how bout the re 200?

[geezer]

nobody ever mentions it. It's a true capacitor instrument mic for
$250...does it really suck or something?

I know that the published curve is sort of humpy & peaky on the top
end (+7dB at 7kHz).

-glenn

[Paul Stamler]

"geezer" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> nobody ever mentions it. It's a true capacitor instrument mic for
> $250...does it really suck or something?
>
> I know that the published curve is sort of humpy & peaky on the top
> end (+7dB at 7kHz).

The published curve is, for once, quite accurate. The thing has a screaming
peak at 7kHz after being quite flat through the midrange, and a fairly steep
cut in the bass frequencies to compensate for proximity effect. It's also
transformerless and has a high overload point, so you can put it in front of
loud things.

I've found precisely two applications where the RE200 works, and they're at
very different places in the musical spectrum:

1. Bodhrans (Irish hand drums). The peak nicely emphasizes the skin sound of
the drum, helping it provide some solid rhythm instead of the too-common
vague thud, while the rolloff keeps it from getting too muddy while still
retaining some bottom end.

2. Guitar amplifiers. The peak puts some sparkle into the place where many
guitar speakers have begun to fade out.

Other than those things, I haven't found the RE200 useful -- but I found it
so useful on those things that I bought two of them. An XY pair on a bodhran
sounds awesome, and I love the sound on a guitar amp; kind of like what an
SM57 is supposed to be, but without the trashy IM on top. Let the amp do its
own distorting.

Peace,
Paul

[geezer]

Paul,

Thanks for the reply. I wonder since it works so well on bodhran, if
it would be a good choice on other hand drums as well (dumbek, djembe,
udu, conga, etc)
In a recording situation, it might be nice thru a White passive eq

I wouldn't have thought about the guitar amp... is spl ever an issue
with this mic?

-glenn


Paul Stamler wrote:
> "geezer" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > nobody ever mentions it. It's a true capacitor instrument mic for
> > $250...does it really suck or something?
> >
> > I know that the published curve is sort of humpy & peaky on the top
> > end (+7dB at 7kHz).
>
> The published curve is, for once, quite accurate. The thing has a screaming
> peak at 7kHz after being quite flat through the midrange, and a fairly steep
> cut in the bass frequencies to compensate for proximity effect. It's also
> transformerless and has a high overload point, so you can put it in front of
> loud things.
>
> I've found precisely two applications where the RE200 works, and they're at
> very different places in the musical spectrum:
>
> 1. Bodhrans (Irish hand drums). The peak nicely emphasizes the skin sound of
> the drum, helping it provide some solid rhythm instead of the too-common
> vague thud, while the rolloff keeps it from getting too muddy while still
> retaining some bottom end.
>
> 2. Guitar amplifiers. The peak puts some sparkle into the place where many
> guitar speakers have begun to fade out.
>
> Other than those things, I haven't found the RE200 useful -- but I found it
> so useful on those things that I bought two of them. An XY pair on a bodhran
> sounds awesome, and I love the sound on a guitar amp; kind of like what an
> SM57 is supposed to be, but without the trashy IM on top. Let the amp do its
> own distorting.
>
> Peace,
> Paul

[Scott Dorsey]

geezer > wrote:
>nobody ever mentions it. It's a true capacitor instrument mic for
>$250...does it really suck or something?
>
> I know that the published curve is sort of humpy & peaky on the top
>end (+7dB at 7kHz).

I've honestly never liked any of the EV condenser mikes that I have
tried over the years. That one included.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Paul Stamler]

"geezer" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Paul,
>
> Thanks for the reply. I wonder since it works so well on bodhran, if
> it would be a good choice on other hand drums as well (dumbek, djembe,
> udu, conga, etc)

Worth trying if you want more skin. I also like a Beyer M88 on that type of
drum, again for the bit of extra skin but also for the meatiness.

> In a recording situation, it might be nice thru a White passive eq
>
> I wouldn't have thought about the guitar amp... is spl ever an issue
> with this mic?

It's spec'd at 130dB SPL for 1% harmonic distortion. I've never had a
problem miking amps with it, but then I don't usually do stacks of Marshalls
turned up to 11 -- more likely a Fender Pro in a swing band. Or a Deluxe or
Twin.

Peace,
Paul