I've always strongly opposed the idea of putting condensers on toms solely for my preconceived notion that cymbal bleed will be worse because they're more sensitive than dynamic mics. However, you've made me have a change of heart today, Ryan! I can't believe how smooth and controlled that bleed is!
We just recorded a whole album last week and I was out of 57's or whatever for the toms... All I had was a set of inexpensive Samson condensers and put those on the toms.. I did a Glynn Johns as a general mic'ing and used the close mics to add some punch where needed.. And yes! did they sound nice!!! I was getting a lot of overtones because it's a massive and very resonant kit, so I used a soft gating on it just to keep the mud out and MAAAANN! that tone!!! So glad to hear it validated here!!!
I was in a recording session with drums, other instruments (on DIs) and a trombone and we recorded the trombone with a SDC and it worked really well. We tried large diaphragms condenser and dynamic mics and the SDC worked better. Never had seen or tried brass recorded with SDCs. Maybe it had too much attack sometimes, but we smoothed it out with a compressor, and the arrangements were really mellow. It worked. I've been trying SDCs on everything now. Thank for another great video.
I find LDCs never really get a fair shake at other sources. Not sure why, they sound fantastic. I have a feeling it is because we know other mics might be more dependable at a certain job, and so we sacrifice experimentation and go with what we know will work. I love that you showcased the Suyuz mics on the piano and toms! That's exactly what I'm talking about. Most of the time, people are content to throw 421s or 414s at the toms and call it a day; they may even look at you sideways for setting up LDCs on toms. And that really sucks because it deters actual listening and forming opinions about sounds we record. Making the case for experimenting with mics and techniques becomes challenging when you know there are hundreds of engineers who endorse using a specific mic in a specific way on a specific source. While having the stuff that you know works is crucial, it's important to remember that the creative use of the tools available to us was what propelled certain mics to become go-tos for certain sources in the first place. You never know what reverse wiring a pair of headphones and taping them to the face of a singer is going to sound like until you try it.
My LDC mics that I use for overheads are my most expensive mics. At my current budget, I'm not willing to risk their demise as tom mics. I've heard recordings using CAD LDC as tom mics, and I think they sound better than 421's, but I have to wonder if it's worth the risk of damaging them.
I used mine as part of a Mid-Side set-up to record a bass cab. As you said, a very natural sound but in this case it was useful to be able to widen the recorded sound equally naturally. Tnx for another great video.
Awesome. Love your educated insight and the licks coming out of this video! Small diaphragm mics have been on my hit list for while..mostly for acoustic classical guitar. What are your thoughts on the Antelope Audio small diaphragm modelling mics?
The AKG C414 mics are LDCs. Try either a Sennheiser E914 cardioid, or a Neumann KM183 omni. The E914 has an open an airy top end that's never shrill. Try two in ORTF on drum overheads or piano. The Neumann KM183 has a nice presence and great depth. Use two in AB on a concert grand piano, or three in Decca Tree configuration on an orchestra. Both are very accurate and uncoloured. You will get stunningly beautiful sounds from these two mics in the right configurations.
That acoustic guitar tone is so nice! That's the sound I hear in my head when I think of acoustics; rich and detailed. How much of that tone in that example do you attribute to the mic, or is the acoustic guitar itself the main factor in that overall sound?
Well he is a really good player, so that's a great start to good acoustic tone. Then the guitar itself is played well and he knows how to get the best tone from it by where it plays on the strings, and how hard to dig in, ect. The guitar itself is nice too. Then follow it up with mic. The mic is a lot of the tone, but it would be nothing without a good player on a good instrument.
Interesting. I did wonder if the mic had a huge impact on that tone, as recently I've been dismissing mics being the important contributor, as I feel you can get similar results regardless of which mic you choose in a certain type (within reason). Like you say, you need a great performance to begin with. I recently picked up a pair of Shure KSM137s which are super fast! The transients are crazy on those. I like your most recent video too - a real eye-opener hearing the differences in bleed between SDCs and dynamics. My initial prediction would've been that dynamics would've rejected the most bleed but that certainly wasn't the case.
Excellent video! I've worked a lot with small condenser mics in my own home studio and I still learned a little something watching your video. Thank you!
I am glad I'm not the only one who loves condensers, and small diaphragm ones in particular, on toms. I love my 421s, but on stuff like kick, bass guitar, and snare. I really don't like them much on toms because the off axis bleed sounds pretty awful to my ears. I always end up having to go in and strip silence them. I just ordered some of these Soyuz 013s, can't wait to put them to good use on my session this weekend.
Ryan, this was a fantastic video. I have used SDC in preference to LDC because of their rejection characteristics. I work in untreated rooms and these mics really help me: if I hate the room, on the day, whatever, I will usually go for SDCs. I'm a big fan of 12-Gague (US company) and often find his mics can help in such situations. For a long time, I used a Rode NT3 as my main vocal mic with pleasing results and it's still one of my top-choice mics for acoustic guitar because of its superior reaction to the acoustic guitar's transients. Good work, Ryan; you're an inspirational artist.
what about using for interviews instead of using for instruments? are they design for that purpose too? lastly what type of conection cable will i for my tasca dr-1000 mkiii? thanks
I can vouch for this. I have an AKG C1000S that is 15 years old Sat in its case for 15 years because of a lot of feedback on stage. I rediscovered it two months ago to record vocals on to Cakewalk via a Mackie ProFX6V3 mixer. Far better than my Shure SM58...
