I've never had a lot of success with clip on mics. However I did cut down a mic clamp for a full size mic and mounted it onto a clamp assembly and was able to use that with a fair amount of success. It's a little bulky but it does give good sound quality.
All the good clip-ons need phantom power. Let price be your guide. Yes you do hear a bit more hand sliding, you also miss out on varying the sound by moving the drum in and out from the mic. On the plus side you get less spill and no accidents with a clip-on. JTS CX508 and AKG C419 are two good ones.
Is the mic for live performance or recording? I have recently done a recording where two mics were used. On the "back" we used an AKG dynamic and for the "front" a Neuman U87. I have used the JTS clip on before and found it was ok, however I prefer a mic on a stand for live performance. Generally I'll use a SM 57 but have also used a SM 58 which I found gave a great response from the highs and lows of the instrument. I also found during the recent recording session that my "hot rod" tipper gave the best sound. Not too much "thump" and really accentuated the natural sound of the drum. I use a Hedwitschak 15" double goat skin drum.
My wife, Min Gates, has been thru several bodhran mics over the years...
We have used the AKG C419, and it was pretty good. We still have one. When we switched to an AudioTechnica AT35x Pro, we felt that the mid- and low-range tones were richer.
Both of these mics are condensor mics and require phantom power, but there are some variations of the AT35 which use a little battery pack.
One year at the Cincinnati Celtic Fest we heard more of Paddy League's bodhran than we had ever heard thru a PA, and so we spoke with the sound guy and as a result we got an ElectroVoice EV468 dynamic mic. This thing looks like an egg in a stirrup or yoke mount and costs about $200 new and can be found used for less. It's a pretty common mic for the toms on a drum kit for live sound engineers. We've used this one for a number of years now and we're very happy with it.
The clip-ons were nice and had pretty good isolation (from other onstage instruments) for condensor mics, but the stand-mounted EV mic allows Min to work more with her dynamics
by moving around.
For recording we used the EV mic in it's usual position behind the drum, just inside the rim below her left hand, and also used an AKG 452 condensor mic of mine about two feet out from the drum head at a 45º angle, just to get some of the tipper 'scuff'. Also, Min uses a sort of bundle-of-sticks tipper, and we wanted to make sure we heard that in the recording.
A commercial product called "Blastix" is very similar to what she has. We recorded each mic to a separate track and mixed them to her directions.
With these mics we haven't had issues with the sound of her hand moving inside the brace against the inside of the bodhran head.
We carry the EV with us (and some other mics, too... fiddler TJ use the AT35 clip-on for his fiddle and loves it, and I use a Shure KSM-27 for my instruments), but we've also found that the mics make a lot less difference in the sound of our instruments than we do. We've played places without using our own mics and ... it still sounds just like us... <GGG>
Toby should go here: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bodhrandojo/ and search using “Mics” or “Microphones” and a world of suggestions will come up. I use a SM58 and have always been pleased although the EV Steve mentioned looks pretty good as well.
Alternatively try http://www.bodojo.com which is the website with which the bodhrandojo group allied itself. There's a page discussing this very subject in th etechnical section.
A question of Bodhran Mics.
A question of Bodhran Mics.
Can anyone here help someone on the forum next door, who wants some advice on a suitable Mic to use for a Bodhran?
"Other than shure SM57... Anybody know of any good clip on mics that work?"
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
I've never had a lot of success with clip on mics. However I did cut down a mic clamp for a full size mic and mounted it onto a clamp assembly and was able to use that with a fair amount of success. It's a little bulky but it does give good sound quality.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by newfie percussionist
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
Let me add another question here - if one uses a bodhran mic, does the sound of your hand on the back of the skin come through at all? Just curious.
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by irishrhythm
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
All the good clip-ons need phantom power. Let price be your guide. Yes you do hear a bit more hand sliding, you also miss out on varying the sound by moving the drum in and out from the mic. On the plus side you get less spill and no accidents with a clip-on. JTS CX508 and AKG C419 are two good ones.
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by mcknowall
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
Ptarmigan,
Is the mic for live performance or recording? I have recently done a recording where two mics were used. On the "back" we used an AKG dynamic and for the "front" a Neuman U87. I have used the JTS clip on before and found it was ok, however I prefer a mic on a stand for live performance. Generally I'll use a SM 57 but have also used a SM 58 which I found gave a great response from the highs and lows of the instrument. I also found during the recent recording session that my "hot rod" tipper gave the best sound. Not too much "thump" and really accentuated the natural sound of the drum. I use a Hedwitschak 15" double goat skin drum.
Hope this is of use to you.
Cheers, Jeremy
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by Tassiebodhran
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
My wife, Min Gates, has been thru several bodhran mics over the years...
We have used the AKG C419, and it was pretty good. We still have one. When we switched to an AudioTechnica AT35x Pro, we felt that the mid- and low-range tones were richer.
Both of these mics are condensor mics and require phantom power, but there are some variations of the AT35 which use a little battery pack.
One year at the Cincinnati Celtic Fest we heard more of Paddy League's bodhran than we had ever heard thru a PA, and so we spoke with the sound guy and as a result we got an ElectroVoice EV468 dynamic mic. This thing looks like an egg in a stirrup or yoke mount and costs about $200 new and can be found used for less. It's a pretty common mic for the toms on a drum kit for live sound engineers. We've used this one for a number of years now and we're very happy with it.
The clip-ons were nice and had pretty good isolation (from other onstage instruments) for condensor mics, but the stand-mounted EV mic allows Min to work more with her dynamics
by moving around.
For recording we used the EV mic in it's usual position behind the drum, just inside the rim below her left hand, and also used an AKG 452 condensor mic of mine about two feet out from the drum head at a 45º angle, just to get some of the tipper 'scuff'. Also, Min uses a sort of bundle-of-sticks tipper, and we wanted to make sure we heard that in the recording.
A commercial product called "Blastix" is very similar to what she has. We recorded each mic to a separate track and mixed them to her directions.
With these mics we haven't had issues with the sound of her hand moving inside the brace against the inside of the bodhran head.
We carry the EV with us (and some other mics, too... fiddler TJ use the AT35 clip-on for his fiddle and loves it, and I use a Shure KSM-27 for my instruments), but we've also found that the mics make a lot less difference in the sound of our instruments than we do. We've played places without using our own mics and ... it still sounds just like us... <GGG>
I hoep this is useful!
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by stv culchie
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
Thanks guys, I've suggested Toby comes over here himself & responds to your responses.
Cheers
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
Hey Dick,
Toby should go here: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bodhrandojo/ and search using “Mics” or “Microphones” and a world of suggestions will come up. I use a SM58 and have always been pleased although the EV Steve mentioned looks pretty good as well.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by ejsant
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
Thanks Ed, I'll pass that good advice on to him, just in case his little legs don't get him over this far!
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: A question of Bodhran Mics.
Alternatively try http://www.bodojo.com which is the website with which the bodhrandojo group allied itself. There's a page discussing this very subject in th etechnical section.
Paul
# Posted on September 8th 2006 by powerhaus