Mics for bass cabs

Rob Spence

Rob Spence

Senior
Jan 11, 2011
897
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Boston Metro North West
www.lynxaudioservices.com
I don't often put a mic on a bass cab but use DIs mostly.
I have changed out a bunch of my mics since I last needed to mic a cab.
This is a festival setup and the rig is without subs.

Suggestions?

Here are some mics I have to choose from.
Shure B52
Audix D6
SM57, 58, B57
SM81
AT2020
Senn e609
Audix Micro-D

Thanks
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

I'd probably used the B52 followed by the D6...if you just need snap one of the other instrument mics would work well...normally I'd use a combination of the DI and mic to get the lows plus the snappy stuff...but I almost never use a mic unless a rider requests it.

The EV RE20 is an excellent choice, but you didn't list one.
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

I use a B52 along with a countryman DI for my bass player, sometimes I just use one or the other depending on the room, but both are always hooked up.
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

This guy is an upright bass with preamp to bass amp. The rider asks for a mic on the cab.
Oh, and outdoors.

I would normally bring subs to a gig like this but they didn't want to pay for it. Heck, there was a time when I was afraid all I would see is 2 extension cords for power :)
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

I did a year of touring recently with the amazing Todd Philips on bass. He played an upright into a preamp into an amp and would only allow me to mic it, and only with his AKG C3000. I was apprehensive at first, to say the least, but it sounded great. I would give the AT 2020 a try.
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

Jason Raboin said:
I did a year of touring recently with the amazing Todd Philips on bass. He played an upright into a preamp into an amp and would only allow me to mic it, and only with his AKG C3000. I was apprehensive at first, to say the least, but it sounded great. I would give the AT 2020 a try.
Click to expand...

And depending on the placement of the amp in relation to other on-stage sound, I have sometimes used a KSM44 set to the figure-8 pattern to keep out sound from the sides........
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

Audix D6 is ok but has a big scoop in the mids. I usually reserve those for kick and use an Audix D4 which is a much flatter mic. This gives you the mids to work with to help bring out stuff that the D6 makes more difficult since the D6 is basically a 'smiley face' self EQ'd mic. Mic response graphs attached.

Greg
 

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Re: Mics for bass cabs

Rob,

For a natural sound I would be inclined to try the At as well. One way or the other I look for the front edge attack of the bass note at about Eight hundred hz. A boost here will make it stand out in the mix especially without subs. I also use this with bands with cheaper iem earpieces that don't reproduce lows as well.
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

Jay Barracato said:
Rob,

For a natural sound I would be inclined to try the At as well. One way or the other I look for the front edge attack of the bass note at about Eight hundred hz. A boost here will make it stand out in the mix especially without subs. I also use this with bands with cheaper iem earpieces that don't reproduce lows as well.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

Ya know, even though the AT2020 is an inexpensive mic I have used them on horns to good results. Perhaps I will try it on the bass. Some day I would like to add a couple of it's big brother to the kit.
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

Rob Spence said:
This guy is an upright bass with preamp to bass amp. The rider asks for a mic on the cab.
Oh, and outdoors.

I would normally bring subs to a gig like this but they didn't want to pay for it. Heck, there was a time when I was afraid all I would see is 2 extension cords for power :)
Click to expand...


Your in the "It Depends" area. Not knowing how well the Bass Player sets up his/her bass sound you could be in for a battle.
I'd do both. Take the DI from the bass cabinet and put a mic in front as well. Tell the player you want to blend the 2 for best sound. That way you can throw the mic out of the mix if needed.
As I'm sure you know uprights are tough at best. I sometimes start with the Low Cut at 150hz (yes thats right) then slowly bring it lower as needed. Same with the high cut. Start a lot lower than you'd think then slowly go up. They seem to pick up everything.
Its going to take a good quality bass amp to do an upright justice.
Don't worry about extreme low end with no subs in the mix. I'd use a E609 or a PR22.
As others have stated look for the low/mids.

Douglas R. Allen
 
Re: Mics for bass cabs

Jay Barracato said:
Rob,

For a natural sound I would be inclined to try the At as well. One way or the other I look for the front edge attack of the bass note at about Eight hundred hz. A boost here will make it stand out in the mix especially without subs. I also use this with bands with cheaper iem earpieces that don't reproduce lows as well.
Click to expand...

+1 on that one. Basing off of this, mic choice wouldn't need to be something that has lows hyped, as it will just give too much to a signal that has no room for serious low end. Something with a little attack wouldn't hurt, with it being an upright bass.

Rob, from what I've seen of you around on the forums, I know you're a big K12 fan, so will you be using them for the festival at all? Or will the QRX be deployed for this. If it's the K12's, I know, and undoubtedly you do as well, you'll be able to get some serious warmth out of them with your bass, especially with an upright. (which I love by the way.) I don't know much about the QRX as I haven't heard them.
 
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