Awesome, thanks! Would you recommend them for live performance? For exemple on vocals, considering that they "tend" to capture less feedback from other parts.
Dangit Ryan you always manage to shift my viewpoint... That tom application sounds amazing. I remember seeing a video where Simon Philips has SDC's on every single one of his 937 toms and rolling my eyes. Gonna try this sometime if i manage to convince my fellow engineers not to get the same reaction.
Ryan, this is a perfect example why it is best not to be a lemming. Sometimes bending the status quo can result in pleasant surprises. In particular, I was stunned to hear the quality and full-natured tone captured from the toms. Ummm, wow! My nonprofit (The Global Z Recording Project) is partnering with a local community college's audio engineering program and they are going to conduct a character analysis of our mics to see what our mics sound like on a variety of instruments. We don't have a high-end mic locker, but a pretty good selection to work with. So I will be curious to learn if any surprises surface and learn how different types of mics respond to different types of instruments.
Hey William great to hear from you again. Yeah I really dig those tom with these mics. Good thing I tried it. Yeah, that project sounds really cool. Sounds like it would speed up a couple years of trial and error.
Is there a reason you passed up the tube version of these mics? I can't seem to find a lot of user info on these because I guess they're relatively new.
WOW, this was a revelation. Has anyone used SDCs with the (Oh no, not again) Glynn Johns technique? Thanks Ryan, awesome video. The insights into tone and rejection are amazing. I'd better start saving up some cash...
Does large diaphragm do a better job at capturing low frequency sounds, for example floor tom and some kick when you use large diaphragm condensers as overheads?
Wow, really impressed on the sound of those toms!! I will have to commandeer my overhead mics and use something else for them...any overhead alternatives? lol
I have 1 large diaphragm condenser and 1 small, the next time I get to record my drums I was thinking of experimenting with the Glyn Johns or Reverse Glyn Johns technique. Which mic do you think I should use on the side and which one on top? Thanks again for making super helpful videos
Thanks for the video. I would be nice to hear the difference between those small diaphragm vs big ones. I also wanted to know if you can record voices with them, if they are so versatile and natural why aren´t they used to record voice? Thanks again.
A big thing about SDCs on vocal is that we want voices to sound larger than life, and sometimes a realistic picture of how someone sounds may not deliver the results we expect. People do it though if they can still believe in the mic they are singing into.
Yeah but bass range vocals like me will overpower large diaphragm condensers and it won't sit in a mix properly without eq. Start with the right mic for the right type of vocal. For me it will be SDC. And it can be played on headphones , small speakers or big speakers and sound the same.
Hey can u say is it good for a podcaster I'm a podcaster myself and in desperate need of perfect mics within budget ,and if the answer is no then do suggest me some of em that may satisfy my need
Hey ryan, hope you've been well. This was a wonderful video, I feel like you nailed it. I have a few SDC here that I love for exactly the same reasons that you have demonstrated. It would be fun to compare the Soyuz with the Oktava MK 012 but that's just me being greedy, haha. I just got some Oktavas here, and my standard drum overhead for many years is the KSM137 from Shure. Some things just don't need to be messed with.
Ryan, so you have any experience with the Earthworks mics? I would love to grab a few of them, but it looks like they have a relatively high self noise... In either case, the recordings I hear online of acoustic instruments through Earthworks mics sound very nice to my ear.
Great, just what I needed for my next recording. :) Going to record loud rock live in a small room and I was really picking my brain how to deal with the bleed issues from drum overhead. I think this is IT. I mean I don't think bleed is necessarily that bad but you need to work with it. Some bleed is natural.
Yeah, I've tried recording that same piano (and my own piano) with dynamics thinking that it would let me be closer to the piano and get less bleed. But there will always be bleed there and the SDCs will give you a really smooth bleed at that. You can always delay the tracks with the bleed by 20 ms, (If that particular source is panned in a mix) and it'll give you a fake drum room mic.
Amazing video! This is super helpful. I just used my SDC tonight on vocals-for kicks, as a mic shootout with an LDC - and it was surprisingly good (the two together: also surprisingly good!).
NIce, yeah sometimes the transients are just too fast for drums, but for toms I really liked it. I'm sure SDCs are something to remember and use when it's the sound you want. Good to hear your trying stuff, that's the only way to max your gear.
Choices for budget, Behringer C2 or C4, Monoprice stereo pair, Lyxpr Stereo set, Neweer 2 pack etc many out there that let you start for 100$ . You get what you pay for remember that.
Yeah, they are not cheap. But I would say they could give the old 414s a run for the money. I don't think they have been bad on anything. And they are medium (more so) than a traditional small diaphragm. With the cardioid and warm and smooth sounding omni caps, I'd call it a desert island mic.
