Robert Plant used a sub $1000 mic on his last record

[Geoff738]

Or so I recently read. (SOS I think - red logo).

Avantone BV-1 IIRC. Which has apparently been discontinued.

Anyhow, the point is not that you should go seek out one of these puppies. I suppose if your voice is similar to his and you're trying to get the tone he got on the last record, then, maybe. And even then, only maybe. Point is, there's great stuff, maybe not even great stuff, but appropriate stuff for the application, and it's not necessarily all that expensive. Ok, a grand for a mic ain't exactly cheap, but back in the the Zep days he probably sang into a far more spendy Neumann (even before we take inflation into account). So, use the tools you have, make the most out of them, don't get too angsty about it.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the GAS thing completely. I think it's worse for me in the recording realm than in the guitar world. I know it is. There's just so much fantastic stuff available now - at relatively affordable prices. I'd love to try it all. Even if I had the $$ I don't have the time.

Anwho, part of this is me trying to talk myself out of buying something that is no doubt cool and awesome and might improve my recordings/mixes by a couple percent when actually spending more time on the songs, arrangement, recording and mix would achieve far more.

Ok, rantish mode off. Just had some GAS happening and read the Plant thing last night and thought - he could use any mic he wanted - and he chose (or the engineer or producer selected or whatever) this relatively unknown and cheap thing.

Ok, I feel better now. Got an initial idea for another one today. Should go work on that instead of worrying whether I have the right kind of mic pre or whatever!

Cheers,
geoff

 

[peteycaster]

Hey Geoff, don't let it get to you. I am going through a phase now where I am determined that I am going to improve my recordings with what I have before I buy anything else. I am going to make myself earn any upgrades. I figure this way I am not moving to the next step ahead of time.

 

[woodman]

I am determined that I am going to improve my recordings with what I have before I buy anything else.

That's my philosophy too ... is it the mike, or is it my singing that needs improvement? Obviously the latter. Wishing for the moon (gear-wise) won't help my vocals, just as high-end plugs won't help my instrumentals until I master the ones I've got. But if the time comes when gear/software becomes an impediment, I'll spring for an upgrade. Right now, for me, it's my monitors that are holding back progress, so everything else takes a back seat.

 

[Geoff738]

Hey Geoff, don't let it get to you. I am going through a phase now where I am determined that I am going to improve my recordings with what I have before I buy anything else. I am going to make myself earn any upgrades. I figure this way I am not moving to the next step ahead of time.

Good for you. That really is the way to go. That way you learn what the limitations of your system are for the way you work and what you want to achieve. Then when you do upgrade your gear, you're ready to take it to the next level.

This all kinda started with me because of a pretty good (ie bad) bout of insomnia. So I went on the interwebs and started looking into Logic's plugs and what folks think are good or bad. This was actually not a bad idea as it turns out on a couple of levels. First, it turns out the most of Logic's plugs are considered useable and often good enough that you don't need to go any further. Second it made me aware of a bunch of things that I had no idea were in Logic. So, I've been playing around with all of Logic's plugs and seeing what they can do. Third, I did find and download a couple or three free plugs (the Flux transient one, Massey Tapehead (AU version) and a Voxengo metering one (SPAN). Not sure I really need 'em, but what the hey?

I don't need more stuff. Time and a better room - that I could use!

I am pondering a guitar sim/Pod kinda dealio. Most of the time I do have is when everybody is asleep or otherwise around and making it difficult to crank up the amps. I've resisted and resisted and resisted going that way as I have nice amps and I like to play 'em and stick mics in front of them and all that. But, it's keeping me away from recording, so. Pondering.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[woodman]

I am pondering a guitar sim/Pod kinda dealio. Most of the time I do have is when everybody is asleep or otherwise around and making it difficult to crank up the amps. I've resisted and resisted and resisted going that way as I have nice amps and I like to play 'em and stick mics in front of them and all that. But, it's keeping me away from recording, so. Pondering.

Although purists may groan, reducing the logistical hassle factor really has optimized my recording time. I figure if I can get a decent tone with POD/plugs for songwriting or demo purposes, surely I can reproduce that with a miked amp when I make a big-studio record destined for glossy mastering. (Fat chance!!! ) And in your situation, with insomnia hours to burn while the family sleeps, you can churn out tracks like mad using your excellent headphones. Go for it!

