Mic shure KSM32

[Gert van Santen]

Hey, Romain!

Op 11-1-2012 16:41, Romain / rXg schreef:
> Hello guys,
> During the New year eve I talked with Gert about many stuff :
> mastering, mixing ... etc  but also about gears :P

Yeah, man, that was an awesome evening. Talking gear is one of 
the coolest things on music-bar parties :-)

> One of those discussion was about  the shure KSM32, I referred to
> this dude ( see link below), who used to be sound engineer
> for King Kringsom albums etc ...
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w6y8gNWEhY&list=UU5ZJRccUMA0Dw5AxOSAgbFA&index=1&feature=plcp
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w6y8gNWEhY&list=UU5ZJRccUMA0Dw5AxOSAgbFA&index=1&feature=plcp>
> What do you think compare to the very known Rode NT1 ? ( cost :
> 169 euro) , Shure KSM32 is  579 euro ...
> Do you think I will really hear the difference for the difference
> of price ?  also I think that the Pre-Amp has a big impact on the
> quality ...
> Right now with my Rode Nt1  I got a Presonus  TubePre (88 Euro)
> Which kind of Pre-amp will you advice to combine it with a KSM32 ?
> I must say that I'm using the rode nt1 combined with the tubepre
> since couples of years ... I m quite satisfied   but I discovered
> that the mic is a bit too sensitive on high freq ...
> Also I wonder about different stuff about stereo recording let
> say over head for drums. .. Is it common to use different
> cardioid condenser mics with different Pre-amp, or do you need to
> use the same materials for the Pair ? ( Same mic + same Pre Amp) ...

I would always use 2 identical mikes for overhead, otherwise you 
might get a strange/annoying stereo image. Or only use 1 mike, 
but then you've got mono sound - which isn't always bad for OH.

> If you think the KSM32 is not a good idea for the price, which
> Mic will you advice for acoustic guitar, voices, drums overhead,
> udu etc ?
> I wish you all a nice day ...

I have never used the KSM32, but I'm shure (hehe) it's a great 
mike. If you will hear the difference; well that's another story. 
It also depends what you do with your recordings afterwards and 
how good your room acoustics are. If you use loads of EQ, 
compression, delay, chorus etc afterwards, who cares if it's a 
Neumann, and you probably won't hear the difference.

I think with mikes it's the same as with many other tools people 
use to make art. Like guitars, synthesizers, and even mastering. 
It's about your creativity - what you do with them...

Let's take mastering. It is my considered opinion, that people 
make way too much of a thing about mastering. Of course, if you 
compare a bad mix without mastering to a great mix with pro 
mastering, there will be a big difference.
But the difference between my mastering and Bob Katz's work? I am 
betting almost no-one will hear the difference. That's not 
because I'm as good as Bob Katz, but it's because most people 
will not be able to hear the difference between good enough and 
awesome - especially when they listen to mp3's while chatting 
with friends or travelling to work on the train with an ipod.

So, what about mikes? I think there are almost no really bad 
mikes above a certain price point of, let's say, 150 euros. There 
will be differences, of course, but for recording real 
instruments and vocals - where you will almost certainly use 
compression and EQ - I will bet you that the difference between 
most good mikes above 150 euros will be negligible, as far as 
your audience is concerned. Again, it's all about what you do 
with the recordings.

What is important, though, is your application. If you record 
voice-overs, a more expensive micriophone is definitely a big 
plus, although I have recorded great stuff with a 50 euro usb 
mike and a simple flash recorder. Same for acoustic guitar 
without other instruments. You want to hear that beautiful 
sparkling sound? Go for a great mike. But don't forget: you will 
need good room acoustics as well, plus the right distance, plus 
the right polar pattern, compression, EQ, reverb, etc.

So, in conclusion: get a good mike that's not 25 euros - but 
think of your application - and then it's all about your 
creativity and who is going to listen to it - and where.

hope this helps :-)

-- 
Gert
-------------
gert van santen
www.gertvansanten.nl