Yes, totally for vocals. Just protect the mic with a pop screen. LDCs would have a sloppier polar pattern so they can be more forgiving if the vocalist moves around, however the SDCs will be consisten tonally from the sides. If you have bleed in a room, such as live recording, then SDCs might be just the trick. For video overhead mics, yes, I currently use a Km184 as an overhead mic as I don't use it much for the studio, and I like the way it sounds on my voice for spoken word, so it's a mic I can "burn" as a video mic.
Hypercardioid or Supercardioid SDCs like the MKH 50 or Schoeps Mk41 are actually standard for interior dialogue in film. Shotgun mics with interference tubes begin to have phasing issues and bad off axis coloration as reflections enter the side of the interference tube, which is why sdc are a better choice in most situations. Cardioid SDC mics are often used as well for dialogue in things like 2-shots where you're trying to pick up multiple people with one mic, or in situations where it's hard for the boom op to stay on axis consistently.
I'm a year and some change late for commenting, but this review/topic was awesome! Those toms sound great and the bleed is....smooth. I will not look over SDCs.
It's very possible to record drums with one mic, this was quite common back in the 40s, 50s and even somewhat in the 60s. Common mics used for this technique are Ribbon mics like RCA 77DXs, RCA 44BXs, and Coles 4038s, or Large Diaphragm Contenders like the Telefunken/Neumann U47, U67 and M49, or the Sony C37A, or the AKG C12. On Elvis' Jailhouse Rock, they used one Electro Voice 666 Mic, which is a Dynamic Mic. You can get a really good balance with this technique, but mic placement is critical, and so is the player's volume. In general, the player needs to hit the snare drum pretty loud, but keep the cymbals nice and light, unless the part calls for bashing. In other words, the drummer is required to mix himself correctly as he plays.
Is there something about using dynamic mics because they’re more durable? My older brother always says to only use a large dynamic mic for kick drum for example. Are toms also dangerous in that regard because of low range? Or is this technique only good for more balanced players/less aggressive genres ?
how's the avantone ck-1? have you tried this one? I was forgetting about small diaphragms but reviews are good for it compared to the large diaphragms i found. I think could lend a certain character on drums like close snare if they can handle the SPL.
I havn't gotten to try those yet but I see they also have a 10 dB pad. Yeah, you really need to have a pad with the SDC for drums. If you look closely, the SU-013 has a little extension on the body, and that's the 10 dB pad. Some others have a switch on them, and it's a nessesity if you want to use them as a true utility mic on many different sources.
There pretty rad mics! I used one to mic high hats(on one song) and a jcm 800 on(one particular song) on my first bands album! Ill put a couple links for you! Im looking at getting some SE's!
Would you recommend a small diaphragm condenser mic for ASMR? I feel like most ASMR artist use large frame? If you don’t know what ASMR is then I guess this question is void!
you're right, no microphone ever made for measurments have a large diaphragm, and we should not use mics based on their "specs" but small capsule mics are wonderful. Small capsule mics should never be considered or thought of a "less than" their larger counterparts. Mics like AKG 451, Neumann KM84, KM184, even Oktava MC012 are wonderful sounding mics, and leave the EQ alone.
looking to get a new mic primarily for acoustic stuff as well as record electric guitar i figured for the acoustic an sm58 would work great, but a reasonably priced condenser would be cool any help would be appreciated.
For SDCs it really pays to get a good one. I've enjoyed these SU-013 mics, and try not to EQ too much because I rely on the mic for the sound. Ribbons can also work well four acoustic stuff, but you'll need a good clean preamp OR invest in a good ribbon that is active such as the N22 that has built in electronics. Without some investment in a preamp or a good ribbon, that brings you back to SDCs for acoustic detail. It depends how bright you want it to sound, and what kind of tone you want. A 57 can work good, but you won't have the speed.
hey thanks a lot man i really appreciate your advice and time taken to answer with such detail. your videas are really great your work is appreciated good sir (sweet dreads).
Well, got no work left to do today, and I'm already sunburned as hell, so I better stay inside. Lettuce hear what you got to say about LSD. I mean SDC's.
Haha...well, this is a lot of good stuff in this video. I have a few follow up videos to show some demos in more detail. I learn as much as you guys on this stuff.
Yours are the only videos I regularly watch with my headphones all the way on. I know that's a weird comment to get, but it's true. I think I use small-diaphragms on overheads most of the time, and when I want a "warmer" sound, I go for ribbons. I just like that I don't have to put a high-pass filter at like 200 Hz on it to avoid having very low frequency information in full stereo. I try to keep everything below 200 hz mono. If I want a stereo bass guitar sound, for instance, I'll just break it up into the low-pass (extremely low frequencies ONLY) track, which is usually the DI, and then a track with the lows filtered out, and ad stereo chorus to that by sending it out through a Boss Super-Chorus, with both outputs on the pedal going to two separate amps. But the very low shit is always mono. It's just easier than chasing down phase issues after the fact.
Yeah, right on man. Great points. Side note...It may be because I'm a drummer, but I always have to judge my SDC set ups on drum overheads WITH compression. For me it's hard to do it without.
