSD20
Walden D552 12-string
The Loar LM-400VS Mandolin

Quote from: drathbun on July 11, 2005, 01:45:07 AM
Thanks folks!

I played through an Alto 6 channel mixer (phantom power and non-tube preamps) to an M-Audio Audiophile USB external soundcard. I had the EQ flat on the mixer.

In reading some of the other threads about microphone placement, I guess I should place the condenser further away from the soundhole? Some say at least 24"? Anyone have expertise with condenser mic placement over the soundhole?

If you want the recording to sound more like the actual guitar does dry, moving the mic out a bit should help that.  Also, turn up the mic and turn down the pickup in the mix - that will also get you closer to the actual sound, if that's what you want. 

Placing a mic close to the soundhole can be done, but it's done rarely, and even then only if the mic's polar pattern is set to omni.

Thanks sdelsolray! There does seem to be a sweet spot a couple of feet from the soundhole.
2016 Martin 000-28vs 12 fret

2014 Taylor 814ce

2014 Godin Multiac Classical

2012 Gibson "The Golden Age 1930's" SJ200

2012 Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass

2010 Gretsch Electromatic G5122DC

2009 Taylor GA3-12e

2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

1981 Rickenbacker 320JG

1968 Yamaha FG150 Red La

that's too funny.......I've been playing that piece since it came out (26 years ago - YIKES)  and had kind of forgotten about it until I wanted to challenge one of my students a couple of weeks ago to learn it.   
   I think the I-beam with a condensor is as good as you can do........I use an external AKG C3000B for both live and recording along with the Baggs I-beam passive and Gigpro on all of my instruments.......you can spend a lot more, but you certainly won't get much more natural sound!!
   BTW, I always thought it was part of "Vera", not "Is There Anybody Out There".......goes to show what I know - LOL!!!
Charis SJ Koa/Sitka
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's drivin"

"Is There Anybody Out There?" follows "Hey You" and is followed by "Nobody Home" and then "Vera". "Vera" and "Bring the Boys Back Home" are two tracks I skip on that album.

Another good acoustic song on "The Wall" is "Goodbye Blue Sky".
2016 Martin 000-28vs 12 fret

2014 Taylor 814ce

2014 Godin Multiac Classical

2012 Gibson "The Golden Age 1930's" SJ200

2012 Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass

2010 Gretsch Electromatic G5122DC

2009 Taylor GA3-12e

2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

1981 Rickenbacker 320JG

1968 Yamaha FG150 Red La

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