another microphone question

[DavidRees]

once again thanks for all the replies...a change of direction...lets ignore any necessity [desirability] for live use and just look at something to do a bit of recording at home via a Komplete Audio 6 into Cubase for singing but also for making recordings of when a few mates sit round in a circle for a bit of a sing a long / jam primarily acoustic guitar and vocals. I know there is a lot of love for the pencil Perception 170 but what about the ones higher up the range including the ones with multi directional capability? All views/advice appreciated

many thanks

David

[ecc83]

once again thanks for all the replies...a change of direction...lets ignore any necessity [desirability] for live use and just look at something to do a bit of recording at home via a Komplete Audio 6 into Cubase for singing but also for making recordings of when a few mates sit round in a circle for a bit of a sing a long / jam primarily acoustic guitar and vocals. I know there is a lot of love for the pencil Perception 170 but what about the ones higher up the range including the ones with multi directional capability? All views/advice appreciated

many thanks

David

My selection would not alter. Except to say "buy two P170s"! And one of these

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/mo...cpc/617677.xml (Maplin also do one). For recording an "ensemble" there really is no easier way than to slap out a co-incident pair and get the * on with it.

If you wanted to go dynamic two 57's will work fine with the KA6 since even cranked to max the mic pres are quieter than you are ever likely to get your room!

Big, sexy (I admit!) side address, multipattern capacitors are really a bit of an overkill here IMHO. DO do some co-i stereo recordings, you will be staggered at the "I am there" quality you get even with unmatched mic pairs. (only thing more incredible is "dummy head". SYS scary real is that!

Dave.

[Wonks]

I will differ here from Dave and would suggest getting at least one multi-pattern mic. It doesn't have to be expensive. For a lot of people sitting round then you really want either a stereo pair of SDCs (partly for spread, partly for width) or an omni-pattern LDC in the centre. It will probably more natural performance if everyone is sitting/standing in a circle and facing each other. You may get away with a single fairly wide cardioid pattern mic if you can position everyone in front of it, but the further away they are, the more of the room sound you'll capture. If its a nice sounding room, then its not too much of an issue, but you do need to hear what the mic picks up - and not just your ears. So for a flexible cover-all solution I'd suggest aiming for two SDCs and a multi-pattern LDC. But whatever you have, just go for it and make the most of it. I'd go with performance over sonic perfection every time.

[ecc83]

I will differ here from Dave and would suggest getting at least one multi-pattern mic. It doesn't have to be expensive. For a lot of people sitting round then you really want either a stereo pair of SDCs (partly for spread, partly for width) or an omni-pattern LDC in the centre. It will probably more natural performance if everyone is sitting/standing in a circle and facing each other. You may get away with a single fairly wide cardioid pattern mic if you can position everyone in front of it, but the further away they are, the more of the room sound you'll capture. If its a nice sounding room, then its not too much of an issue, but you do need to hear what the mic picks up - and not just your ears. So for a flexible cover-all solution I'd suggest aiming for two SDCs and a multi-pattern LDC. But whatever you have, just go for it and make the most of it. I'd go with performance over sonic perfection every time.

Agreed Wonks. The omni option is nice to have.

Dave.