Dynamic mics (kick, snare) are plugged straight into a compressor, and SD condensers go into a pair of www.ebay.com/i/361953894932?chn=ps&dispItem=1 and then into the compressor. ALWAYS. I never track drums raw, I always have some fast compression on the close-mics and some slightly more subtle compression on the OH's. I just *KNOW* that drum tracks are *GOING TO* require some compression, so I hit them on the way in. I may end up adding more after, but I'm pretty used to tracking with compression in the chain and rarely ever feel like I used too much, and only occasionally too little (which can obviously be corrected). So yeah, I am with you on judging the sound *with* compression. There's also "Mini K47" type mics, the "medium-diaphragm" condensers, or C1000's, which are really cool, as they can be run off a 9v battery. They make good OH's for a 4 mic setup. It's big enough to capture a "full" image of the kit, but it won't be overly sensitive to the rumble of the kick. I DO use a high-pass filter in that case though.
I agree, Small condensers work great. I used them in the past on my whole drum kit. Transients are great and the sound is very natural. I am thinking about going back to them, although for death metal, I am not sure how it will work. Previously used them in a blues/ rock band and a heavy metal band. Worked really good.
SDC's tend to have more noise. This isn't because of the circuitry but because of how the diaphragm works because it's small and light it's very easy to set in motion which makes it pick up more noise. Because of this SDC's are faster in response then LDC's.
Soyuz. Proudly made in Tula, Russia. Those are really cool mics, glad to see you using them! The correct pronunciation would be with stressed "yu" instead of "o" btw. Not trying to be mean, it's just how it sounds here in big bad Russia :D Gotta love those tom sounds!
I've been using SDCs on vocals lately. You have to use a windshield, get the singer to stay at least 9 inches away from it, and not sing "into" it but "at" it if you see what I mean... but when you do all that it sounds great.
Yeah there is really no reason not to try SDCs on vocals. It seems a little strange at first, as vocalist almost expect a LDC, but they can work great. Come to think of it, I should have done that for a live session with drums in the room, because at least then the bleed would have sounded a lot better.
Man, every time I click a video I feel like Im getting a seriously good real world education. Off to find a new pair of SDCs. You are the best!
Check out Aston Starlight(s)!
also check out the se's!
James, I am itching to get my hands on a pair of the new sE 8 sdc mics
:-)
Milab LSR 1000. Killer for everything from live vox to clean to somewhat crunchy guitar cabs, overheads...
Aston Starlights are amazing; the sE8 is also a great option
I've always strongly opposed the idea of putting condensers on toms solely for my preconceived notion that cymbal bleed will be worse because they're more sensitive than dynamic mics. However, you've made me have a change of heart today, Ryan! I can't believe how smooth and controlled that bleed is!
Haha, thanks Will! I was really surprised myself at this. I learn a lot from doing these audio tests and really liked that bleed and the tom sound.
I typically gate my tom mics, but maybe I'll try using an SDC and see how it goes without the gate. Lots of fun to have with these!
We just recorded a whole album last week and I was out of 57's or whatever for the toms... All I had was a set of inexpensive Samson condensers and put those on the toms.. I did a Glynn Johns as a general mic'ing and used the close mics to add some punch where needed.. And yes! did they sound nice!!! I was getting a lot of overtones because it's a massive and very resonant kit, so I used a soft gating on it just to keep the mud out and MAAAANN! that tone!!! So glad to hear it validated here!!!
thats awesome!! were they samson C02's? i used some the other day on toms and i was so happy with the sounds i was getting!
I was in a recording session with drums, other instruments (on DIs) and a trombone and we recorded the trombone with a SDC and it worked really well. We tried large diaphragms condenser and dynamic mics and the SDC worked better. Never had seen or tried brass recorded with SDCs. Maybe it had too much attack sometimes, but we smoothed it out with a compressor, and the arrangements were really mellow. It worked. I've been trying SDCs on everything now. Thank for another great video.
Great video! Just got an SE Electronics SE8 pair. Definitely something I've been missing.
3:55 THAT blew my mind. A very usable tom sound. The bleed #1 sounds great and #2 it doesn't bother. This may be a good go-to...!!!
Nice video mate. I was youtubing for Soyuz microphone demos, and ended up getting educated like this. Sweet! Thanks!
Wow, cuckoo! ftcsh
Recently used a pair of SDCs as drum overheads and got a great sound. Mix was very quick and easy because it didn't need very much done to it.
Thanks! I really neglected the idea of small diaphragms for a long time but I’ll consider them next recording!
2:47 that groove tho... wish there was a whole song version of that
Super sounds here! The guitar in the start and your drumming too. Tnx!
I find LDCs never really get a fair shake at other sources. Not sure why, they sound fantastic. I have a feeling it is because we know other mics might be more dependable at a certain job, and so we sacrifice experimentation and go with what we know will work. I love that you showcased the Suyuz mics on the piano and toms! That's exactly what I'm talking about. Most of the time, people are content to throw 421s or 414s at the toms and call it a day; they may even look at you sideways for setting up LDCs on toms. And that really sucks because it deters actual listening and forming opinions about sounds we record. Making the case for experimenting with mics and techniques becomes challenging when you know there are hundreds of engineers who endorse using a specific mic in a specific way on a specific source. While having the stuff that you know works is crucial, it's important to remember that the creative use of the tools available to us was what propelled certain mics to become go-tos for certain sources in the first place. You never know what reverse wiring a pair of headphones and taping them to the face of a singer is going to sound like until you try it.
