Mic for live and quick recording?

[Ramirez]

I've been playing and recording my double bass much more often lately, and would like a mic to accompany the Krivo magnetic pickup I have installed. There are two reasons for this really:

 

1. The Krivo works well, but doesn't sound particularly like a double bass. It would be nice to have a mic for the quieter gigs. I don't use an amp, and I'm usually always on IEMs when I play. Resistance to feedback isn't paramount, but it would be nice to have something that could be used alongside a quiet drum kit.

 

2. I work at a studio with a well-stocked microphone cupboard so the recording options are well covered, but sometimes it's useful to do a quick take on the DB in the control room when the band are in the live room. I'd like something quick and easy that sounds good enough to be a 'keeper' under the right circumstances.

 

 

From what I can see, the main options are:

 

*DPA 4099 - We have a couple of these at the studio and they're very useful. I've used it a few times on the DB and it pretty much does what I need. I don't want to constantly borrow the studio mics though so I'm looking to purchase something myself. It's also useful for other instruments which would give added value to me.

 

*Neumann MCM 114 - Interesting and fairly recent addition to the Neumann line-up. Seems to be competing head-to-head with the DPA.

 

*Remic D5400/D5400LB/D540 - I've heard a lot of good reports about these, but they seem quite hard to find in the UK right now.

 

 

My plan is to hire the Neumann and a Remic and test them alongside the DPA we have, but would like to hear opinions/other options.

 

Thanks

Aled

[TorturedSaints]

I was going to suggest the Sound on Sound forums, but I see you have already asked the question there!  😀

[Apeneck Sweeney]

Have you managed to test the mics yet?

 

The Neumann has been getting some good reviews. There's also the xylson .  I haven't had a chance to try either. most of my gigs are in tight spaces with an amp. The xylson is reputed to have good isolation but has to be taken on and off each gig. 

[Paddy Morris]

Have you reached any conclusions yet?  I have a DPA but am always slightly disappointed with the results I get.  I also find it unusable as a gigging mic.

 

Have you considered trying a Nadine?  I never have, but the demos sound very good.

[Burns-bass]

3 hours ago, Paddy Morris said:

Have you reached any conclusions yet?  I have a DPA but am always slightly disappointed with the results I get.  I also find it unusable as a gigging mic.

 

Have you considered trying a Nadine?  I never have, but the demos sound very good.

I’m in the same quandary. My plan is to bully my whole family into contributing at Christmas.

[Duckyincarnate]

On 18/10/2025 at 21:44, Ramirez said:

 

 

*DPA 4099 - We have a couple of these at the studio and they're very useful. I've used it a few times on the DB and it pretty much does what I need. I don't want to constantly borrow the studio mics though so I'm looking to purchase something myself. It's also useful for other instruments which would give added value to me.

 

Sounds like you already have your answer, to be honest. I imagine any differences with the other ones will be minimal to you, and indistinguishable to an audience. The 'quick recording' thing I don't get at all. It takes me 2 minutes to set up a proper mic for a recording. 

[Ramirez]

3 hours ago, Duckyincarnate said:

Sounds like you already have your answer, to be honest. I imagine any differences with the other ones will be minimal to you, and indistinguishable to an audience. The 'quick recording' thing I don't get at all. It takes me 2 minutes to set up a proper mic for a recording. 

 

The quick recording aspect is about being able to pick up the bass in the control and play along with a band that's in the live room. Something that stays in position relative to the bass, doesn't require placing a mic stand in the middle of a busy control room, and is positioned close enough to the bass that it can handle spill from the studio monitors without too much trouble. In other words, something that requires minimal extra effort on top of my work as a recording engineer, but still gives decent results.

 

 

Thanks for the comments all - the DPA fits the bill for now, since we already have them.

[Duckyincarnate]

20 minutes ago, Ramirez said:

 

The quick recording aspect is about being able to pick up the bass in the control and play along with a band that's in the live room. Something that stays in position relative to the bass, doesn't require placing a mic stand in the middle of a busy control room, and is positioned close enough to the bass that it can handle spill from the studio monitors without too much trouble. In other words, something that requires minimal extra effort on top of my work as a recording engineer, but still gives decent results.

 

Fair enough - that's a highly specific requirement, using it for a guide bass track. If you plan on possibly keeping a take, I'd personally still choose a proper mic rather than a DPA as a bass simply sounds much better on a recording when it's not close mic'ed. IME - YMMV

[Ramirez]

20 minutes ago, Duckyincarnate said:

Fair enough - that's a highly specific requirement, using it for a guide bass track. If you plan on possibly keeping a take, I'd personally still choose a proper mic rather than a DPA as a bass simply sounds much better on a recording when it's not close mic'ed. IME - YMMV

 

Absolutely, and for a 'proper' recording I do it with one of the nice mics in the nice recording room. (Though I'd still argue that a DPA is a 'proper mic'  ! )

 

But my day job is a recording engineer/producer - one who happens to dabble in double bass - and so fairly often bands would like to have an idea of what a double bass would do on their tracks, and a pickup just isn't going to give the right impression. 9/10 the guide track would be replaced, but it's nice to have something that has a chance of working if I fluke a great performance! The equivalent of plugging a bass guitar to a DI in the control room and working out a part with the band in the live room, as it were.

[Duckyincarnate]

36 minutes ago, Ramirez said:

Though I'd still argue that a DPA is a 'proper mic'  !

Oh it is - the issue is the placement, which works very well for performance. For recording, double bass needs the right mic position which is not close mic'ing it which leads to boominess, whoosh and lack of definition. Anyway, you know all these things!

 

I remember a very good engineer once using only a simple AKG 451 on my bass during a session, to my surprise. The sound was excellent and it sat beautifully in the mix. It convinced me that recording double bass is mostly technique and experience, rather than a specific piece of gear. 

[Beedster]

1 hour ago, Duckyincarnate said:

It convinced me that recording double bass is mostly technique and experience, rather than a specific piece of gear. 

 

I think that's absolutely the case, I sadly have neither