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Recomendations for a condensor mic for my home studio

GuitarG

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Jul 16, 2001
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I want to buy a large diaphram condensor mic for my computer based (Sonar 2.2) home studio. My budget is around $300-400. Any suggestions for something in that price range?
I've been looking at the ShureKSM27, AT4040/ 4033, and the AKG C3000B. Are there any other models that anyone might suggest?I've searched the web for some kind of condensor mic 'shootout', but haven't come across anything. The condensors I'm most familiar with from doing sessions are all pretty much out of my budget (AKG 414, Neumann U87,etc.). I'm looking for something that will work well for vocals, distant micing of my amps, and recording my National Style O reso.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 

SeeSee

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Sep 29, 2003
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GuitarG said:
I want to buy a large diaphram condensor mic for my computer based (Sonar 2.2) home studio. My budget is around $300-400. Any suggestions for something in that price range?
I've been looking at the ShureKSM27, AT4040/ 4033, and the AKG C3000B. Are there any other models that anyone might suggest?I've searched the web for some kind of condensor mic 'shootout', but haven't come across anything. The condensors I'm most familiar with from doing sessions are all pretty much out of my budget (AKG 414, Neumann U87,etc.). I'm looking for something that will work well for vocals, distant micing of my amps, and recording my National Style O reso.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

This is what you need!
Studio Projects C1.
http://www.prorec.com/prorec/articles.nsf/files/2CAB4F71AF9E2A1C86256A650081ECF9
$200.00
at www.Humbuckermusic.com
I have 2, and are one of my favorite purchases ever.
Peace,
C
 

Minneapolis Slim

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Oct 21, 2001
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At another forum I hang out in, lot's of guys have been having really good results using MXL mics that are being sold at Musician's Friend in the under $100 range. They're making some really excellant recordings.
 

Johnny Goldtop

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Oct 19, 2003
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If you are handy with a soldering iron, you could try a ****** Audio conversion of a Marshall MXL 2001. ****** is a small company started by David Royer to offer lower cost kits for those of us on a budget. Here is a link to how mine sounds - Larrivee D03, ****** Mic straight into an M-Box. A little reverb added. You have to type or paste this link into your browser to get it to work.
http://www.geocities.com/stczacki/slidething.mp3

Oops - didn't realize the board would not let me post the name of the company that makes the kits. Just search for David Royer and tube mic kits on the web if you are interested.
 
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symon

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Minneapolis Slim said:
At another forum I hang out in, lot's of guys have been having really good results using MXL mics that are being sold at Musician's Friend in the under $100 range. They're making some really excellant recordings.


...this is a gas....I just bought one at MF for $39!!! They have 1000 of them (at least they did 2 weeks ago).

If it doesn't work, I'll let it get "inspired" by a 414TLII or AT 4050!!

By the way, I like the sound of the C3000 for an inexpensive mic.
 

lure555

Swirling Vortex of Sound, Classic Club
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I just recorded a singer with an MXL, and the am incredibly happy with the results. They are highly recommended by some pro audio guys I know.
 

badmuddy

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Apr 18, 2003
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1st off, NOTHING in that price range is really gonna be very good for vocals. good vocal mics are over $2000 & WAY up. so you will be making do. finding something that isn't REALLY bad is gonna be your mission. having said that, the adk A51 fet condensers are giving the studio projects C-1 & siblings A SERIOUS run for your money. they have a couple of new mics coming soon, that i heard at aes, called the "hamburg" & the "vienna." not at all bad sounding, on my voice, at least. and definitely clearer AND warmer sounding than the c1's. the hamburg is more mid-aggressive, and have that warmth you associate with a u67, and the vienna has that airy high end (quite nice, actually!), ala a c12. and they have a kit line they've done with david royer for VERY cheap, but you HAVE to know what yer doin'.

http://www.adkmic.com/

thr prices are list at their site; they're actually much cheaper.


ml
 

symon

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badmuddy said:
1st off, NOTHING in that price range is really gonna be very good for vocals. good vocal mics are over $2000 & WAY up.
ml

I would have to STRONGLY disagree ( this is the Forum!!). I have had excellent results using the AT4050 (new $575) for my vocals, and have had the same with wider results using my AKG C414TLII (about $850) new. Along with playing live for a living, I've recorded in many studios and owned my own for many years.