My LDC mics that I use for overheads are my most expensive mics. At my current budget, I'm not willing to risk their demise as tom mics. I've heard recordings using CAD LDC as tom mics, and I think they sound better than 421's, but I have to wonder if it's worth the risk of damaging them.
I used mine as part of a Mid-Side set-up to record a bass cab. As you said, a very natural sound but in this case it was useful to be able to widen the recorded sound equally naturally.
Tnx for another great video.
Awesome. Love your educated insight and the licks coming out of this video! Small diaphragm mics have been on my hit list for while..mostly for acoustic classical guitar. What are your thoughts on the Antelope Audio small diaphragm modelling mics?
The AKG C414 mics are LDCs.
Try either a Sennheiser E914 cardioid, or a Neumann KM183 omni.
The E914 has an open an airy top end that's never shrill. Try two in ORTF on drum overheads or piano.
The Neumann KM183 has a nice presence and great depth. Use two in AB on a concert grand piano, or three in Decca Tree configuration on an orchestra.
Both are very accurate and uncoloured. You will get stunningly beautiful sounds from these two mics in the right configurations.
That acoustic guitar tone is so nice! That's the sound I hear in my head when I think of acoustics; rich and detailed. How much of that tone in that example do you attribute to the mic, or is the acoustic guitar itself the main factor in that overall sound?
Well he is a really good player, so that's a great start to good acoustic tone. Then the guitar itself is played well and he knows how to get the best tone from it by where it plays on the strings, and how hard to dig in, ect. The guitar itself is nice too. Then follow it up with mic. The mic is a lot of the tone, but it would be nothing without a good player on a good instrument.
Interesting. I did wonder if the mic had a huge impact on that tone, as recently I've been dismissing mics being the important contributor, as I feel you can get similar results regardless of which mic you choose in a certain type (within reason). Like you say, you need a great performance to begin with. I recently picked up a pair of Shure KSM137s which are super fast! The transients are crazy on those.
I like your most recent video too - a real eye-opener hearing the differences in bleed between SDCs and dynamics. My initial prediction would've been that dynamics would've rejected the most bleed but that certainly wasn't the case.
Yeah I don’t think any mic will make my Taylor 114 sound like that. Or make me sound like that playing anything.
@@arlingtonhynes I play a 114 here, my Oktava 012 sounds damn fine on that guitar.
Excellent video! I've worked a lot with small condenser mics in my own home studio and I still learned a little something watching your video. Thank you!
I am glad I'm not the only one who loves condensers, and small diaphragm ones in particular, on toms. I love my 421s, but on stuff like kick, bass guitar, and snare. I really don't like them much on toms because the off axis bleed sounds pretty awful to my ears. I always end up having to go in and strip silence them. I just ordered some of these Soyuz 013s, can't wait to put them to good use on my session this weekend.
So.. if I want to record a clarinet at home, do you suggest a small diaphragm? I'm a classical musician. Thank you..
Hi man thanks for great vid
Yesterday I ordered an Aston Starlight can’t wait!
Peace and love from Bristol, England
Ryan, this was a fantastic video. I have used SDC in preference to LDC because of their rejection characteristics. I work in untreated rooms and these mics really help me: if I hate the room, on the day, whatever, I will usually go for SDCs. I'm a big fan of 12-Gague (US company) and often find his mics can help in such situations. For a long time, I used a Rode NT3 as my main vocal mic with pleasing results and it's still one of my top-choice mics for acoustic guitar because of its superior reaction to the acoustic guitar's transients.
Good work, Ryan; you're an inspirational artist.
what about using for interviews instead of using for instruments? are they design for that purpose too? lastly what type of conection cable will i for my tasca dr-1000 mkiii? thanks
What SPL should the small diaphragm condensers have used as tom mics in a live rock/pop setting?
Can we use small diaphragm for chorus
Nice sounds and nice mics!
I can vouch for this. I have an AKG C1000S that is 15 years old Sat in its case for 15 years because of a lot of feedback on stage. I rediscovered it two months ago to record vocals on to Cakewalk via a Mackie ProFX6V3 mixer. Far better than my Shure SM58...
Awesome, thanks! Would you recommend them for live performance? For exemple on vocals, considering that they "tend" to capture less feedback from other parts.
No not on vocals for live stage but live studio - yes. Just protect the mic from wind blasts.
Creative Sound Lab ok! Thanks!
Dangit Ryan you always manage to shift my viewpoint... That tom application sounds amazing. I remember seeing a video where Simon Philips has SDC's on every single one of his 937 toms and rolling my eyes. Gonna try this sometime if i manage to convince my fellow engineers not to get the same reaction.
Haha, thanks man! The toms really do sound amazing. I was really impressed for sure.
