More demo clips (MP3's) of different mics (SM57, e609, i5, GI100)

[bduersch]

Well, guess the title is pretty obvious, but having pretty much nailed down my taste in guitar & amp tones over the past couple years, I've been spending a lot more time experimenting with different recording setups, particularly in terms of mic selection. A few weeks ago ( http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39950 ) I recorded some comparison clips using several mics and cab simulators (SM57, e609, small/large condensers, Microcab, and Randall cab sim), and based on the results I sold the ADA Microcab and used the $ to pick up a Behringer GI100 direct box and Audix i5 dynamic mic. So it's time for another comparison...

So here's the setup I'm using for today's clips:
Voodoo Guitar Works ( http://www.voodooguitarworks.com ) custom guitar -->
RM4 preamp (using Top Boost, Plexi, Recto, and Ultra modules) -->
DOD R848 spring reverb (in parallel loop) -->
RT2/50 power amp (running right side w/ JJ EL34's) -->
Avatar 4x12 cab w/ V30's -->
3 mics (Shure SM57, Sennheiser e609, Audix i5) -->
ART TPS preamps -->
Delta 1010LT card -->
Sonar 4 Producer (no FX used)

In addition, the Behringer GI100 direct box is inserted between the power amp and cab. The cab simulator is engaged, and the output is running into an ART TPS preamp as well (which provides phantom power to the GI100).

Results will be posted shortly, as soon as the MP3's finish encoding...

--B

[bduersch]

Ok, here are the clips, in no particular order:

Audix i5: http://studio.naughtybutterspoon.com/i5.mp3

Sennheiser e609: http://studio.naughtybutterspoon.com/e609.mp3

Shure SM57: http://studio.naughtybutterspoon.com/sm57.mp3

Behringer GI100 direct box: http://studio.naughtybutterspoon.com/gi100.mp3

--B

[keithb]

I think the i5 sounds best to my ears.

Great tune, btw - love that riff at the beginning - any chance you could post a tab of it?

[Gex]

Awesome dude.

The Audix is very warm, has a solid bass and midrange. I really liked this one. My favorite of the bunch. Im impressed.

The Shure is also very warm, has a solid bass, less midrange though. It seemed that the treble and midrange were very balanced and flat, and the bass was more prominant than the mids and treble.It had an overall dark character. I also liked this one alot, just about as much as the Audix. It sounds great, I'd hang onto the Shure and the Audix for sure.

The Sennheiser had a prominant midrange honk, and very little bass compared with the Audix and Shure.

The Behringer box was the brightest of the bunch. It was very clear, but lacked the warmth of the mics.

Since I can hear in person what your amp sounds like in real life bduersch, which one do you personally think sounds closest to whats coming out of amp itself?

[Gex]

wow, 2 votes for the Audix so far.

[megadeth]

i have NOT even heard the clips but i'll vote for e609 coz i just bought one off evilbay. I don't want to get disappointed.

[bduersch]

Originally Posted by keithb

Great tune, btw - love that riff at the beginning - any chance you could post a tab of it?

Thanks... it's the bridge for one of my band's songs that we haven't played in a while... I was trying to dig up an MP3 that has the bridge in the context of the rest of the song, but haven't been able to find one.

That said, the tab is something like this (I rarely play it exactly the same):
e---------0--------------0-----
b-------0---0----------0---0---
g-----4--------------7-------7-
d-4-2----------4-2/7-----------
a------------------------------
e------------------------------

e---------0--------------0-----
b-------0---0----------0---0---
g-----4--------------5-------5-
d-4-2----------4-2/5-----------
a------------------------------
e------------------------------

e---------0--------------0-----
b-------0---0----------0---0---
g-----4--------------7-------7-
d-4-2----------4-2/7-----------
a------------------------------
e------------------------------

e---------0----------------5-------
b-------0---0----------8-----8-----
g-----4--------------7---7-----7---
d-4-2----------2-4-5-------------5-
a----------------------------------
e----------------------------------

--B

[bduersch]

Originally Posted by Gex

Since I can hear in person what your amp sounds like in real life bduersch, which one do you personally think sounds closest to whats coming out of amp itself?

I like your analysis of the different tones... by the time I got done recording all the clips my ears were too tired to listen to all of them critically! Not sure which sounds most like what's coming out of the amp, though... it's so subjective, since once it's recorded, the clips vary considerably based on what they're played back through (so the Audix may sound most representative through my studio monitors, while the Shure may sound most representative on my stereo).

Now I'm trying some recordings using different combinations of the mics panned to different locations in the mix. Most of my recent recordings were set up with the SM57 panned far left, e609 panned far right, and just a touch of cab sim (ADA Microcab) panned dead center. Now that I've sold the Microcab and picked up the Audix & Behringer cab sim, I'm going through another round of experimentation to see what combination sounds best.

--B

[Ozzdoc]

Audix i5 gets my vote

[Jem7]

My vote is SM57

[bluealien]

bduersch, which do you currently perfer? I hear the difference of the Audix & Shure, and like them both, and I am currently going to buy 2 mics, but this still has not made up my mind..

Just asking since you seem to have more experience recording then I.. and I need to add to my xmas list...

The $10 price tag difference is no big deal.

I have a few quick questions:
1. where these mics in stands or hung infront of the cabs?
2. Is this a flat cabinet or slant top cab?
3. Also which speaker postion.

Thanks
Rich

[bonehead189]

The Audix i5 sounds more bright as the SM57 sounds dark and mean. For heavy stuff I'd use the SM57, for more midrange/trebley stuff I'd use the Audix i5. My vote goes to the Audix i5.

[bduersch]

Originally Posted by bluealien

bduersch, which do you currently perfer? I hear the difference of the Audix & Shure, and like them both, and I am currently going to buy 2 mics, but this still has not made up my mind..

...

I have a few quick questions:
1. where these mics in stands or hung infront of the cabs?
2. Is this a flat cabinet or slant top cab?
3. Also which speaker postion.

Good questions... at this point, I like the SM57 a bit more, but that's mostly because I've been using SM57's for years, know how to place them, know pretty much what I'm going to get. The i5 feels a little more lively to me, perhaps a little more sensitive to where it is placed, and I think I need to do some more experimenting with it to find its sweet spot.

And for the other questions...
1) All the mics were on stands about 2" from the grille. On axis. About midway between the cone and the speaker edge.
2) It's a straight 4x12" with Vintage 30's
3) I mic'd the bottom right speaker on the left edge (e.g., closer to the bottom left speaker than to the right edge of the cab)

--B

[bluealien]

Great info, well based on reading about the 2 mics and comparing specs and listen again to your examples (Like 20x on different speakers), I decided to go with the Axis i5, only because I think I heard a more lively sound, the SM57, to sounds a little hollow in some ranges, (hope im explaining right), kind of like my real old shure mic, which I was tring to get away from at this point of my recording.

Thanks again for the help,

[JN777]

hi i just got one sennheiser e 609, but im not shure wich side goes facing the amp
Can someone tell me?

thanks a lot!