Hi all - my first post!
I've had someone suggest that we use a single mic for my sister's fiddle group. Apparently they saw it done with a similar sized group, and it worked well. The members can get some interaction going around the single microphone, and no need to bother with five radio mics.
Any thoughts or comments? The mic that's been suggested is a Rode NT1a.
Several bluegrass groups use the Audio-Technica AT4033CL Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone successfully as a single mike. It is a nice microphone and economical.
At a recent festival i played with my friend's bush band. We had 4 fiddles playing with a single mic kinda suspended from above. Not sure what type of mic it was... but it was a good sound and we were able to walk through the dance sets while playing. Heaps of Fun!
would not reccomend using a studio condenser such as the NT1A on stage..these type of mics are not really designed for live use..it will probably feedback like mad if you have any backline. It is possible to get dedicated stage condensers though I am not familiar with these.If you want a mic for recording I have always found AKG 414 to be very accurate.( its got switchable polar response field too}
Is this for a live show or for a studio recording? If it's for studio recording you might want to try an omnidirectional mic and all stand around it. Depends on how good your room sounds.
In theory one mic should work fine. Just stick it somewhere overhead but slightly in front of the players, "looking" down. Basically, if every fiddle is roughly the same distance from the thing then that should be fine. Give it a go!
There seems to be a lot of misinformation about large-diaphragm mics and for some reason people think they're some sort of holy grail. While the more expensive studio mics are often very good and often happen to be large-diaphragm designs, they have their drawbacks. They can be more sensitive to popping and wind noise, and they often don't sound so good off-axis - in fact, the smaller the diaphragm the better from that point of view. They can be really sensitive to vibration and particularly if you have them some distance from the instruments you are likely to be using more gain, hence picking up more extraneous noise. If you use a switchable mic like the AKG414, just so you know, the figure-of-8 response is most sensitive to vibration, followed by hypercardioid, cardioid and then omni, which is least sensitive to vibration. It's usually better to suspend the mic for many reasons, but if you put a large diaphragm mic on a stand, do remember to always isolate the mic with a shockmount of some sort. They can be got very cheaply and will clean up the sound no end.
I don't think the actual mic you use is that significant compared to how it's placed in the room - but I would echo that the AKG414 is a good accurate mic and it's great to have the switchable response.
It certainly looks good on stage as people can move about freely, step up to the microphone and take their break etc.
From my experience in a live situation it's good for "reinforcing" a basically acoustic sound, not sure it's so good for full-on "amplification." If the situation needs foldback, single mike (or multiple "single mike" is probably not appropriate. Might suit a concert, maybe not a pub gig.
Joseph, are there other instruments in the group? Guitar or bouzouki, maybe? The single-mic arrangement works best when all the instruments are naturally close to the same volume level and about the same distance from the mic. Otherwise, you’ll need to do some experimenting and come up with a fixed configuration.
I remember when virtually all bluegrass bands used a single mic. You could barely hear the guitar until it was held up close to the mic for a solo part, because the mic was positioned for the singers and the fiddle.
As Mark pointed out, the large-diaphragm mics are very sensitive. That makes them highly susceptible to “room effects.” For example, the height, shape and angle of the ceiling might give you a good natural reverb or it might cause monstrous feedback problems or color the sound in ways you might not like.
Interesting there mark, I will try it.
I thought it worth mentioning an old technique for single mic recording for a group. Everyone sits down and the soloist simply stands up. . Works without the mic as well..
One mic for five fiddles?
One mic for five fiddles?
Hi all - my first post!
I've had someone suggest that we use a single mic for my sister's fiddle group. Apparently they saw it done with a similar sized group, and it worked well. The members can get some interaction going around the single microphone, and no need to bother with five radio mics.
Any thoughts or comments? The mic that's been suggested is a Rode NT1a.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Joseph
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by josephnz
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
Several bluegrass groups use the Audio-Technica AT4033CL Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone successfully as a single mike. It is a nice microphone and economical.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by mikeyes
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
Well depends on your finances!!! cheap and cheerfull is the samson CO3
But is this live or studio?
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by jig
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
At a recent festival i played with my friend's bush band. We had 4 fiddles playing with a single mic kinda suspended from above. Not sure what type of mic it was... but it was a good sound and we were able to walk through the dance sets while playing. Heaps of Fun!