Ryan, this is a perfect example why it is best not to be a lemming. Sometimes bending the status quo can result in pleasant surprises. In particular, I was stunned to hear the quality and full-natured tone captured from the toms. Ummm, wow! My nonprofit (The Global Z Recording Project) is partnering with a local community college's audio engineering program and they are going to conduct a character analysis of our mics to see what our mics sound like on a variety of instruments. We don't have a high-end mic locker, but a pretty good selection to work with. So I will be curious to learn if any surprises surface and learn how different types of mics respond to different types of instruments.
Hey William great to hear from you again. Yeah I really dig those tom with these mics. Good thing I tried it. Yeah, that project sounds really cool. Sounds like it would speed up a couple years of trial and error.
Is there a reason you passed up the tube version of these mics? I can't seem to find a lot of user info on these because I guess they're relatively new.
Can i use it on a snare drum without any issue?
The statement about bleed and LDCs is probably a bit simplistic. What if it was fig 8 LDC with the null pointed at the kit?
Will you review the Aston Starlight small diaphragms?
in short - what size is considered small diaphram and what size is considered large diaphram? is 2/3" large or small?
WOW, this was a revelation. Has anyone used SDCs with the (Oh no, not again) Glynn Johns technique? Thanks Ryan, awesome video. The insights into tone and rejection are amazing. I'd better start saving up some cash...
Would you use a Omni sdc?
Does large diaphragm do a better job at capturing low frequency sounds, for example floor tom and some kick when you use large diaphragm condensers as overheads?
Great video! I had never heard of those benefits of a SDC, definitly I'll use them
Wow, really impressed on the sound of those toms!! I will have to commandeer my overhead mics and use something else for them...any overhead alternatives? lol
RUFFY IN THE BACKGROUND!
Thank you so much for that demo. I'm buying 4 of those soyuz mics for all of my toms.
Nice, I just used those this past week and they were amazing on toms. First try on position too.
Excellent video and I was surprised it clearly showed off your points. Thanks
Great video. You know your stuff.
Thanks Alex, I learn as I go!
I have 1 large diaphragm condenser and 1 small, the next time I get to record my drums I was thinking of experimenting with the Glyn Johns or Reverse Glyn Johns technique. Which mic do you think I should use on the side and which one on top? Thanks again for making super helpful videos
Thanks for the video. I would be nice to hear the difference between those small diaphragm vs big ones. I also wanted to know if you can record voices with them, if they are so versatile and natural why aren´t they used to record voice? Thanks again.
You can hear the difference between SDC, LDC and dynamic in today's video: ua-cam.com/video/aRhMFbjXJaY/v-deo.html
A big thing about SDCs on vocal is that we want voices to sound larger than life, and sometimes a realistic picture of how someone sounds may not deliver the results we expect. People do it though if they can still believe in the mic they are singing into.
Creative Sound Lab thanks!
Yeah but bass range vocals like me will overpower large diaphragm condensers and it won't sit in a mix properly without eq. Start with the right mic for the right type of vocal. For me it will be SDC. And it can be played on headphones , small speakers or big speakers and sound the same.
Very helpful!
Sir, you have a gift for conveying very useful information in the most natural way. Thank you.
Thanks Ola!
0:31 A cue stick guitar: great for getting a BWONG every time you break.
Hey can u say is it good for a podcaster
I'm a podcaster myself and in desperate need of perfect mics within budget ,and if the answer is no then do suggest me some of em that may satisfy my need
Hey ryan, hope you've been well. This was a wonderful video, I feel like you nailed it. I have a few SDC here that I love for exactly the same reasons that you have demonstrated. It would be fun to compare the Soyuz with the Oktava MK 012 but that's just me being greedy, haha. I just got some Oktavas here, and my standard drum overhead for many years is the KSM137 from Shure. Some things just don't need to be messed with.
Ryan, so you have any experience with the Earthworks mics? I would love to grab a few of them, but it looks like they have a relatively high self noise... In either case, the recordings I hear online of acoustic instruments through Earthworks mics sound very nice to my ear.
Would you put a small diaphragm condenser on a snare?
I’ve been into your videos for a while now, I’ve got a great drum sound using a couple rode NT5’s in a Glyn Johns configuration. Thank you!
Nice! Glyn Johns can be tough so if you made it work, then go with it.
What would be the best mic under $500 for picking up transient sound out of guitar amp vintage ?
Great, just what I needed for my next recording. :) Going to record loud rock live in a small room and I was really picking my brain how to deal with the bleed issues from drum overhead. I think this is IT. I mean I don't think bleed is necessarily that bad but you need to work with it. Some bleed is natural.
Yeah, I've tried recording that same piano (and my own piano) with dynamics thinking that it would let me be closer to the piano and get less bleed. But there will always be bleed there and the SDCs will give you a really smooth bleed at that. You can always delay the tracks with the bleed by 20 ms, (If that particular source is panned in a mix) and it'll give you a fake drum room mic.
Amazing video! This is super helpful. I just used my SDC tonight on vocals-for kicks, as a mic shootout with an LDC - and it was surprisingly good (the two together: also surprisingly good!).
NIce, yeah sometimes the transients are just too fast for drums, but for toms I really liked it. I'm sure SDCs are something to remember and use when it's the sound you want. Good to hear your trying stuff, that's the only way to max your gear.
