Bass Microphone Comparison | Bass Tone Tuesday

In this episode of #BassToneTuesday we compare 8 different microphones for bass:
Sennheiser MD421
Sennheiser MD441
Shure SM7b
Beyerdynamic m88
Peluso-P87
Lautem Audio Clarion FC-357
AEA R84
SE Electronics VR1 Voodoo Ribbon
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►Mesa Engineering WD-800 + Subway 1x15" Cab
►Noble Amps Preamp
► Rupert Neve RNDI
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► Sigma 16mm 1.4
► Sony 28mm 2.0
► Shure SM7b
► SE Electronics SE4 Small Diaphragm Condenser Mic
► Logic Pro X

[@sparella]

I closed my eyes and listened for a tone that I would use for mixing a song (if I had to choose only one). I opened my eyes at the MD 421 and smiled. I've been using 421 IRs on most bass tracks for the past year.

[@compucorder64]

Similar. I don't know if it's because they sound familiar from many recordings we already know. Or if it's because they just sound really good on bass cab. I think a bit of both - but I just keep gravitating toward them. Even when I've moved off SM57 on snare, guitar to Beyerdynamic M201s (also good on acoustic upright bass, and quite good on bass cab, and suprisingly good on steel string guitars, mandolins, banjos etc..).

[@in.der.welt.sein.]

The m88 sounded awesome. Instant Shellac bass tone.

[@IvanBassist]

Great mic!

[@compucorder64]

Yip. I made a mental note with that m88 clip for next time I need a snarling Shellac or Kim Gordon type bass tone that an m88 must. Didn't love the LDCs, a U47-type can be nice. But I just keep finding myself liking the old 421 for a more classic bass tone. The AEA R84 had really nice Motown vibe - a Cascade Fat Head might be useful for that tone too. And I liked the SE Electronics VR1 too. And I've liked that mic before on guitar cab too. Though, it's so close in price to a Beyer M160 or Royer R-10, that I don't know if I'd ever bother buying one.

[@andytullis8736]

Great comparison video. I liked the sE VR1 for the smooth sound it produced and the Beyerdynamic M88. The bit that M88 had was awesome!

[@IvanBassist]

Thanks for watching, Andy!

[@focusonjunta]

Thanks for this useful video. For me, it was the Lauten Audio - by a very large margin! To be fair to the MD421, I think most bass players use it in conjunction with other mics. Cheers!

[@IvanBassist]

The Lauten Audio sounds great, right? 😁

[@OskarWroniewiczLiveSound]

VR1 and M88 for me, with VR1 being smoother and a bit more vintage. Ideally would love to have both for different tastes. Wonderful comparison!

[@IvanBassist]

Thanks for watching!

[@SPacePhish09]

Clarion mic stood out the most to me as well for this test. Was pleasantly surprised to hear Ivan agree. Agree again on Bayer being the best budget choice. Excellent review Ivan!

[@IvanBassist]

Thanks for watching! Glad to hear you liked the video!

[@Loe_Jist]

I listened on cheap earbuds and then again on my monitor headphones. As a bassist, I liked all of them except the 2 condenser mics. It'd all depend on the sound, the playing style, live vs studio, and type of music. For this set-up I'd go with the 421 or SM7b.

[@oldguyplaysbass6503]

Awesome video Ivan! Thanks for all you do. CYA on TB!

[@IvanBassist]

Thanks for watching!

[@matthiasbenda8253]

Very interesting! Iplayed the H&K BassBase 400 for many years and I recognize it's very distinct sound through all the mics. Hard to say which one I like best though

[@IvanBassist]

That amp sounds great! I really liked the growl it had!

[@klienk8237]

Throughout the years I owned many an amp and the 3 i couldn’t part with were the H&K, fafner and ashdown

[@livingabovethe12th]

Regardless of price, the M88 sounded great, warm think lows and even mids and highs. Being you can grab one on Reverb for $300 usd makes it a bonus. (The M88 is also really good on other sources like guitar cabs, Kik, and Toms) Feel like the M88 is a bit of a sleeper mic nobody talks much about. It's very ribbon like but with extended highs.

[@IvanBassist]

Great mic, right!? 💪🏽💪🏽

[@personalfreedom2700]

Very interesting indeed! The Lauten is the best you can tell… the m88 sounded nearly there but has some clipping maybe? Have you tried the electro voice EV320 on the bass cab?

[@IvanBassist]

I haven’t tried that one, but I’ve heard it’s word saving a bit more and getting the EV RE20

[@kickit301]

Yeaaaaaah look at that rack tuner! Haven’t seen one of those in days

[@SteveSam66]

Love the video.. something about the Shure SM7b that stood out for me

[@ampthebassplayer]

I was toying around with picking one of those up to replace my AT2020 (it picks up too much background noise), mostly for use at my computer for voice chat, but that sound on bass is pretty great too.

[@IvanBassist]

That’s a great all-around mic :)

[@kurtralske4026]

Did the Sennheiser 441 have the treble-boost switch engaged? I'm guessing no. But that can be a great sound, for sure.

[@IvanBassist]

Don’t remember to be honest. Most likely not

[@BladeJones]

I use a Shure SM-58. Sounds great.

[@vulgarproduction]

That’s punk as fuck.

[@ramencurry6672]

SM 58 actually works in many situations. I’ve used the SM 57 with excellent results too

[@christopherstorrier5560]

Good but no AKG D112 Mkll ?!?!.... one of the best bass mic's for 40+ years...easily takes up to 160db, some people claiming higher SPL levels.... 20hz - 20khz +/- 10db...30hz - 13khz +/- 6db. ...40hz - 8khz +/- 3db...my favourite bass cab dynamic mic..."the egg on a stick"....not to expensive, £120 if you shop around online....fantastic if used along with a condensor mic live or in the studio...does a great Ampeg type tone on it's own, & your drummer can borrow it for his bass kick drum if you are not using it....i use it along with a Shure 57 for a good punch in the bass & mids....🎸🎤

[@kevinbrianjohnsonmusic]

I've always been an AKG guy. But I'm open minded, so I'll get whichever sounds best within my budget.

[@vulgarproduction]

I use an iPhone for all my tracking. Great for overheads and especially guitar.

[@flanneljoe7473]

Great video. Very interesting and useful content. Thanks

[@IvanBassist]

Thanks for watching, Joe!

[@401Blues]

I use an Audix 6......all I did was swing it away from my bass drum to in front of my bass cabinet!

[@joshuapartogi]

Hi. Thanks for the video. I am curious, what would be the reason mic-ing up a bass amp rather than putting the bass straight to mixer with bass head?

[@IvanBassist]

It’s sound way different. Check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJmZdYSKmrySn9E

[@jcisme]

The SM7b did the job OK IMO..

[@IvanBassist]

Thanks for watching!

[@jamwithjason3112]

2:05 3:06

[@whatskraken3886]

I feel like there weren't really that many good bass mics, ironically enough.

[@joshuapartogi]

What is needed for a mic to be great for mic-ing up bass? High on low end?

[@whatskraken3886]

@@joshuapartogi lots of low end, but also just the general right EQ. for example, even an sm57 can get near enough low end for most bass needs, but the frequency response is centered around snare/guitar frequencies, not bass/kick frequencies, which is why not many people use it for that.