Beyer M260

[davidaltemeier]

Beyer M260

Anybody used this mic? i've been told it can handle pretty hi spl's so i was thinking of using it for close miking horns/snare and stuff like that....
i wonder how it would compare to an md421?
Thanks.

[MartyMcFly]

I have NOT used the M260, but I have used the M160 and M130. All three of the current Beyer M ribbons work well with fairly high SPL sources. Not sure about snare though. Beyer doesn't give any SPL rating on these mics. They're common for horns, stero micing, stringed instruments, and guitar cabs.

M260 has a built-in high pass filter but lots of proximity effect so close micing will get you some bass. Very gentle highs stopping at 16 khz(?) and smooth midrange. MD421 has a midrange boost and rolled off lows and just a bit of proximity, making it more appropriate for clos micing drums.

I just realized how interesting of a question this is! I can't think of a good recommendation for both snare and horns. At least not in the standards: MD421, Ribbons, LD condensers on horns; SM57, C451, MD441 (bottom mic) on snare. I'll be interested to hear what other people have to say. What are you using currently?

Allow me to be a bit self-induging and talk in gross generalizations for a moment! javascript:emoticon('^^') Ribbons are very lightweight compared to dynamics so transients are very accurate. That's partially why you always hear musicians make comments like "[ribbon mics] capture the true essensce and sound of my instrument." Dynamics don't have the transients of ribbons so they're not as distinct. Personally, I think part of the reason why dynamics (and MD421's specifically) are so common for toms on a kit is that they help meld the drums into one cohesive instrument.

[davidaltemeier]

i've been using the 421 on horns at a pair of 57's for snare, and one of each on guitar cabs.
i guess i was kind of thinking that the beyer might provide a different flavor for hi spl type situations......

[MartyMcFly]

i've been using the 421 on horns at a pair of 57's for snare, and one of each on guitar cabs.
i guess i was kind of thinking that the beyer might provide a different flavor for hi spl type situations......

MD421- definitely good for brass. When I setup stage for Wynton Marsalis and Lincoln Center Jazz they used MD421 on the t'bones. Sounded great. I just don't know about the M260 on snare. Ribbons are prone to wind, not SPL, it just struck me. Probaly why they don't have an SPL rating! I'd be worth a try! You could definitely use it as a mono overhead in some cases. Tons of old pop records were done with a single ribbon on kick, but you'd want to get an M130/M160 for that app because of the built-in highpass with the M260.