MB4000C

[berry120]

Hey,

 

To cut a long story short, there was a mic in church today that really seemed to be playing up, though it's not just today (this particular one has given me grief before). The culprit is an audio technika MB4000C, cardioid condensor, but when used on accoustic guitar it just seems to feedback through the monitors way way too easily. Has anyone had any experience with this mic before, is it just not that great a mic or is it just simply that the monitors are too close, the mics packing up or something else? Seems strange since I'd usually use a cardioid condensor to mic up guitars and they very rarely give me that much trouble.

[Simon Lewis]

The MB4000 is at the better end of Audio Technica's budget mics. It's quite a usable mic, although I prefer the ATM33a as a general purpose electret. Your mic could be faulty, but you should be able to listen for low output or distortion. However, micing an acoustic isn't always that easy, especially if the musician is moving about. A few inches closer to the soundhole will let the mic pickup the resonant frequency of the soundhole/body combination, and give you howling feedback. If the acoustic is also going through the monitors, it can be even harder to control. Can you try another mic with a tighter pickup pattern? Might you be able to get a bug or pickup fitted to the guitar?

 

Simon

[berry120]

I don't think the mic is faulty, there's no noise issues I can hear. A pickup would be better, but I don't think we have one around. I usually aim the mic a few inches a few inches from the soundboard because otherwise as you say it gets really boomy. Unfortunately though the useful gain before feedback obviously declines as well. It was fine coming through FOH, but monitor wise it was very hard to get any level at all. The monitor was fairly close (confined space), so I think this was probably the problem.

 

As for other mics, is there anything you'd suggest in particular? Would you go for a different cardiod condensor (would a C2 do it?) or a different kind altogether?

 

Thanks ;)

[Simon Lewis]

If your desk has a variable high pass filter, try raising that until the 'boomyness' goes. Otherwise a bit of judicious eq'ing might help. If it's a specific problem to monitors, and the FOH eq sounds fine, then using a spare desk channel (if you've got one) split the input signal (either a hard wired split or use the channel direct out or make an insert "sniffer lead") and plug into the second channel. Use this channel for the guitar monitor send only, and use the eq to get the best sound.

 

Mic wise, some of the Audix mics have a very good reputation for GBF... I have only used the drum versions, but I suspect a quick search here might bring up some recommendations. I haven't had to mic an acoustic for some time, but I always used an AKG C451 for the job.

 

 

Simon

[Sirch Sound]

Mic wise, some of the Audix mics have a very good reputation for GBF... I have only used the drum versions, but I suspect a quick search here might bring up some recommendations. I haven't had to mic an acoustic for some time, but I always used an AKG C451 for the job.

 

I have had some really, really nice results with the AKG Se300b/CK91 combo, it is, by far, my favourite Acoustic guitar mic, and you can just change the cartridge for when you want to do something else. Brilliant bit of kit.

 

Rich

[berry120]

I've used the CK91's before, mainly as overheads - haven't tried them on guitar though. Saying that, they've sounded very nice whenever I've used them, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if they worked nicely! The modular design, as you've said, works really nicely too. Haven't used the 451s, but have heard others recommend them as well. I'll do a bit of searching on the audix series - thanks for the suggestions, I'll bear them in mind

 

EQing seems to help a bit, but it always sounds like some form of comprimise (which I guess in this situation it will be.) Thanks for the 2 channel tip Simon, hadn't thought of that but sounds like it could come in handy!