Post by: vegas4ever on October 04, 2006, 09:19:39 AM
PS: My current closet: MXL 2001 WITH TUBE MOD (YEA I DID IT, B4 MOVAJE MICS CAME ALONG), AKG 200, Karma K35, Karma K55, Karma mini, Joe Meeks 207, Audix Drum kit, SM57, At 4040, D112, Blue 8 Ball
Post by: Fibes on October 04, 2006, 10:51:01 AM
What instruments are you not happy with your microphones performance on now?
I want a better Hi-Hat mic.
Maybe i should get a 451...
Post by: vegas4ever on October 04, 2006, 11:52:44 AM
[/quote]
I see how you can think that, so let me rephrase the ??? What are GOOD ALL AROUND "CHEAP" MIC to get for someone that will be face with recording all aspects of music and instruments, any suggestions for any instrument will be welcome, so fire away.. here Ill even give you a demo: "snare-the shure sm57 is only $99 and sounds great as well as a classic"
Ps: I will recoment each one of the mics I used, so far I have yet to received a complaint about the way they sound, only the brands.
Post by: hargerst on October 04, 2006, 12:31:11 PM
MXL V67G - a warm, darker mic that can add a lot of body to a thin vocal. Similar mics: Joe Meeks JM47, MXL 960, ADK Hamburg.
MXL V69ME - a more neutral tube mic, with a little more clarity and top end. Similar mics: Studio Projects T3, MXL V77, ADK Vienna.
MXL 603 w/Omni capsule option - A pair of SDC condensers with the extra Omni Capsules are useful for overheads, acoustic instruments, and any stereo recordings. Similar mics: Studio Projects C4, Oktava MK012. There are some other SDCs with omni options out on the market that I haven't tried, but most will work fine.
Figure 8 Ribbon mic - too many to list but a good bi-directional ribbon mic is an important addition to any mic closet.
Shure SM7 - probably the best dynamic mic around and a great multi-purpose tool. Similar mics: EV RE-20, Heil PR-40.
Measurement Omnis - These are small 1/4" capsules that are noisy, but almost ruler flat. Great for loud sources or where accuracy is ver important.Behringer ECM8000, MSH-1, Nady, etc.
That's the basic list and no, you may not get a platinum album out of them, they'll do a good job for you in most situations. They won't break the bank, and of course, there are better, similar mics available, if you want to spend a whole lot more.
Post by: vegas4ever on October 04, 2006, 01:46:56 PM
Post by: Fibes on October 04, 2006, 02:18:39 PM
I want to try the Peluso (CM6?) SDC package.
Post by: vegas4ever on October 04, 2006, 02:39:48 PM
http://www.royerlabs.com/session_photos/RC_norajones.html
The mike noras piano with an ADK A-51, a Royer SF-12 stereo ribbon. and an AKG 414.
Royer $$$$$$$
AKG 414 $$$$$
Adk A-51 $151
http://www.8thstreet.com/Product.asp?ProductCode=9580&Ca tegory=Microphones
Post by: hargerst on October 04, 2006, 02:45:28 PM
Post by: vegas4ever on October 04, 2006, 03:13:12 PM
Post by: M Carter on October 04, 2006, 03:29:47 PM
Best purchase I've ever made.
Post by: Fibes on October 04, 2006, 05:26:44 PM
I got lucky and have a great one and can't find one to match it.
Same goes with cheaper mics, the QC isn't all that...
Post by: floodstage on October 04, 2006, 05:47:02 PM
| M Carter wrote on Wed, 04 October 2006 15:29 |
Get a used 414 on ebay for like 500 bucks. It'll sound good on just about anything you put it in front of. Best purchase I've ever made. |
I can't say it's the best ever, but a 414 is a good addition if you don't have one.
Especially the 414 TLII
Post by: Alécio Costa - Brazil on October 11, 2006, 04:03:46 PM
MXL V67G, MXL2003 are also pretty reasonable mics, having in mind their very low prices.
Post by: Trumpetman2 on October 11, 2006, 09:08:09 PM
| vegas4ever wrote on Wed, 04 October 2006 15:13 |
I know I'm asking for a beating but, after reading the new Tape op, and there article on K35 againts the U87 and the K35 leading on most situations, I got curious and call a couple of friends one with a Rode Tube something, another had the U87 and another a T149, and we did blind test all night well not to brag but the K35 came on top 8 of the 12 trials. |
Pardon my ignorance...but what the $%^%$% is a K35?
