best mic for live acoustic???

[dunkbox77]

I know of the great advancements in acoustic pickups lately, but most (even the great taylor es system i have) still lack some of the "air" i want to hear. I don't need a lot of volume - mostly like a coffee house setting - so i'm not that concerned w/ feedback. I play a Taylor K20 (Koa) & a Taylor 410 & have used an SM57 w/ fairly acceptable results. Let's have it guys, what else do you recommend???

[Pietro]

I'll never use a mic on an acoustic again, because I'm too animated, but I don't think an SM57 is a good choice.

Try some condensor mic AKG C1000 or even better a Shure SM81. Or... even better... if money's no object, my choice for recording OR quiet stage environment... AKG 414.

Or... try a Fishman Aura... You might not want to/have to mic up if you like it. I've heard RAVES about it. I'm using an old Yamaha AG Stomp (which models microphones) myself, but today, I'd get an Aura...

[Big White Tele]

Shure KSM 32, used about 250.00.

[JRenn]

Or... try a Fishman Aura... You might not want to/have to mic up if you like it. I've heard RAVES about it. I'm using an old Yamaha AG Stomp (which models microphones) myself, but today, I'd get an Aura...

The only raves I've heard about the Aura is from the guys at Fishman. In fact, a Fishman dealer recommended I stay away from it. He could've made money off a sale, but thank goodness, he was honest about it. They have a tendency to sound great with one guitar out of like ten, but if your guitar doesn't work with it, it just doesn't work.

Other than that, I have no idea about a mic for live use. I am, however, interested so I'll pay attention to this thread.

Blessings

[gitman]

for my nylonstring is solo/duo settings i use a combination of a Beyer Ribbon mic and an AKG soundboard transducer. sounds very warm and natural, without these pesky highs that make your toes curl ....

[WahmBoomAh]

don`t rule out the k&k ....contact pickup with the most natural tone I`ve heard from a pickup

[edgarallanpoe]

The only raves I've heard about the Aura is from the guys at Fishman.

I have one and love it. The trick is to get the closes image to your guitar that you can. Fortunately I have a Breedlove E.G. and they have an image for that guitar. It sounds fantastic. I had a harder time with my Breedlove 12 string with Koa back and sides, but I played an entire gig with it last night and dialed it in. I have nothing but great things to say about this unit. Using a mic when playing live is a total pain in the ass, especially if you are running your own sound.

[agreatheight]

I somewhat disagree with it being difficult to use a mic live with an acoustic, even if you are running sound yourself. A dynamic mic like an SM57 isn't going to be your best bet, you'll probably want to get a condenser. It will add the air you are looking for, but it'll also add some background noise as well. As long as you are solo, have your back to a wall and use a cardiod (or super cardiod) pattern for the condenser you should be in pretty good shape. I recommend still using your onboard system and adding in the mic to fill out the sound with the air you are looking for. As for specific mics, it really depends on your price range, there is a big difference between $100, $500, $1000... you get the idea. What's your budget?

[Fender66]

bump+1

just so that I get all responses e-mailed to me. Great question to ask, and I don't want to miss any answers. Been needing an answer to this for a long time....not just live, but also recording.

Peace,

[mischultz]

It needs a fair bit of gain and it's not cheap, but a Sennheiser MD441 would be my preference. The single most natural-sounding mic I've come across and it's reasonably tight (and consequently feedback-resistant) pattern-wise.

Michael

[The Funk]

4041 or SM81 work great for live acoustic. I'd also try a 414 or AT4050. Or a GT33.

[dunkbox77]

wow - i posted this last week - several views but no posts for a while, then went out of town, came back yesterday remembered the post - checked it & wow, lots of good input. thanks, all. budget wise, i'd prolly have to stay in the $250 range - could go up to $300 if something was just the bomb.

[Big White Tele]

4041 or SM81 work great for live acoustic. I'd also try a 414 or AT4050. Or a GT33.
Yes, The Shure sm81 is a great mic. I thought they were a lot more money, but I just saw a new one today for 250.00.

[OOG]

for my nylonstring is solo/duo settings i use a combination of a Beyer Ribbon mic and an AKG soundboard transducer. sounds very warm and natural, without these pesky highs that make your toes curl ....

+1
love the Beyer M160

[mdog114]

Small diaphragm condensers will likely be the best choice. Cardiods are fine unless there's a lot of other noise, if that's the case, hyper will work better.

I like the old mics, 451's, KM84's and B&K 40011. The only newer ones I really dig are the 4041's.

[therealting]

The B&K / DPA stuff is fantastic, but definitely not budget.

I will say the K&Ks are as close to acoustic sounding as anything else I've heard, if installed properly. I would try that before anything else.

[Mondoslug]

AKG 535 is a very decent condenser for live IMO.