Sennheiser MD421 is the best dynamic mic on the market

[Disarm D'arcy]

We've mostly used SE ribbons blended with some DI from a Palmer PDI with simulated speaker on all our records, which sounds dope and very full range. Recording our guitars is tricky because downtuning / bass VI and an overall very wide range.

Now that we tend to play louder and record louder, I'm tempted to try new microphones. I've tested the SM57 because my bandmate has one and I have a couple copies lying around, really not good at capturing the width of what we do. Going to try a pair of e906 or copies of I can get my hands one some. The other alternative will be to keep using the SE ribbons but at a further distance, which means more room sound than I'd like (especially as they're figure 8) and losing the proximity effect which helped a lot at capturing our low end properly.

The latest release we've made in 2021 is pure Palmer DI and no mics because I haven't solved the recording mic conundrum since our last record in 2015

[coldbrightsunlight]

I would've thought those SE mics would handle a pretty loud signal fine (going off their tech specs), or is there something you're not liking about the sound of them at higher volumes?

[Disarm D'arcy]

We used to use them for miking the amp super close and the tricky part with ribbons is that they will distort easily. So we have to move them further away and we do not got that proximity effect that helped capturing the booming lows of our amp setups. The next stop is to get something similar to the E906 and A/B them so we can decide what works best in the studio. The E906 clones will end up being used live anyways.

[coldbrightsunlight]

That makes sense. Personally I am a fan of close mic'ing with my ribbon, but it's at relatively loud apartment volumes, not jamming mega loud in a room volumes. So I've not tried it at super high volumes and experienced that distortion.

Sounds like a good plan

[Woolworm]

Agreed. MD421 best dynamic and AKG C214 bets condenser. No condenser does bass and low mids as good as that mic

[qersty]

idk i feel there are a lot of times where the c414 doesnt really fit the bill. the mid character get really overextagerated on some sources imo so its not a great all around pick for me. albeit it sound great when it does. Love it on mandolin