Post by: hargerst on October 11, 2006, 10:32:54 PM
On another night, with different sources, in a different room, the results might not be the same.
Post by: floodstage on October 12, 2006, 08:20:17 AM
| Trumpetman2 wrote on Wed, 11 October 2006 21:08 | ||
Pardon my ignorance...but what the $%^%$% is a K35? |
A google search on K35 microphone reveals the following:
http://www.karmaaudio.com/reviews.htm
Post by: Dom3735 on October 12, 2006, 09:37:22 AM
but remember, you're not doing an exposition when recording,
So, let's make room for some blue chips in your closet.
Identify you application needs, then try & buy
whats worthing it. I think about 10 mics will probably cover
all you recording needs. I prefer 6 great mics to 60 shitty ones.
The idea here is to spend money at the right place.
You'll always gets what you pay for.
If you want some great all-around mic, without a huge
price tag, I strongly recommend Rode mics.
Buy a pair of NT-1000, a NT-4, a pair of NT-5, a set of shure beta drum mics and be happy.
cheers!
Post by: vegas4ever on October 12, 2006, 12:26:32 PM
The idea here is to spend money at the right place.
I Agree!
You'll always gets what you pay for.
Can't Agree with this!
I do believe that in the last 5-10 years the area of "mics" became a open market, the line between Boutique mics and radio shack has been shorten, and new "cheap" companies with fresh products are giving a hell of a fight. Dont take this the wrong way but, do you let the price tag tells you how good a piece of gear sound? because if thats the case your passing on some real nice equipment, like the RNC,MXL 603,SM57 to name a few.
"You'll always gets what you pay for": works for Cars, Women, and preamps.
Post by: rphilbeck on October 13, 2006, 02:34:30 PM
I don't know why people on tight budgets even bother with anything else!
-Robert
Post by: vegas4ever on October 13, 2006, 02:57:24 PM
Post by: hargerst on October 13, 2006, 03:38:05 PM
Post by: joeq on October 14, 2006, 08:37:28 PM
[/quote]
you have enough cheap mics. Buy that $1500 mic you have your eye on and break the news to your wife $500 at a time. Show her a mic you already have and say it was $499. Repeat two more times, then go get that mic you really want.
Post by: chrisj on October 15, 2006, 12:20:58 AM
Why don't you get a 58 and another 57, do the remove-transformer mod on the 57, and then go about getting the more expensive mics?
Got any Sennheiser e609? Interestingly bright and lean for a cheap dynamic. You can see the real mic this is modeled on, in old Pink Floyd videos around 1972.
Post by: vegas4ever on October 15, 2006, 11:06:36 PM
| chrisj wrote on Sat, 14 October 2006 23:20 |
Why don't you have a SM58? Don't you do rock vocals? 57 isn't exactly the same. Why don't you get a 58 and another 57, do the remove-transformer mod on the 57, and then go about getting the more expensive mics? Got any Sennheiser e609? Interestingly bright and lean for a cheap dynamic. You can see the real mic this is modeled on, in old Pink Floyd videos around 1972. |
I had my eye on the e609 for a little bit but I never heard it, so I will provably go get it this week, I heard the mic is good on toms also any luck with anything else bysides Caps?
Post by: Buzz on October 16, 2006, 12:31:45 PM
LAter
Buzz
PS: he turned me onto these mics and I would buy another one ( have 3 already )
Post by: Kris on October 16, 2006, 02:05:13 PM
Post by: yngve hoeyland on October 16, 2006, 03:12:43 PM
1. Rode NT2a (or NT2000)
2. Studio Projects C1
3. Neumann TLM 103
4. Rode K2
5. SE Electronics Z5600A
I've used all of these for guitars (nylon, steel strung and electrics), drums (oh's), upright bass, grand piano, room mics, hammond, but most importantly all kinds of vocals, ranging from intimate whispery norah jonesy stuff to hard-headed rock'n roll singers that have redefined my idea of high SPL's. They all stand up to, or better still if you have the budget, complement mic cupboards filled with mics that are ten times the price.