I have A/B'd that mic with the AKG C3000 (which I own two of), and found with a little EQ the C3000 can come very close to the 414.

I am sure we are talking home or project studio here, and one has to get the best "bang for the buck".

A friend of mine (ex band member) used a Marshall (MXL) on his lead vocalist for thier album, it actually sounded quite good. We were all laughing at the price, but technology and manufacturing techniques can bring the price of mics WAY down.

We would all like a Telefunken, Neuman, or C12 but it ain't gonna happen for some of us.

A good mic preamp, channel strip, compressor, etc. is just as important.

I myself think the C3000 would be an excellent choice for the money. With the MXL, if you buy it from Musician's Freind, you can return it if you don't like it.
 

Zhangliqun

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Speaking of compressors, how about a recommendation for one that doesn't sound boxy and flat? (Really crystal clear and musical, ya know...)
 

Brownie

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Zhangliqun said:
Speaking of compressors, how about a recommendation for one that doesn't sound boxy and flat? (Really crystal clear and musical, ya know...)

I have to agree with Symon about the mics. Any pro studio worth it's salt is going to have a few AT 4033 and AT 4050 mics in the closet. And they get used for vox (and everything else), believe me. I bought a new 4050 a couple years ago for about $350. They can be had at good prices.
As for compressors, I'd highly recommend looking at RNC comps:
http://www.fmraudio.com/
They are fantastic compressors, better than many costing a lot more. Been makin' 'em for years. They'll fit your budget and give you outstanding results. You might also look for a Joe Meek VC3Q used. Joe Meek is out of business I believe, but that is also a nice unit that works very well and will fit your budget.
 

BluesForDan

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Aug 31, 2002
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Rode makes excellent quality mics at prices that are fraction of equivalent 'industry standards mics'.

The single element NT-1a is one of the quietest mics made, available for under 300.

The NT-2 is a dual element mic, 2 polar patterns (cardiod and omni).

go to homerecording.com, ask around about mic pres. Go to your local barnes and noble (or other book superstore) and look in the magazines EQ, Recording, Home Recording. Read the reviews, check their websites.

those RNC pres are highly regarded. Your recording with a good mic is only as good as your pre. Don't skimp there.

have fun.
 

Big Al

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badmuddy said:
1st off, NOTHING in that price range is really gonna be very good for vocals. good vocal mics are over $2000 & WAY up.

Man I do not think so. I had a studio and have done mucho work of that nature.

I'd say the Neumann TLM103 at under $800 is a FABULOUS mic for vocals. it would be my first choice under a grand. The problem is all voices are not the same and some mics work better with some voices.
 

jokerjkny

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Nov 26, 2001
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anything Audio Technica is great. cant do wrong with it.

the C3000 series i heard was ok for some stuff, but not great for others. a very temperamental mic.

if you can find it used, try a Shure KSM32. i've had mine for 2 yrs. and its the best thing since sliced bread.
 

lp59pete

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I was wondering about the Carvin condenser mics. Has anyone tried one of these?
 

rockabilly69

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inexpensive condensor microphone

I'm with Big Al on this one, it is definately possible to get to get a good vocal microphone for well under a grand. I own all of the mics your looking at (my C3000 is the early black model), and i've used all of them successfully. but a few more dollers will get you in a better ball park. I would definately try the tube Rode NTK (499.99 street price, it's single pattern cardiod but very musical sounding). I recorded a whole album of acoustic based music with nothing but a pair of NTK's, a pair of Audio Technica 4041's, and one very used Shure model 300 ribbon microphone. Go to danweldon.com for sound samples. The NTK was used on all the vocals. And a NTK combined with a AT4041 was used on most all the instruments (Martin, Gibson, Larrivee guitars, Gibson mandolin, National and Johnson resonators). I also used the NTK right on the speaker of my TopHat amplifier with my Les Paul, they have a very high SPL rating! Lately I've been recording my National Western Model D with the NTK with excellent results, but alot of national guys like the ribbon mics. Check out Chris Whitleys "Dirt Floor" for some excellent examples of this sound.
That whole album was recorded with a pair of ribbons!!

There are some excellent artices on upgrading the MXL mics out on the web. In my experience, bone stock, those mics are noisy but with upgraded electronics they shine. In one of those mods they even use mogami wire.

