Steve Beckett's microphone guide

Mojo Pie's editorial advisor tells you what he thinks

AEA R92
Ribbon
Figure Eight

Beckett says: "I like it on electric guitar amps. On the front side of the mic, it sort of puts across on agressive sound. On the back side, it's got this smooth thing that flatters vocalists who sing jazz standards."

Mojo Pie says: "It sort of imparts an 'organ' sound to acoustic guitar on the front of the mic."

AKG D 3400
Dynamic Neodymium
Cardioid

80 Hz to 20 kHz Frequency Response

Beckett says: "It's hard to find mic as its discontinued. I like it for hi-hat."

Mojo Pie says: "Please note our sarcasm here. How many discontinued mics have we raised the prices on by telling you about how good they are? Here we go again."

AKG C 452 EB
Small Diaphragm Condenser
Cardioid

75 Hz, 150 Hz High Pass Filter

Beckett says: "It's similar to a Shure SM81 but a little brighter. I like it as an overhead for drums. I suggest moving it back from the kit two or three feet and angling it in the drums to get less of the toms and more of the cymbals. I like it as a room mic."

Mojo Pie says: "This one goes in the discontinued category as well."

AKG D 112
Dynamic
Cardioid

Beckett says: "It's a low frequency mic with lots of proximity. It's all right for kick drum in a rock music setting. You get less note and more beater if that's what you like."

Blue Baby Bottle
Large Diaphragm Condenser
Cardioid

Beckett says: "It's a hot mic. You might need to put an inline pad on it as it doesn't come with a pad switch or any other kind of switch. It features a fairly flat frequency response but it's shaved on the low end and high end. It's great for dialog, especially with less than stellar voices. You need to use this mic in an isolation booth or a much better than average room."

Blue Dragonfly
Large Diaphragm Condenser
Cardioid

Beckett says: "I like it over a drum kit. It seems to capture the musicality of cymbals better than most mics popular for the application. It's also good on vocals (paired with the right vocalist as with any good vocal mic) and acoustic guitar."

Electro Voice RE20
Dynamic
Cardioid

Bass roll-off switch

Beckett says: "It's one of the standard mics in radio for voice as it possesses less proximity effect than other directional mics. I liked it for kick to stick inside the bass drum to get the thud of the beater rather than that annoying smack sound. I also like it for bass amp cabinet to pick up the low end. For what it's worth, I can't remember ever using the roll-off switch."

Electro Voice N/D 308
Dynamic Neodymium
Cardioid

Beckett says: "It's a good mic for drum toms. The N/D308 gives you a detailed sound on the toms. It features a built-in swivel mount that helps to get the mic into position."

Microtech Gefell MT71 S
Large Diaphragm Condenser
Cardioid

-10 dB Pad, -10 dB at 90 Hz High Pass Filter

Beckett says: "It's great on everything I've put it on from vocals to piano to guitar amps. If you own one and your recordings suck, then you just need to quit."

Neumann KM 184
Small Diaphragm Condenser
Cardioid

Beckett says: "It's great for overheads and acoustic guitar. One of the few Neumann mics that you actually need."

Neumann TLM 103
Large Diaphragm Condenser
Cardioid

Beckett says: "I think if you want to know how possibly bad your source can sound then pick up this mic."

Neumann TLM 193
Large Diaphragm Condenser
Cardioid

Beckett says: "I like this in front of the drum kit. I think it sort of flatters the source in that it tends to sound better than what's going on in the room."

--Steve Beckett