Bear in mind that this is all my personal opinion. None of the A&R's, artists, producers, mix engineers or anyone else for that matter, have complained about the sounds that these things capture. They just work.
Hope someone can use this.
Post by: Ryan Leigh Patterson on October 18, 2006, 12:32:31 PM
Rode Nt1000, again, not great, but versitile.
a pair of used AKG 414-EBs
Shure sm7 of course
used Sennheiser MD-421 (multiples)
used AKG D112
used shure sm57s of course
Post by: jdier on January 12, 2007, 11:12:07 AM
AKG 414 - Used is $500 and it is a LDC that has been used for years. I also have a Studio Projects C3 which is really nice, but once I got the AKG 414 it became what I turned to when I wanted a condenser.
Because it is such a well known entity it gives me a lot of confidence when using it. If my C3 was not working in an application, I found myself blaming the mic... if the 414 was not working, I blame myself. That said, what I have learned from using the 414 has made my usage of the C3 much better.
Shure SM7 - This was my first good dynamic (if you do not count SM57's) and it has turned out to be a great mic for me and my applications. It is now the first mic I put up for Vocals and I also used it for bottom of snare when I ran out of other mics and it worked well there too.
I have tried it on guitar cabs a bit and it worked kinda like a 57 but I did not like it as much. I really think it is killer for vocals for me.
RE20 - I was not sure I was going to like this but a deal came up that I could not pass on and this has turned out to be a real winner for me.
I just used it last night on a vocal of mine where I had to harmonize with a guy who has a much deeper voice than mine and when I got up right on the grill (1") it gave me a great full sound that was exactly what I wanted.
I have also used it on a project that was entire band in one room with all amps in the room to mic a bass cab. I went into that project with the Bass DI'ed and mic'ed and thought that I would only use the DI. When the tracking was done the RE20 on the bass cab was perfect.
I have not had a chance to use it on bass drum yet, but it is obviously many people's first choice for kick also.
Sennheiser 421 - I added this one early and use it anywhere that the 57 is close but not quite right. Many times I will wind up with it as a second mic on a source if I have an open channel and it is not being used. Successful on guitar cabs (maybe the 57 is on the grill and the 421 is a foot to 18" back) or top of snare along with a 57 (very well might be positioning, but it typically gives me a fuller sound through the low end, not quite as midrangy as the 57... sometimes it works, sometimes it does not.)
----------
I could go on and on, but you will eventually run out of money, so that is my list of mics I would put on your short list. What I really like about the mics I have listed above is the fact that they are staples in pro studios so they give me great confidence and force me to use my head, not my pocket book, to solve my problems or get my sounds.
Having these great mics on hand has taught me a lot about mic placement and technique (along with reading posts by Harvey, Fletcher and all the other great people on these boards.) Ultimately I have learned more about how to use all of my mics whether they are expensive or inexpensive, classics or flavor of the day.
Hope this list helps or is at least a good reference.
Post by: beauarts on February 07, 2007, 01:41:25 AM
You can sometimes find a used Neumann km140 for ~$500.
I haven't heard it but some peopel have mentioned the beyer mc930. A beyer m160 can be very useful.
Post by: Trumpetman2 on February 24, 2007, 04:16:55 PM
| vegas4ever wrote on Wed, 04 October 2006 15:13 |
I know I'm asking for a beating but, after reading the new Tape op, and there article on K35 againts the U87 and the K35 leading on most situations, I got curious and call a couple of friends one with a Rode Tube something, another had the U87 and another a T149, and we did blind test all night well not to brag but the K35 came on top 8 of the 12 trials. |
Man, I'm not surprised at all. Here is MY story - I bought a Coles 4038 to go w/my Great River 1nv for recording trumpet...well, I HATED IT!!! Then, I tried other mics I had in my studio (Oktavas, Sennheisers, Rode tube, the new Hail PR40, etc.) the best of the lot was the Sennheiser 441, but still none really impressed me. Then, I bought a "lowly" $59 Samson CO1 to use on minor percussion...well, I tried the trumpet on it and IT BEAT THE PANTS OFF OF ALL THE OTHER "PROFESSIONAL" MICS!!!
Would NOT believe it unless I lived it....go figure!