doug662 - Posted - 09/26/2012:  04:46:26

I was wondering, and that can be dangerous, if there would be any benefit to those who record and post.....if there were a place to have threads on recording dobro techniques. Sharing mic placement how to use reverb and the likes. I am more than pleased with this site and I am thankful for it, this is just an idea

Slidennis - Posted - 09/26/2012:  08:38:44

I don't know if we'd need "a place to have threads on recording dobro".  It gets discussed often enough and the search function works well for me.

As has been pointed out previously here, Gibson has taken the time to outline what is generally accepted as the methods used to record dobro and other resonator guitars.

gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Pro...ng-reson/

That article does not go into specifics on particular mics or signal chains.  I would think there are as many variations on that theme to completely confuse anybody.  My personal experience says that you can get good results with most any good mic, a good preamp and any recording platform as long as you understand the puts and takes of your equipment and recording space.  And since the space is so important there will be and should be a lot of variation in how folks do things.  So the generalities of the Gibson article work for me.

What works for me could work for others but any sensible set up will work.  I generally use two mics - one LDC and one SDC (sometimes two SDC's). The LDC sits near  the cone and picks up the cone and a lot of the body sound - most of the bass comes from that mic.  It also picks up the room.  The SDC(s) is(are) directed at the portholes and pick up the rest of the body and a lot of string sound - this gets some of the sparkle and harmonics (IMO).  Frankly, the SDC's can be dispensed with if the LDC is well placed and the room is not too "live".  And really,any good mic set up to capture the cone will suffice in most cases. 

As for which mics, there are more mics out there than there are combinations of dobros, cones and strings.  Any decent mic will work.  I favor an Audio-Technica  4033 or a Studio Projects C-1 as the LDC.  I am also using a CAD Trion 7000 ribbon mic more these days but it requires a preamp with a lot gain.  I have a good selection of small diaphragm condensers on hand too but generally use either an Audio-Technica or an MXL 603s. 

The mics are run into one of a couple preamps depending on what sound I am looking to capture.  Really, any preamp that allows sufficient gain control without adding noise will work.

The preamps are routed to an Echo interface and into Sonar X1 Producer.  Again most any decent interface and recording package will work.   I record the signal dry and later add compression and reverb (or other effects) to taste. 

I've used a lot of other mic combinations over the years too.  It all depends on what you intend to capture and how you intend to use it.  I don't do much solo dobro recording.  I'm usually mixing the dobro in with a number of other instruments.

My simplest recording set-up is to use a Zoom H2 hand held recorder set up on a mic stand above the cone.  That works very well too.  

Dennis

Edited by - Slidennis on 09/26/2012 08:48:49

doug662 - Posted - 09/26/2012:  09:41:01

Yes I have read the Gibson guidelines and I guess it is not needed as you say , and I Do record dry and one my greatest faults right now is a very very cheap yet decent sounding mic. I do have a USB mic in layaway though that has been checked out by a life long friend who is a sound engineer. I just thought some of us using different effects or such might have been useful. But, you are probably right its not needed................

Slidennis - Posted - 09/26/2012:  12:13:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by doug662

I do have a USB mic in layaway though that has been checked out by a life long friend who is a sound engineer. 

---

USB mics can be decent mics.  And they are convenient for sure .  The most common and basic issue with many of them is that they do not allow you to set the gain on the mic signal before you get to the recording software.

I would suggest that you see if the mic comes with software to adjust the gain, as some better models do, or that the mic has a built in preamp with a gain adjustment on the mic itself, whcih some newer models are offering.  Otherwise you can have a heck of a time getting a strong enough signal without adding an excessive amount of noise to the recording.

As for mic placement there are a lot of ways to position the mic and some of it depends on the mic and the room/space where you record.  But basically, if you place the mic so the diaphragm is pointing to the coverplate at  the bridge, you'll get a good sound.  Of course you'll maybe get some pick noise too.  We all play differently and we all play different dobros and we all probably like different timbres to our sound.  That's why you work at it until you get it the way you want it.  After that you can set it and forget it..

Effects are a matter of what you are after in a recording.  Most recordings sound un-natural without some reverb.  But if you have a live room to record in, you don't need reverb.  A lot of effort goes into reducing natural reverb in a studio only to add a bit back in in post- recording production.  Go figure.  

I've got every effect known to man in software plug-ins and hardware around here.  I don't really use them with the dobro.  It seems counter-intuitive to me to layer some effect on to an instrument that has such a unique tone color to start with.  Same with the Weissenborn.   It's hard enough to capture the natural sound of the instrument anyway.  Why screw it up?  

Electric lap steel is another matter.  I run them through a Line6 POD anyway.  I sometimes like a nasty sounding electric lap steel.  Whatever floats your boat works.

Dennis

doug662 - Posted - 09/26/2012:  12:53:52

with the resources I have available this is what I have on lay away. I do know there are better ones {there always are} but it was tested out by a trusted friend

alctron-audio.com/encpShow.asp?id=1735


Let me know what you think

Slidennis - Posted - 09/26/2012:  16:06:33

quote:

---

Originally posted by doug662

 

alctron-audio.com/encpShow.asp?id=1735

Let me know what you think

---

I have no experience with that particular mic.  So I cannot comment except to say that it does not seem to have any way to control the initial signal gain.  They do make USB models which do.  Such as this one. 

alctron-audio.com/encpShow.asp?id=1739

I do know of Ningbo Alctron as a large Chinese manufacturer of knockoff mics of original European and American mic designs.  They are the factories behind many current brands of budget mics and some decent ones too.  Quite a few American, Australian and European  mic brands buy Alctron components and re-do the electronics and sell them for beaucoup bucks.  

Dennis

Edited by - Slidennis on 09/26/2012 16:08:01

Slidennis - Posted - 09/26/2012:  16:40:46

I should add that I am not a mic snob.  The mic you linked to will probably do a good job.  I have a number of similar mics on the shelf (USB and XLR) and they are useful with a little EQ to counter their built in frequency bias.

 I just think better control over the gain would help control the signal to the recording software.  You'll probably be very happy with it.

Dennis

doug662 - Posted - 09/26/2012:  18:45:14

Thanks Dennis I must mention it has to beat the Logitech Desktop Mic LOL .....I am using that right now