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[WD Smith]

I'm a analog guy trying to adjust to the disital world.  I bought a Yamaha AW4416 and have managed to get some decent recordings of band rehearsals out of it.  I just use 16bit 44.1 nothing fancy.  The band uses it as a sketchpad to work it the kinks out in original material that will be recorded professionally.  I get a decent drum sound with an ATM25 on kick, SM57 on snare, an old hand-me-down AKG C505 omni for overhead ambience, old gray 421 for toms, but I would like to get a couple of sdc cardiods for Recorderman style overheads. Also possible overdub use for acoustic guitar.

Budget is $350-400/pair.

I have done some searching and found the usual suspects:

AT4041 $350/pair used $440 new

Kel HM1 $260/pair new

Oktava MK412a MSP $426 new

MXL 603 (Harvey's rec) $200 pair new

A fairly new mic that I'm interested in but can't find too much user info on is the:

ATM450 $340

I might want to use these mics for live sound reinforcement as well.  I am careful transporting the mics but I want something that is rugged and not fussy to deal with.

Your suggestions and real world experience will be most appreciated.

WD Smith

[Dave Martin]

Of those you mentioned, I'd go for the 4041's, I think

[hargerst]

For overheads, also look at the dirt cheap Naiant mics here:

http://naiant.com/studiostore/microphones.html

I'm actually talking beyond dirt cheap.

[compasspnt]

The Kel's are very nice, not too well known though.

Also, look into the Chameleon TS-1 tube sdc's.

[bigbone]

Kel HM- 1 are great as OH'S.......

[chorga1]

Bang for the buck - I love my kels.

I use em as drum overheads often and they work well. Not amazing, but very good. They respond nicely to eq as well...


Also used them with good results on cello, accordion, and as a mic for back-up vox.

[rankus]

Anybody tried the Rode NT5's?  I bought a matched pair on an impulse but have not tried em on drums yet... Except for HH where it worked pretty well.  Been thinking of trying them on OHD's too.

[compasspnt]

Yes, I have several NT-5's, and personally I like them a lot.  I've used them on everything from strings to leslie to hi hat.

I find them much nicer than the KM-184, but not quite as smooth as the vintage KM-84.

Another microphone based on that model that is great is the NT-6.  I got four of those, and put the optional mini goosenecks on them.  They have been great on acoustic guitars, toms, etc.  They will fit anywhere.  Omni capsules available as well for 5's and 6's.

[KB_S1]

I sometimes use my Rode NT-4 which I think is the same capsules as the NT-5.
It is great to use if time is short as there is never a phase problem. I think I may get a pair of NT-5's as it would be nice to get the same sound but not restricted to XY stereo setup.
Recently had a pair of Sage Bova Balls sent over. Used them as OH's a couple of times now and absolutely love them. They also work really well on bright instruments that you want to blend into the backing of a mix.

[compasspnt]

KB_S1 wrote on Thu, 06 September 2007 10:12

I sometimes use my Rode NT-4 which I think is the same capsules as the NT-5. It is great to use if time is short as there is never a phase problem. I think I may get a pair of NT-5's as it would be nice to get the same sound but not restricted to XY stereo setup. Recently had a pair of Sage Bova Balls sent over. Used them as OH's a couple of times now and absolutely love them. They also work really well on bright instruments that you want to blend into the backing of a mix.

Yes, I have three of the NT-4's, and love them for stereo usage.

You have also hit upon my other favourite "unknown" mic, the Bova Balls.  They are amazing.

And also a big hit when people see them.  The Bova (Sage) mic pre's are excellent as well.

[rankus]

Thanks Terry and Keith.  Glad to hear my ears work LOL.  I have had great success with the NT5's on Acc Gtr as well..  Next drum session they go above for a test run.

[Ryan Slowey]

last week, i recorded a live jam session at my apartment (just me and some friends), and since my home set-up is small, i only had one spare input for the drums. i used a single Shure SM81 over the drummers head, pretty low, sort of between the snare and the floor tom, and i couldn't believe how nice the overall picture of the kit ended up sounding. if i'd had a choice, i'd have added a mic on the kick, but was totally happy to work with what i got. i used a touch of compression and the massey 3-band EQ plug-in to boost the low-end a bit and bring out the kick, and was "there".

-ryan

[Fibes]

compasspnt wrote on Thu, 06 September 2007 18:26

KB_S1 wrote on Thu, 06 September 2007 10:12 I sometimes use my Rode NT-4 which I think is the same capsules as the NT-5. It is great to use if time is short as there is never a phase problem. I think I may get a pair of NT-5's as it would be nice to get the same sound but not restricted to XY stereo setup. Recently had a pair of Sage Bova Balls sent over. Used them as OH's a couple of times now and absolutely love them. They also work really well on bright instruments that you want to blend into the backing of a mix. Yes, I have three of the NT-4's, and love them for stereo usage. You have also hit upon my other favourite "unknown" mic, the Bova Balls.  They are amazing. And also a big hit when people see them.  The Bova (Sage) mic pre's are excellent as well.

Terry once again reveals he is a Bovanite.

Soon "unknown" will be a dinosaur we can let our kids dig out of the ground.

heh.

[KB_S1]

slow ryan wrote on Fri, 07 September 2007 20:51

last week, i recorded a live jam session at my apartment (just me and some friends), and since my home set-up is small, i only had one spare input for the drums. i used a single Shure SM81 over the drummers head, pretty low, sort of between the snare and the floor tom, and i couldn't believe how nice the overall picture of the kit ended up sounding. if i'd had a choice, i'd have added a mic on the kick, but was totally happy to work with what i got. i used a touch of compression and the massey 3-band EQ plug-in to boost the low-end a bit and bring out the kick, and was "there". -ryan

It is incredible the number of bands I know who have told me how great a drum sound they have got with just a 58 above the kit.

Yet when they get into the studio and I suggest 3 or 4 mic setup on kit this is not good enough and they want a mic on every bit of the kit and some more dotted around for certain.

I love the sound of a kit with a few choice mic's. It is finding a drummer that can play well dynamically that is a problem though.

[WD Smith]

Thanks for the good advice.  Will probably go w/ the Kel's for the bang for the buck.  Wish I could afford AT4051's.  I saw a video performance from the Tracking Room and they were using them on drum o/h's and acoustic guitar.

Didn't know about the Bova's.  Very intriguing.  

It is interesting what a single drum overhead will capture.  In our case in our rehearsal room the AKG 505E is capturing the PA speakers and guitar and harp amp bleed. That said, I usually use a little of it in the mix for cymbals, toms, and ambiance.