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From: dijk~orldaccess.nl
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 96 18:47:13 GMT
Subject: RE: Good Acoustic Mic?

On Thu, 3 Oct 1996 20:52:43 -0400 (EDT) Steven Levine
wrote:

> Can anyone recommend a good mic for playing acoustic harp, strght
> through the pa? I've been using an SM57 and I'm not entirely pleased with
> it. One of the guitarists in the band (who owns the pa and knows
> equipment) suggested getting another mic, maybe a SM58. What do you other
> acoustic players use? I'd appreciate any suggestions.

For more than 3 years, I tested all kind of microphones. I was looking for a
microphone that does not change the sound at all (or as minimal as possible).
For about 4 years, I used the AKG D330 dynamic microphone. I have been quite
satisfied with this mic and I think it is a much better mic for the 'acoustic'
harmonica player than the SURE SM58. The SURE beta 58 is simmilar to the AKG
D330, but still I like the AKG more. The only problem that occured at a certain
moment, was that when I played very soft (p, pp, ppp) the dynamic mic changed
the sound a little bit. I did not like this, so started looking for another
mic.

A lot of condenser microphones sounded much more natural than the AKG D 330. In
the future, I will buy a NEUMANN condenser microphone (don't know the type-name
but used it during a studio recording and it was realy terrific). At the
moment, I am not able to buy such a very expensive microphone but I know it is
worth the money.

Since half a year, I am using an AKG C 5600. It is a condenser microphone which
is designed for acoustic instruments. I had to change its shape to be able to
play with the mic in my left hand. Normaly, it should be used on a microphone
stand.

This mic realy is very good. On stage, I use this mic in combination with my
19'' custom built pre-amplifier and my 19'' digital reverb in one SKB
flightcase on a stand in front of me (about 80 cm high). This way, I am able to
make my own sound while I use two channels (left and right) on the PA which
doesn't have to change my input at all.

Pre-amplifier features:
Based on the electronics of one fader a SOUNDCRAFT professional studio mixer:

connectors:
- - MIC input
incl. Phantom power suply for condenser microphones
- - Direct out
- 20 db switch
- - LINE OUT LEFT & RIGHT
- - MONITOR OUT
- - EFFECT SEND (mono)
- - EFFECT RETURN (left & right)
- - Power suply for digital reverb

Buttons:
- - Microphone GAIN
incl. CLIP led
- - EFFECT SEND volume
- - HIGH
- - MID HIGH
- - MID LOW
- - LOW
- - EFFECT RETURN LOW
- - EFFECT RETURN HIGH
- - EFFECT RETURN volume
- - MASTER volume

DIRECT OUT can be used during LIVE recording situations or when you want to use
the PA systems tone control and reverb. In this last situation, you can use the
line outs of the pre-amplifier as input signal for the monitors, so you are
able to make your own sound to use on stage.

Hope to be a little bit informative,

Wim Dijkgraaf
The Netherlands