Choices for budget, Behringer C2 or C4, Monoprice stereo pair, Lyxpr Stereo set, Neweer 2 pack etc many out there that let you start for 100$ . You get what you pay for remember that.
I’m learning so much from you my head might explode! Thanks, man. I’m gonna try the SDC’s in different ways tomorrow!
Great video
Advice for best medium price SDC for recording Snare drum, ( classical) ? Thanks!
What beautiful microphones...only 1.200€ a pair. And I was getting my hopes up.
Yeah, they are not cheap. But I would say they could give the old 414s a run for the money. I don't think they have been bad on anything. And they are medium (more so) than a traditional small diaphragm. With the cardioid and warm and smooth sounding omni caps, I'd call it a desert island mic.
man. i should throw my samson CO2's on my toms. sounds so good
what about for vocals or maybe just a random video shoot? use it as a shotgun mic ?
Yes, totally for vocals. Just protect the mic with a pop screen. LDCs would have a sloppier polar pattern so they can be more forgiving if the vocalist moves around, however the SDCs will be consisten tonally from the sides. If you have bleed in a room, such as live recording, then SDCs might be just the trick. For video overhead mics, yes, I currently use a Km184 as an overhead mic as I don't use it much for the studio, and I like the way it sounds on my voice for spoken word, so it's a mic I can "burn" as a video mic.
Hypercardioid or Supercardioid SDCs like the MKH 50 or Schoeps Mk41 are actually standard for interior dialogue in film. Shotgun mics with interference tubes begin to have phasing issues and bad off axis coloration as reflections enter the side of the interference tube, which is why sdc are a better choice in most situations. Cardioid SDC mics are often used as well for dialogue in things like 2-shots where you're trying to pick up multiple people with one mic, or in situations where it's hard for the boom op to stay on axis consistently.
I'm a year and some change late for commenting, but this review/topic was awesome! Those toms sound great and the bleed is....smooth. I will not look over SDCs.
So true love mine for acoustic guitar
Is it possible to record drums w/ one microphone? With one should i choose?
It's very possible to record drums with one mic, this was quite common back in the 40s, 50s and even somewhat in the 60s. Common mics used for this technique are Ribbon mics like RCA 77DXs, RCA 44BXs, and Coles 4038s, or Large Diaphragm Contenders like the Telefunken/Neumann U47, U67 and M49, or the Sony C37A, or the AKG C12. On Elvis' Jailhouse Rock, they used one Electro Voice 666 Mic, which is a Dynamic Mic. You can get a really good balance with this technique, but mic placement is critical, and so is the player's volume. In general, the player needs to hit the snare drum pretty loud, but keep the cymbals nice and light, unless the part calls for bashing. In other words, the drummer is required to mix himself correctly as he plays.
Is there something about using dynamic mics because they’re more durable? My older brother always says to only use a large dynamic mic for kick drum for example. Are toms also dangerous in that regard because of low range? Or is this technique only good for more balanced players/less aggressive genres ?
On cymbals and other hi freq sources (only).
Would it sound good in a bass drum?
I can taste those microphones.. 🙏
fet or tube soyuz?
how's the avantone ck-1? have you tried this one? I was forgetting about small diaphragms but reviews are good for it compared to the large diaphragms i found. I think could lend a certain character on drums like close snare if they can handle the SPL.
I havn't gotten to try those yet but I see they also have a 10 dB pad. Yeah, you really need to have a pad with the SDC for drums. If you look closely, the SU-013 has a little extension on the body, and that's the 10 dB pad. Some others have a switch on them, and it's a nessesity if you want to use them as a true utility mic on many different sources.
There pretty rad mics! I used one to mic high hats(on one song) and a jcm 800 on(one particular song) on my first bands album! Ill put a couple links for you! Im looking at getting some SE's!
Can i use small diaphragm mic to mic an amp
Would you recommend a small diaphragm condenser mic for ASMR? I feel like most ASMR artist use large frame? If you don’t know what ASMR is then I guess this question is void!
How are SDCs for bass drums? Has anyone tried yet?
you're right, no microphone ever made for measurments have a large diaphragm, and we should not use mics based on their "specs" but small capsule mics are wonderful. Small capsule mics should never be considered or thought of a "less than" their larger counterparts. Mics like AKG 451, Neumann KM84, KM184, even Oktava MC012 are wonderful sounding mics, and leave the EQ alone.
A superb video.
Thanks Bob!
How is this for rap vocals?
hey ryan what are you recordin the mics through?
interface or a H6? for the mic test
cuz im recording logic x through a clarett 2pre and the sound is so attenuated and low i have no idea why its so low like -30 db peak
So you mic'ed the back of the piano? Interesting.
Is the sE 7 a good mic?
looking to get a new mic primarily for acoustic stuff as well as record electric guitar i figured for the acoustic an sm58 would work great, but a reasonably priced condenser would be cool any help would be appreciated.
