4033a or the 4033 cl a good all around mic.

AT 3035 for workhorse band for the buck LDC. All around good, especially drum overheads. Think it's the top boost in the mic response. It beat out U87s and 414's for OH's a lot, at the wave cave.

Other than that I've only used their run of the mill handheld mics randomly once in a while over the years. I haven't used a lot of their models.

3035's and 4033's are good sounding, all round application solid mics.

audiokid, post: 448397, member: 1 wrote: Is there an AT mic that compares to a U87?

That said, if I had the money, I'm pretty sure that the 5040 would be my favorite:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT5040

As an aside, newer U87's don't seem to impress me as much as older ones do. I can't tell you why, but something about them seemed to change after around 1989 or so. I don't know if they maybe started using different circuitry, or wire, or altered the capsule...but the newer models sound so "flat" to me.
And that might please a lot of people. I'm just speaking my own opinion here...the older ones had a certain "mojo" to them that the newer ones don't seem to have.
Out of the Neumanns I've owned, my fave has been the U89i. Crystal clear, but rich and warm at the same time, with nice silky top end. That was my experience using it through more transparent preamps that allowed the character of the mic to shine through without the coloration of tubes or tranny based preamps. But it sounded great through more colored preamps, too. I'm sure there are those that would laugh, but I even used it through a Tascam 3500 desk once, and it still sounded great.
IMO of course. ;)
-d.

A year ago, (or so), I introduced a close friend of mine to RO; Paul Christensen; he wasn't here too long, he's a very busy working musician ( God Bless him)... but, several years ago, Paul was a rep for AT, who's HQ is here in northeastern Ohio ( Stow, Ohio), and I am still in frequent contact with him; I'll ask him what he thinks about the question.
He has mentioned to me in the past that he still has a closet full of AT mics ( demos that he purchased), and he is a great performing and recording musician too, so not only could I get the "tech specs", but I could also find out from him which models he likes as a musician, too. Paul is a vocalist, keyboard player and sax player - highly respected around these here parts... LOL.
I'll give him a call this afternoon. ( I need to call him anyway about a series of sessions I have coming up with him). I'll pick his brain. :)
-d.

I talked to Paul...in his own words (copied from his text reply to me:

" Audio-Technica's breakthrough mic is the AT4033, which is a wonderful multi-purpose Studio mic. Really excels on vocals, especially female. Then the AT4050 entered, which is a large diaphragm multi pattern side address. Those two are amazing and you can't go wrong with either.
Another one of my favorites is the AT4047, which is the first mic they came out with that adds color. It has a transformer. It's a great mic. You can't go wrong with any of those three. "

Hope this helps. ;)

Love my 4033a.

DonnyThompson, post: 448439, member: 46114 wrote: As an aside, newer U87's don't seem to impress me as much as older ones do. I can't tell you why, but something about them seemed to change after around 1989 or so.

I did a shootout between a new Neumann U87ai and the New Mojave MA-300 and I preferred the MA300. I sold the U87ai and used the proceeds towards a Bricasti M7. Good trade indeed.

mics are audio paint brushes. no one mic works for all applications. transducers, mics / speakers, no one can have enough of them. all work well for one thing but not everything or in every application. if i had the funds, any mics or speakers i bought would stay with me forever. i only sell stuff because i am not as active as i used to be. if i were still doing this audio thing as a vocation, i would never sell anything to buy something else. i would keep it all.

Kurt Foster, post: 448474, member: 7836 wrote: i would never sell anything to buy something else. i would keep it all.

(y) Indeed.
I've had to make many tough choices. I sold over 80 microphones in the last decade. Killed me and my spirit. Mics are like guitars to me. All the rest of the stuff is just gear.

Paul sent me this link about the AT 5040.
I've never tried one... but I'd sure like to. ;)

DonnyThompson, post: 448477, member: 46114 wrote: Paul sent me this link about the AT 5040.
I've never tried one... but I'd sure like to. ;)

Just beautiful.

Can you ask Paul about the AT5045. I've read they are stellar on overheads and string instruments.

audiokid, post: 448397, member: 1 wrote: I am gathering data on mics for our community.

Did we ever come to a "general" consensus on the best all-round AT model? Or even most-liked model for vocals?

I'm trying to keep track, and seriously taking all comments and suggestions here into consideration, because I haven't used all the AT mics that have been discussed here...

I have a project coming up in the Spring, where my friend Paul Christensen is going to be involved, and as mentioned earlier, he has a nice selection of AT mics from his time as an AT Rep that he has offered up for use... my main focus at this point is on vocals and/or acoustic instruments ( like guitar, mandolin, upright bass, etc.), and what guys here think would be the best AT model(s) for that?
(Short of the AT 5040, LOL, which of course I'd love to try, but which is neither available nor affordable for me for this project; the project is an album where the proceeds are going to charity)

Thoughts?

i have only owned a few AT mics but every one i've had was excellent. the first ones i had were simple cheapo atm 10 and 11's i got with a TEAC 4 track and they have held up for many many years. the 4 track is long gone but i still have a couple of the ATM10's that work as well as they day i got them. i had a pair of 4033a's as well as the clip on Pro35s all of which were wonderful. the 4033a was long touted by Phil Ramone for vocals but i found it worked very well on acoustic instruments, toms and as overheads too. 4033's are very popular with bluegrass musicians.

i have long wished for a 4050 or two (or three..... or four). :giggle:

i don't think anyone will go wrong with any of the better models. i've heard some criticism of the 20 series mics but any of the 40 or 50 series mics should be fine. the 5045 looks very interesting but i wonder how the 4 elements would weather in time. seems to me it would be important for them to need to have very close tolerances to work correctly. my experiences have taught me that the simpler things are they better the work, especially over time.

ahhh ..... Mitch G. he never saw a product he wouldn't shill for Sweetwater. i take anything he has to say with a grain of salt.