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by davydd
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
The Apex 460 works very well.
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by oldstrings
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
would not reccomend using a studio condenser such as the NT1A on stage..these type of mics are not really designed for live use..it will probably feedback like mad if you have any backline. It is possible to get dedicated stage condensers though I am not familiar with these.If you want a mic for recording I have always found AKG 414 to be very accurate.( its got switchable polar response field too}
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by peter wsll
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
Is this for a live show or for a studio recording? If it's for studio recording you might want to try an omnidirectional mic and all stand around it. Depends on how good your room sounds.
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by Barn Owl
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
backline ?.... aargh.... i meant foldback ( monitors) duh sorry
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by peter wsll
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
In theory one mic should work fine. Just stick it somewhere overhead but slightly in front of the players, "looking" down. Basically, if every fiddle is roughly the same distance from the thing then that should be fine. Give it a go!
There seems to be a lot of misinformation about large-diaphragm mics and for some reason people think they're some sort of holy grail. While the more expensive studio mics are often very good and often happen to be large-diaphragm designs, they have their drawbacks. They can be more sensitive to popping and wind noise, and they often don't sound so good off-axis - in fact, the smaller the diaphragm the better from that point of view. They can be really sensitive to vibration and particularly if you have them some distance from the instruments you are likely to be using more gain, hence picking up more extraneous noise. If you use a switchable mic like the AKG414, just so you know, the figure-of-8 response is most sensitive to vibration, followed by hypercardioid, cardioid and then omni, which is least sensitive to vibration. It's usually better to suspend the mic for many reasons, but if you put a large diaphragm mic on a stand, do remember to always isolate the mic with a shockmount of some sort. They can be got very cheaply and will clean up the sound no end.
I don't think the actual mic you use is that significant compared to how it's placed in the room - but I would echo that the AKG414 is a good accurate mic and it's great to have the switchable response.
# Posted on January 8th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
There's quite a bit of bluegrass sourced info about using a single mike since at's quite a big tradition in that style.
http://www.newessexbluegrass.homecall.co.uk/onemike.htm
It certainly looks good on stage as people can move about freely, step up to the microphone and take their break etc.
From my experience in a live situation it's good for "reinforcing" a basically acoustic sound, not sure it's so good for full-on "amplification." If the situation needs foldback, single mike (or multiple "single mike" is probably not appropriate. Might suit a concert, maybe not a pub gig.
# Posted on January 9th 2008 by TomB-R
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
Joseph, are there other instruments in the group? Guitar or bouzouki, maybe? The single-mic arrangement works best when all the instruments are naturally close to the same volume level and about the same distance from the mic. Otherwise, you’ll need to do some experimenting and come up with a fixed configuration.
I remember when virtually all bluegrass bands used a single mic. You could barely hear the guitar until it was held up close to the mic for a solo part, because the mic was positioned for the singers and the fiddle.
As Mark pointed out, the large-diaphragm mics are very sensitive. That makes them highly susceptible to “room effects.” For example, the height, shape and angle of the ceiling might give you a good natural reverb or it might cause monstrous feedback problems or color the sound in ways you might not like.
# Posted on January 9th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
Interesting there mark, I will try it.
I thought it worth mentioning an old technique for single mic recording for a group. Everyone sits down and the soloist simply stands up. . Works without the mic as well..
# Posted on January 9th 2008 by jig
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
I'm in a group that uses two mics for several fiddles, it works very well, and everyone is heard.
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by Fiddlegurl
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
Sorry for the slow reply - I hadn't realised that any replies had been made! I was expected to get an email notification
There's a guitar in the group, with a pickup. We want a basically acoustic sound, but sometimes need a helping hand!
This is for playing live, so it needs to be something very flexible, if possible e.g. wedding vs pub vs hall.
Fiddlegurl, do you know what kind of mics you use?
Thanks!
# Posted on January 13th 2008 by josephnz
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
I'm not sure but I will check with my instructor, and let you know.
# Posted on January 17th 2008 by Fiddlegurl
Re: One mic for five fiddles?
He said that he thinks they are 'audia technica 4033s'. They're multi-directional mics. I hope this helps.
# Posted on January 17th 2008 by Fiddlegurl