Mic shootout for acoustic guitar: Blue Dragonfly v. Blue Hummingbird

In the mic shootout for drum overheads that I posted ( • Mic shootout for drum ... ), it was really difficult to tell the difference between the Blue Dragonfly mics and the Blue Hummingbirds. So I thought I’d do another for acoustic guitar using the same mics. It should be a little easier to tell them apart, though the difference is still pretty subtle.
To me, the Dragonfly has a bit more body (which makes sense since it has a larger diaphragm), and the Hummingbird sounds a little more pre-tuned to fit into a mix.
The verdict? I really love the Dragonfly mics, though I definitely think the Hummingbirds sound great too on acoustic guitar. If I were adding acoustic guitar to other tracks, I’d likely use the Hummingbirds. If it were just a solo guitar (or guitar plus a vocal track), I could be pretty happy with either.
...Oh, and yeah, this 12-string is a bear to play (especially for me, a drummer), but I love the way it sounds.
-Martin D12
-Blue Hummingbird mics
-Blue Dragonfly mics
-Apogee Element 88
-Digital Performer
-Waves L3 Limiter (no other plugins)
-Fujifilm X100T camera
-iMovie
Mono 0:05
Stereo 1:20
X-Y stereo (Hummingbird only) 2:34

[@paulfosgreen217]

Thanks for an awesome demo of these mics.
Very helpful indeed.

[@Dylan-ji5ug]

Both mics sounded good. I leaned towards the hummingbird. Slightly more high end and picking up the pick attack a bit more which is my personal preference. The dragonfly did have a more rounded sound which could be nice depending on what you are looking for. I might even trying mixing them up

[@captainflapjack7100]

The hummingbird seems to have a lower-treble spike that makes it a little bit harsher. Dragonfly sounds smoother overall.

[@schmargle]

Yeah, I totally agree that the Dragonfly is smoother. Still my favorite. But I do like the Hummingbird too. I've been trying it on other things-piano, snare drum, for example-and like the way those tracks fit into mixes. And I REALLY like the design. Even easier than the Dragonfly to setup and position precisely.

[@footnotedrummer]

Nice review. People are saying things like "the dragon fly is smoother overall". Well... #1 totally different type of mic. One is a large diaphragm condenser mic and the other is a small diaphragm condenser mic. #2... one costs $1000 and the other costs $300. Not that mic price is a way to tell if one mic is better than another... but it's certainly a starting point. Kind of an unfair review of two different mic types, but interesting nonetheless.

[@schmargle]

I totally agree that they're very different mic types (and have different prices). But they do have some overlapping applications. Both could be used for acoustic guitars, drum overheads, piano, or various percussion instruments-though I would use only the Dragonfly for vocals. To me, it's kind of like comparing a Neumann K184 (small diaphragm) with an AKG 414 (large diaphragm). Two options for potentially similar uses. And two subtly different sounds. I posted this more than a year ago, but I still go back and forth between the Hummingbird and Dragonfly. I really like how easy it is to set up and position the Hummingbird, and I like how it helps things fit easily within a mix. And I'm amazed at good it sounds for relatively little money.

[@MarkArtyniuk]

I feel like the hummingbird would sit better in a full mix, the low mids from the dragonfly sound like an area that would be cut a bit anyway.

[@schmargle]

Agreed.

[@jeffreyduncan989]

I love them both… There isn’t a perfect mic and that’s why you should own a bunch. Listening to the character of the dragonfly makes me want to use it as a room mic for drums. I would use them both for acoustic. the dragon fly at the toward the neck and the hummingbird towards the sound whole. It would be a killer pair.

[@glennbucc7107]

I like the Dragonfly much better, it has a more pleasant sound

[@zZDavidHD]

This melody... i know it from somewhere...? Could you tell me what it is exactly? i get a feeling of Nostalgia

[@schmargle]

The Who, "Naked Eye." :)