 

[Rolling Estonian]

I am pondering a guitar sim/Pod kinda dealio. Most of the time I do have is when everybody is asleep or otherwise around and making it difficult to crank up the amps. I've resisted and resisted and resisted going that way as I have nice amps and I like to play 'em and stick mics in front of them and all that. But, it's keeping me away from recording, so. Pondering.

Cheers,
Geoff

Before I bought a good amp, mics etc. I bought a Line6 UX2. I work nights and play through headphones a lot when others are asleep. I think you'll find it a great tool as it'll allow you to mix and match thousands of different combinations. Just my $.02

M

 

[peteycaster]

Third, I did find and download a couple or three free plugs (the Flux transient one, Massey Tapehead (AU version) and a Voxengo metering one (SPAN). Not sure I really need 'em, but what the hey?

Cheers,
Geoff

I d'loaded the Flux one on your recommendation recently and have used it, the Span I already had and use it occasionally although I do have another plug that does the same thing, will look into The Massey one though.

Another free plug in I have used a lot in the past is Upstereo which is a plug for the 2bus. To be honest I forgot I had this as I have been using other plugs on my faux mastering endeavours, but it is great to stick on the 2 bus for a quick mastered sound. Here is the site for either PC or Mac

http://www.quikquak.com/downloads.html

 

[davmac]

I am pondering a guitar sim/Pod kinda dealio. Most of the time I do have is when everybody is asleep or otherwise around and making it difficult to crank up the amps. I've resisted and resisted and resisted going that way as I have nice amps and I like to play 'em and stick mics in front of them and all that. But, it's keeping me away from recording, so. Pondering.

Just because you have the sim doesn't mean that you can't mic up the amps. The way I see it, it just widens the available recording time.

I've used Line 6 gear for a couple of years. It was mainly bought for live but more and more I'm using it for late night recording "sketches". I may replace it with a mic'd up amp later, but I may just leave it "as is".

I've recently been dabbling with the free version of Amplitube, and I've been really impressed with it. Not so much for the sound, which is just about acceptable, but for the sheer convenience of being able to quickly get an idea recorded. Once you've captured the performance you can then mess about with amp and FX settings. It has radically altered my approach. Where I'd previously spend hours trying to get everything set up to match the sound I had in my head and then, more often than not, once a track gets bedded into the mix, I find it wasn't quite the perfect sound for the track. Now with Amplitube I can sort out all of that out after it is recorded and then, if I choose to mic an amp and re-record, I've got a much better idea of the tone I want.

I don't see these real vs sim as either/or type decisions. It is just one more useful tool in the box for me.

 

[fezz parka]

Spend money on good pre's.

A 57 with the right pre sounds like a million bucks.

 

[Geoff738]

Spend money on good pre's.

A 57 with the right pre sounds like a million bucks.

And a Beyer 201 with a good pre is even better.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[GCKelloch]

It is recommended to start out with a 57 until you really learn mic technique. Besides, more sensitive mics will pickup more background noise. If you feel comfortible with your technique and have a quiet recording environment, I would recommend one of the mics here:
(link removed)
or here:
http://www.oktavamodshop.com/index.php?cPath=1

 

[TxTeleMan]

I always used sub-$1,000 mics.

Mostly sub $100 mics.

 

[String Tree]

Nice mic, nice pre-amp. After that, things get a lot easier.
Bit the bullet and bought a Neuman TLM103, and an AKG414 about 8 years ago.
Best thing I ever did for myself.

Hearing your vocal during playback after singing through the Neuman is believing.

 

[woodman]

Nice mic, nice pre-amp. After that, things get a lot easier.
Bit the bullet and bought a Neuman TLM103, and an AKG414 about 8 years ago.
Best thing I ever did for myself.

Hearing your vocal during playback after singing through the Neuman is believing.

Yeah, I can imagine! But that's a pretty big bullet to bite ... the 103 is on my wish list, but top priority is upgrading my monitors, so it'll be a while before I can go the upper-echelon LDC route.