Build a Microphone Cabinet on any Budget

Sep 1, 2000 12:00 PM, BRIAN KNAVE AND MYLES BOISEN

           
 

Basic Coverage Budget ($2,000)

By Brian Knave

(1) beyerdynamic TG-X 50 ($249)
(1) Shure SM 57 ($146)
(3) Audix OM-2 ($149 each)
(2) Audio-Technica AT3528 ($259 each)
(1) Audio-Technica AT4047/SV ($695)

It's not easy putting together a cabinet of this size for only two grand. If you do the math, you'll see that we both came in slightly over budget, but we were close enough for practical purposes.

Again, I've enlisted the remarkably priced AT3528 - only this time as a pair for drum overheads and other stereo applications. Also, I've stayed with the SM 57 for snare and the OM-2 pair for toms - a combination that I know works well because I've relied on it many times.

For the large-diaphragm dynamic, I've selected another low-cost favorite of mine, the beyerdynamic TG-X 50. This mic has amazing attack and a very natural sound overall. It's especially good on bass-guitar cabinets, but it makes a very punchy kick-drum mic, too, especially for jazz and other applications where realism is desired.

My pick for the large-diaphragm condenser at this price has to be Audio-Technica's new AT4047/SV, a lovely-sounding microphone specifically designed to have a vintage FET sound. What this means, at least to my ears, is an overall warmer sound than that produced by other solid-state mics in Audio-Technica's 4000 series, as well as smoother (though still very present) highs. Trust me: this mic does not sound like a budget model. In addition, the 4047 comes with a great shock-mount, and it provides both an 80 Hz low-cut filter and a 10 dB pad, making it a truly exceptional value.