Kurt Foster, post: 448788, member: 7836 wrote: Mitch G. he never saw a product he wouldn't shill for Sweetwater. i take anything he has to say with a grain of salt.

I agree and SWS .
Then I saw this one from Dave Pensado on the 5045 and it gave me second thoughts.

audiokid, post: 447843, member: 1 wrote: AT5045 sounds great on drums /overheads. These look like an excellent all round instrument mic. What do you think? The clips look easy to position and lock. Beautiful kit.

Kurt Foster, post: 448788, member: 7836 wrote: i have long wished for a 4050 or two (or three..... or four). :giggle:

Having 3 or 4 AT4050... wow, that nice eh?

I'm still interested in this for an acoustic .

Kurt Foster, post: 448788, member: 7836 wrote: the 5045 looks very interesting but i wonder how the 4 elements would weather in time. seems to me it would be important for them to need to have very close tolerances to work correctly. my experiences have taught me that the simpler things are they better the work, especially over time.

Although somewhat skeptical too, I found a bit more on the design:

Kurt Foster
Hey Kurt, have you used the AT4050 on acoustics?

The mids sound very nice in this demo using only the AT4050. How does it sound to you?

Schoeps are clear but I don't always like the sharp sound the a lot of SDC.

And then there are the AT4080 and AT4081 ribbons.

The AT4080 ribbon in this sounds beautiful. I love the silky top end. I think I may buy one of these. Any reviews on this, please share?

To avoid the story of the song, start at 1:00

for anyone interested, there's a 4033a (vintage version) for sale here in my town for $200.

https://eugene.craigslist.org/msg/6035066766.html

Found the AT5045 on a Taylor 714ce-r

I've owned every one in the 40xx series except the 4040. My favorite was the 4060, but I had to let it go a few years ago for financial reasons. I still have the 4050, and feel it's almost as good but with a little less heft. Great general purpose mic that never sounds bad on anything. Very hi-fi sounding. Love it especially on drum overhead and fast, choppy acoustic rhythms.

audiokid, post: 448934, member: 1 wrote: The AT4080 ribbon in this sounds beautiful. I love the silky top end. I think I may buy one of these. Any reviews on this, please share.

Nice vocal sound indeed. It would be interesting to know what pre-amp was used with this.

I was also intrigued to see the old Reslo RB ribbon set up to capture her guitar.

I guess I misspoke... Forgot that I hadn't tried any of the AT ribbons... Which are in the 40xx series.

I don't have a lot of experience with AT mics but I like the ATM 650, great dynamic mic.

I'll say it again, you'll not pry my 4033a from my hands unless I'm starving and it's a meal ticket, even then... others can go first LOL.

I have a bunch of them. All are good. All find a place in a project if needed. ALL of the 40 series mics are excellent. I've owned them all. I wish I still had the 4047 I sold in order to buy something else. I don't have the 'something else' any longer and don't miss it nearly as much as the 4047. The 4041 electret is as 'honest' a mic on acoustic sources as you can find. I will NEVER sell my 4033a. Never. I did sell the 4050. I have a vintage U87 that does the same thing. One is $2500 used and so is 5 of the other. (see what I did there).....The 5040 is something all recording enthusiasts should hear. I can't afford it but it's on that upper level with "those" mics. There is simply nothing made that is as open or perfectly voiced as these are. Maybe a Sony C-800G.

The ATM25 being discontinued was a huge mistake on AT's part. The reissues aren't as good and the used price has been driven up by people like me spouting off about what it does and how well it does it.

It has always been my contention that someone on a budget could do a lot worse than equipping their studio with all AT mics. A lot worse.

Great mics that almost always offer better value than other manufacturers for equivalent products.

I used to recommend everyone buy an SM57 as their first mic, but after using the AT2020 and being amazed at the performance/price ratio it delivered it is now at the top of that list.

The ATM25 has been a workhorse for me on percussion. My pair of AT4041 have been bumped from top dog spot, as I slowly built a better SD mic collection (Neumann KM100s, Mojave MA100SP), yet they still get constant use.

As others have said, for the price of a single U87 one could build a pretty reasonable first kit of mics buying nothing but ATs.

My favorite AT mic, by far is my now discontinued AT-3060 Tube Condenser....Why did they stop making this???? It is an Astounding Mic, though some may disagree, it has almost quadrupled in BValue since i purchased in in 94(i think). Aside from that, i would gladly add the 4080 and the 4047, if money were no object, and i was just stacking up mics i like. i have others i want first...unless the right deal on a 4080 passed my way.

Be Well,

—trout

I'm holding onto an AT5047. I've not had the opportunity to use it yet but I am so stoked lol! I've had the luxury to use the 5040 and as Davedog exclaims... I agree... it is amazing. I expect the 5047 to be everything the 5040 is, but with a tranny sizzle. I'll be sure to report back when I get the opportunity to use it.