just bought Neumann km184 - what should I check?

[Johnny Stecchino]

Hi to all,
the mic section doesn't exist anymore so I'm sending here my request.
I know it was dealt before but since I don't remember I'm asking again:

Just bought in ebay a Neumann km184 for about 340£ and wonder what should I check when it will arrive...

Thanks in advance!

Below is a photo of the "deal":

[image][img]http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m61 ... %20alt="n1[/img][/image]

[Hugh Robjohns]

...wonder what should I check when it will arrive...

That it works when you plug it in!

If you've got another you can check that they match, but other than that there's not much you can do... and not much you can do to break them either. If it looks like it's been well looked after (and the box with all the accessories implies that) then it's probably good. KM184s tend not to be used as vocal mics, so it's unlikely that the diaphragm will be covered in spittle.

Just make sure it's warm and dry before you use it.

Hugh

[Johnny Stecchino]

Dear Hugh,
thanks for your respond!
Unfortunately I don't have another km184 to match with the new acquisition but this is a start
Will use it in mono and see how does that goes, recording violin, mandolin and guitar (separately).

I'm Taking advantage and ask another two questions which I thought actually to do when you answered this article a year and a half ago: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun10/a ... 0610_6.htm

1. What should be the distance I should use the MK184 from the violin? one meter? In which position?
I recently played live in a concert and the engineer put an MK184 above my fiddle about only 50cm.
Didn't hear the results so don't know how was it. It was an acustic event in a concert hall.

2.You answered omnidirectional mic sounds more natural than cardioid mic when recording a violin. How comes most of people will use km184 and NOT the km 183 (for example) on a violin. What do I miss?

Thanks again!
Jonathan

[Hugh Robjohns]

These answers are going to sound flippant, but they're not meant to...

1. What should be the distance I should use the MK184 from the violin?

Whatever distance and position delivers the sound charcter your think represents the viol,in correctly. It will vary with the instrument, the way it's played, the acoustics of the venue and whether you need to minimise spill from other sources.

2.You answered omnidirectional mic sounds more natural than cardioid mic when recording a violin. How comes most of people will use km184 and NOT the km 183 (for example) on a violin. What do I miss?

Probably because they've not heard the difference, or they don't care about the difference, or they don't have an omni mic... But hopefully the reason is that need (or think they need) the directional nature of the cardioid mic to control spill.

hugh

[Johnny Stecchino]

Thanks again, I realty appreciate it!

I also learned a new term and how it is connected to audio applications (after looking in wiki): spill