[Harp-L] mic for acoustic playing

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

i carry 2 mics:  My Shure 545 Ultimate for most situations and an  
Audix Fireball V I use when the music requires a more acoustic (or  
less electric) sound.  But I ALWAYS cup the mic when i play, no  
matter what mic I'm using--i consider the mic to be an extension of   
my instrument.

While the Fireball has no proximity effect and does not overdrive  
when it is tightly cupped it is still a very responsive mic, In my  
experience the Fireball  responds very nicely to a tight cup in its  
own way with a  rich variation in sound due to the resonance chamber  
created by the cup around the mic element.  It's not the sort of  
response you get from a 545 or SM 57 when you use a tight cup.  But,   
although a Fireball stays clean, does not overdrive and has no  
proximity effect, I think it sounds pretty cool in the way it does  
respond to cupping variations.  So, with all due respect to Greg, I  
do not consider it to be a mic that only sounds good in free air.

JP