Re: [Harp-L] Shure mics, SM57 or 58?

[Tom Ball <havaball@xxxxxxx>]

> Mike Easton asked:
> I wonder if you or anyone else on the list has experienced problems 
> with hand holding condenser mics?
>
> I own 2 AKG 1000 mics.  They are killer mics when played thru either 
> of my amps but if I hit a blow note hard the mic signal cuts out.  I 
> don't know if its from the compression of holding the mic so tight or 
> what.  It doesn't matter which mic or amp I use. Any time I start 
> wailing the signal cuts out for a second or two if I hit a reed hard. 
> No it isn't the reed choking.   Other then that they pick up every
> nuance of the harp with crystal clarity.
__________________

I've never experienced that problem in performance, but then I've 
never used my condenser mics for hand held work into an amp -- only 
for playing (and singing) into 'em from 6 inches (or more) away, and 
into a PA.  However I'm not surprised to hear of the problem, in that 
small-diaphragm condensers are fragile and don't seem to take kindly 
to max volume pressure.  (I have occasionally experienced a similar 
over-the-top kind of cutout when recording with condensers...)  But 
then there are other folks on this list who are far more qualified to 
discuss these specific tech issues than I am.

I guess I'm sort-of wondering why one would want to use a (phantom 
power) condenser mic with an amp?  Seems like all the superb 
reproduction and signal response of the condenser would be all but 
wiped out by the compression and distortion inherent in an amp.....? 
But then maybe I'm missing something here?  Sure wouldn't be the 
first time. <g>

I bet the AKG 1000 might record nicely though, assuming it wasn't 
hand held, and a bit of top were rolled off... (?)   Any luck in that 
regard?

cheers,
Tom Ball