Omni or Cardioid on these Acoustics in this Tune? (Sound Clips)

Robertt8 · #1 01-31-2010, 06:56 PM

Hey guys,

I'm working on a new tune here and can't seem to decide whether or not i like the tone of the omni mic or the cardioid mic on the acoustic guitar for this.

I've got two 52 second chunks of the song i'm working on and just wondering what you guys think. Sometimes I seem to like the cardioid better as it's has more body and low end where the omni seems to be more detailed, but kind of hollow with less body.

Any preference? (keep in mind...this is a rough tune/mix)

Acoustic guitars recorded with omni mic (Naiant X-T):
http://bagoftoysmusic.com/music/hold...ds_up_omni.mp3

Acoustic guitars recorded with cardioid mic (Studio Projects B1):
http://bagoftoysmusic.com/music/hold...p_cardioid.mp3

ljguitar · #2 01-31-2010, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertt8

...Sometimes I seem to like the cardioid better as it's has more body and low end where the omni seems to be more detailed, but kind of hollow with less body.

Any preference?

Hi Rbt…
I like both, and wouldn't criticize either.

I prefer the lightness and detail of the Naiant...it cuts through nicely and doesn't compete with anything in that frequency spectrum.

One nice thing about omni mics is they don't suffer from the dreaded proximity effect when a close mic technique is employed.

Bob1131 · #3 01-31-2010, 07:10 PM

Robert, nice playing and singing! I listened with a pair of Sony headphones and I liked the B1 because the guitar had greater presence and fullness. However, the omni gave the guitar a thinner sound that might cut through the mix better if more is introduced in the track. Both sounded good and I wouldn't have criticized either if I hadn't A-B'd them!

rhancox · #4 01-31-2010, 08:28 PM

I liked the cardioid better too. I could hear more of the guitar. With the omni, it seemed to get lost in the rest of the instruments. It didn't sound bad, but as Bob said, the cardioid gave the guitar more presence.

SteeleString · #5 01-31-2010, 09:17 PM

Before i listened, I thought I'd like the Studio Projects B1 better, but with your two samples, I prefer the omni, just barely. However, with a little EQ I think I'd like the B1 better.

Really very nice on both of them.

I should add I listened on Sony headphones and not my studio monitors.

rick-slo · #6 01-31-2010, 09:42 PM

In the mix the thin sound of the Naiant gets by (barely). The Studio Projects B1 is more pleasing but a wee bit boomy - back off the mike a bit.

Bob Womack · #7 02-01-2010, 07:42 AM

If you are looking for shimmer and body, try a small diaphragm condenser, something along the lines of an AKG C451B (or C451E), Avantone CK-1, Shure SM-81, etc. You were comparing a small capsule omni condenser against a large diaphragm cardioid condenser, thus dealing with two issues at once. You can hold onto the high-end sparkle and zing with a small diaphragm condenser, and use the presence effect to get a little more body as well.

Of the two you use, IMHO, the brighter sound of the Naiant is more apropos to the combo situation but it still feels a little thin.

Bob

Robertt8 · #8 02-02-2010, 05:40 AM

Thanks for checking it out. I think I might have to work on mic placement a bit more and try it again. I think they're both close to being acceptable in my opinion, but the omni just sounds a little too frail and hollow where the other one sounds like it's lacking definition.

Thanks for the ears guys!