Mic Inventory
In the quest for uniform audio bliss at our regional campuses, I’ve set the goal to standardize our mic inventory so we’re all working with the same set of tools and will have more consistent natural results with less channel EQ. Below is the list I think we’re settling on based on all of the things we’ve learned at the Troy Main Campus this past year. The final list is a result of trying to achieve the highest bang for the buck. It isn’t practical to consider a set of 414′s everywhere or Neumann KM184s instead of the 141s. Our normal setup is a standard 5 piece band (drums, bass, 2 guitars, & keys). Occasionally we might have a string player or a couple horns but because anything we do must be accomplished identically at 5 locations, we don’t stray from the norm very often.
With this lens in mind, I’m still curious for feedback on other suggestions we might be missing or should check out. Thanks in advance.
| Type | Model | Desired Qty |
| Kick | Audix D6 | 1 |
| Shure Beta91 | 1 | |
| Snare | Shure SM57 | 1 |
| Hat | Audio-Technica ATM-450 | 1 |
| Toms | Audix D2 | 2 |
| Audix D4 | 1 | |
| Overheads | Shure KSM141 | 2 |
| Electric | Sennheiser 906 | 2 |
| Shure SM57 | 2 | |
| Misc. | Sennheiser 421 | 1 |
| Shure SM57 | 3 | |
| Shure SM81 | 2 | |
| Countryman B3 | 6 | |
| Vocals | Shure SM58 | 2 |
| Shure Beta58 | 2 | |
| Shure Beta87 | 2 | |
| Ambience | Audio-Technica AT835b | 2 |
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Introduction
My name is Tim Corder. I started this blog in February 2007 because there were so few of what I considered good church audio resources available at the time for my team. Fast forward over 5 years and I'm still at it, sharing learnings about the journey towards making audio great. I go through periods where I post a lot and other times when I don't. I'm thankful for the opportunity to share it all with you. Thanks for visiting! 
Something I have heard great things about that might be worth checking into is the Beyerdynamic Opus 87 and 88 tom mics. I have heard good reviews on the way they sound as well as they way they mount. It is a condensor that has the preamp and clamp all built into one. They can be had for about 130 as well. I plan on getting a set of these in the coming months. One other thought, you might want to get a few more of one type of vocal mic so if you have a quartet or ensemble you can have them all on the same capsule. Everything looks very acceptable.
Nicolas
Hey Tim,
Pretty sweet lineup!
Have you checked out the Audix I5? It’s a fave. Inexpensive (same as a 57) with a really fresh sound. Great on snare to where I’d be ok without a bottom snare mic. It’s no 906 but I’d put one on a guitar cab without hesitation. It doesn’t have the signature SM57 2-3k rasp so it gets everything to play really nice with vocals.
Speaking of “fresh” and “plays nice with vocals”, just a couple hundred bucks more maybe a pair of Earthworks T20 overheads? Still not as expensive as a pair of Neumanns.
If you haven’t tried a Beyer Opus 89 for vocals it’s worth a demo. It sounds like they rolled an Beta 87 into a regular 58; a best-of-both-worlds kind of mic. Predictable yet shiny with tons of feedback rejection. About the price of an 87. If you buy one and you don’t like it I’ll buy it off you. I promise. It’s that cool.
Wow. 5 locations. How about a 6th in the Bay Area?
Chris from Hillsong Here,
Look at the e901 over the beta91. it is the same concept, but has a proper XLR connector which wont break all the time like the little lemo/min-switchcraft connectors and seems to be a bit more robust too.
Do you use an under snare? i find these to be invaluable, especially when mixing a set that drifts between rock n roll praise songs and more intimate worship where you need to bias the snare sound to either top or bottom for each song. i like a beta87 here because it gives a little more natural ‘snap’ tp the snares.
Also, i use the beta56 or a right-angled SM57 for snare because its much easier to fit in the often small gap between the hats and snare.
Nicolas & Sam – Good call on the Opus mics…especially since you guys didn’t talk to each other beforehand.
I’ve looked at them recently and wondered if I should request a demo. Definitely going to check them out. Thanks for the tip!
Sam – We own a I5 that came with a drum mics kit. It’s cool on snare but I haven’t been that excited about it on other stuff. Might have a lot to do with our PA so I’m withholding judgement on just about anything until we get the new rig in the room and can listen fresh. We used to have a set of Earthworks TC25s that weren’t very flattering on our cymbals. Everyone that uses the 137s we have now is really happy with them as a flattering overhead. We go back and forth between those and our Rode NT4.
Great input guys. Thanks!
Thanks Chris. Good call on the e901. I hate the TA4 with transformer deal that Shure uses. Never realized the 901 was XLR onboard.
All – We own a bunch of extra 57s/beta56s/beta87s and extra wireless capsules as part of the main campus inventory so we can send them out to campuses when needed. The primary purpose of the wired mics in these campus inventories is so they have 2 hardwired mics that mirror each of the wireless capsules in their rigs.
Sam – campus #6 is launching next year in Orlando.
Tim,
Do you ever have to mic an acoustic guitar? If so, what’s your mic of choice?
I’ve tried a couple of condensers and like the gain and tone, but they tend to pick up adjacent instruments more than I’d like. The old standby SM57 has less bleed, but I lose the crisp high-end, and I get less gain.
I think you gotta be careful when trying to standardize. We all have favorite mics to use on certain applications. However room acoustics, and P.A. are going to play a big factor when choosing a mic.
I agree with Chris regarding the e901 vs the Beta 91. You should also try out the e902. That’s what all of the North Point campuses use. I currently double patch that mic instead of using 2 kick drum mics. One for the smack, the other for the “bootie”.It guarantees that you will not have phase problems between the 2 mics as well!