For SDCs it really pays to get a good one. I've enjoyed these SU-013 mics, and try not to EQ too much because I rely on the mic for the sound. Ribbons can also work well four acoustic stuff, but you'll need a good clean preamp OR invest in a good ribbon that is active such as the N22 that has built in electronics. Without some investment in a preamp or a good ribbon, that brings you back to SDCs for acoustic detail. It depends how bright you want it to sound, and what kind of tone you want. A 57 can work good, but you won't have the speed.
hey thanks a lot man i really appreciate your advice and time taken to answer with such detail. your videas are really great your work is appreciated good sir (sweet dreads).
random mic question: any experience with AKG P170?
Well, got no work left to do today, and I'm already sunburned as hell, so I better stay inside. Lettuce hear what you got to say about LSD. I mean SDC's.
Haha...well, this is a lot of good stuff in this video. I have a few follow up videos to show some demos in more detail. I learn as much as you guys on this stuff.
Yours are the only videos I regularly watch with my headphones all the way on. I know that's a weird comment to get, but it's true. I think I use small-diaphragms on overheads most of the time, and when I want a "warmer" sound, I go for ribbons. I just like that I don't have to put a high-pass filter at like 200 Hz on it to avoid having very low frequency information in full stereo. I try to keep everything below 200 hz mono. If I want a stereo bass guitar sound, for instance, I'll just break it up into the low-pass (extremely low frequencies ONLY) track, which is usually the DI, and then a track with the lows filtered out, and ad stereo chorus to that by sending it out through a Boss Super-Chorus, with both outputs on the pedal going to two separate amps. But the very low shit is always mono. It's just easier than chasing down phase issues after the fact.
And BTW, I am talking about a 4 mic setup, kick, snare, two OH's, but I will still be using the small-diaphragms.
Yeah, right on man. Great points. Side note...It may be because I'm a drummer, but I always have to judge my SDC set ups on drum overheads WITH compression. For me it's hard to do it without.
Dynamic mics (kick, snare) are plugged straight into a compressor, and SD condensers go into a pair of www.ebay.com/i/361953894932?chn=ps&dispItem=1 and then into the compressor. ALWAYS. I never track drums raw, I always have some fast compression on the close-mics and some slightly more subtle compression on the OH's. I just *KNOW* that drum tracks are *GOING TO* require some compression, so I hit them on the way in. I may end up adding more after, but I'm pretty used to tracking with compression in the chain and rarely ever feel like I used too much, and only occasionally too little (which can obviously be corrected). So yeah, I am with you on judging the sound *with* compression.
There's also "Mini K47" type mics, the "medium-diaphragm" condensers, or C1000's, which are really cool, as they can be run off a 9v battery. They make good OH's for a 4 mic setup. It's big enough to capture a "full" image of the kit, but it won't be overly sensitive to the rumble of the kick. I DO use a high-pass filter in that case though.
It’s also a really Cool looking mic, this one. Ha ha. I’ve seen other UA-cam people using them on, well everything almost... and they sound so good.
The Sennheiser e614 super-cardioid would work for this application?
Sure you could try it!
Thanks I will. I know that for drum overheads are killer but I'll try them in acoustic guitars and other sources. Thanks...!!!
I agree, Small condensers work great. I used them in the past on my whole drum kit. Transients are great and the sound is very natural. I am thinking about going back to them, although for death metal, I am not sure how it will work. Previously used them in a blues/ rock band and a heavy metal band. Worked really good.
4: they have less self noise than a LDC.
Some of the characteristics mentioned can be actually be bad in some situations though! horses for courses
SDC's tend to have more noise. This isn't because of the circuitry but because of how the diaphragm works because it's small and light it's very easy to set in motion which makes it pick up more noise. Because of this SDC's are faster in response then LDC's.
Love that
Soyuz. Proudly made in Tula, Russia. Those are really cool mics, glad to see you using them! The correct pronunciation would be with stressed "yu" instead of "o" btw. Not trying to be mean, it's just how it sounds here in big bad Russia :D Gotta love those tom sounds!
Yeah they are great mics.
I was disappointed that there wasn’t an A-B comparison. Your point is probably valid, but without a comparison the point is not supported.
2:21 Mischievous hi-hat shot.
I find that Singers are sometimes put off by Small Diapgragms since they expect that big expensive looking Large Diaphragm
Yep, and if that's the case, then the vocal take is shot before it ever began. Inspiration is everything.
Shame there is no A-B examples =(
I did two follow up videos the same week that compare other mics to the SDCs.
@@creativesoundlab oh cool. I'll get digging =) The downside of getting across videos after the fact is that often you miss the follow ups =)
Acqueuestic
rad video! always been a proponent of SDCs
Thanks!
there is always humidity problem
@4:34 lmao
2:48 I Robot?
195 likes and 0 dislikes. Congrats
Wow!!! Thanks for pointing that out!
I've been using SDCs on vocals lately. You have to use a windshield, get the singer to stay at least 9 inches away from it, and not sing "into" it but "at" it if you see what I mean... but when you do all that it sounds great.
Yeah there is really no reason not to try SDCs on vocals. It seems a little strange at first, as vocalist almost expect a LDC, but they can work great. Come to think of it, I should have done that for a live session with drums in the room, because at least then the bleed would have sounded a lot better.
Its kind of like hyper-cardioid on a LDC!