And for a few more bones, the Neuman TLM103 is also a very versatile microphone, and sounds excellent with a good tube pre. In my opinion Neumans tend to impart their sound (a damn good sound) on everything. It seem to me that even the non-tube versions are warm sounding!

The big consideration is how the microphone sounds with your voice. If you can, try out the different microphones in a quiet environment, with a flat sounding pair of headphones (AKG K240).
And try to demo through a good mic pre. I've tried those mic testers at MARS music and they almost steered me from some good mics.
 

Spose

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don't overlook the Neumann KMS 105, we just got one and have been using it for recording and live work..it's a GREAT GREAT mic....under 500 bucks!
 

symon

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GuitarG said:
My budget is around $300-400. Any suggestions for something in that price range?

We have to remember the original purpose for this thread!!
 

kingsleyd

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badmuddy

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1st of all, any "studio worth it's salt" ain't gonna be using an at 4033/4050 on vocals (UNLESS they've exhausted all their "vocal" mic's on a vocalist, & none seem to be doin' the job, on that particular day). and if you think otherwise, you've never been in a good studio. those are mics that get used for things like toms & bass cabs (they're really a versatile mic, which is why studios WILL have 'em). a good mic pre CAN & does make a not so great mic sound MUCH better. in fact, i'd rather use a not so great mic & a great river mp2-nv (for instance), than an elam 251 & a pre in a mackie board. i know that those of us that HAVE to make do with smaller budgets cannot afford the top echelon vocal mics. but don't let that let you get coddled into believing the glossy ads & reviews in rags that ONLY give good reviews to the companies that also place the ads on their pages. any world-class engineer will continue to consistently reach for the u67's, elam251's, akg c12's, the brauners & manley's, all the mics that cost well over $3000. and not because they cost so much. they could care less. what they DO care about is continuing to get the calls that pay their bills. and THESE are the mics that do it for them, time & time again. and that's because they are, quite simply, stunning for the application of vocals! period! end of story!

so we are in fact, like i said the 1st time, having to make do. and it CAN be done. some of the mic's some have mentioned will do a pretty decent enough job. you have to be careful with the mic's of chinese origin that all the newer companies, like mxl, studio projects, et al., get their product from. they are not consistent, from mic to mic, in the slightest. adk included. the akg414, btw, is pretty much a universally hated mic by the top engineers (even the TLII). most wouldn't get near one with a ten foot barge pole, for vocals. they are not a great vocal mic. i don't know if i totally agree with the sentiment, as a mic in general; i've gotten some great cello trax with one. t.h.e. have a 2-part mic;

http://www.themics.com/

the ka-04 body at $360(w/preamp), matched up with the kr-33a capsule at $570 (mercenary audio prices), & the guys that designed it modelled it after the telefunken elam251 (one of THE all time, legendary faves of engineers everywhere), and they've done a pretty decent job of making a very good mic. it's missing the toob-warmth of the original, but that can be dialed, to some extent, back in with any good neve-styled, transformer based mic pre that'll let you drive the output stage (like the mp2or1-nv). really good valve-based mic pre's, like dw fearn or requisite, are very pricey! there is actually a transformer based mod for the mxl2001 that'll only run you $40-50, that was designed by scott dorsey, from rec.audio.pro.

kludge@panix.com

but, personally, i think you can do better than the mxl2001, mods or no. you'd be surprised at how well an sm57 with a great mic pre will do! some of the classics from the 70's were done with that combo, though they tend to only do well with loud male rock vocals, for the most part. but for those of you crooning over the studio projects c1, i'd seriously recommend you check out the adk's. after hearin' 'em myself, i can understand what all the commotion is about. they're damn good sounding mic's!


ml
 
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badmuddy

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and, big al, i know your heart's in the right place, but the tlm103 being a FABULOUS vocal mic is a way, way big overstatement ;-) c'mon, i'm sure you know that, as well. it was quite obviously their attempt at manufacturing a cheap mic with the neumann name on it. hey, from a marketing standpoint, it was a no-brainer, & tons bought into it. you wanna know what fletcher (mercenary audio) once told me in private, when i once asked his opinion of the tlm103? he told me it was an sm57 with the name neumann stamped on it. you know, neumann aren't infallible. they were so far off the mark with their m49/m50 recreations, it ain't funny.


ml
 
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