Are these the best mics I can get for my budget?

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:48 pm

Looking to buy a nice vocal condenser and a nice instrument condenser pair.
around $700 budget.

These are the mics of choice so far...
AT4040 - $299
and
Rode NT5 matched pair - $399

????

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:53 pm

Boy...that's a loaded question....

Yes, I believe those are wonderful mics, especially for the price. However, there is absolutely no way for anyone here to tell you which are the best mics for you. They can give suggestions based on their experience, but certainly not give you a qualified answer as to the "best" for you.

And beware the people who reply with just a make and model of a microphone. Frankly, that kind of reply just pisses me off. If anyone replies like that, please accept some serious biting sarcasm from me up to and including childish name-calling!

Smile

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 5:55 pm

damn i hate generalities... but since you asked... assuming the voacl is male i think you'll find the at 4047 a little "better" (read favorably coloured) as a vocal mic... never used the rodes so no opinion there

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:04 pm

dementedchord wrote:

damn i hate generalities... but since you asked... assuming the voacl is male i think you'll find the at 4047 a little "better" (read favorably coloured) as a vocal mic... never used the rodes so no opinion there

I would generally agree with you. However, that would blow the budget unless he went with some ghetto overheads...

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:06 pm

Baderup99 wrote:

Looking to buy a nice vocal condenser and a nice instrument condenser pair.
around $700 budget.

These are the mics of choice so far...
AT4040 - $299
and
Rode NT5 matched pair - $399

????

OK, for anyone to make sensible suggestions you have to tell us how you imagine these mikes are going to be used. What range of vocals - male, female (or both), and what type of music? For the instrument pair, what instruments? What configurations (XY, MS etc)? Is this for tracking work or solo? Are they purely for studio use?

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:25 pm

Ok

The vocal mic - for male vocals , some rock,maybe some acoustical, alternative type of music. No screaming or any hardcore vocals like that.

The instruments mic - acoustic guitar, and drum overheads mainly, but for other string instruments...pretty basic.

Im a beginner here, so I just want to get some decent mics. That's all Im looking for. To be honest Im not experienced enough yet to get real specific for mic configurations and things like that.

They will be used for studio purposes

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:37 pm

After seeing what kind of stuff you're doing I'd agree with demented on the 4047. Actually you can't lose on anything in the 40 series AT's. The 4047 has a nice tranny for some great colour, the 4050 is a winner and the 4033 has a silky high end that's almost ribbon-like. All those mics are extremely versatile for stringed instruments, male vocals, and rooms or OH. In pairs they're all fantastic in x/y config's.

The 3035 is a fantastic bargain if you want a quality mic on the cheap. It has a lot of the qualities of the 4033 but the high's just aren't as silky. Still, there's virtually no self-noise and the response is very flat, very acurate.

You can usually score any of these mics for well below retail on ebay. NIB 3035's can be had at at least 2 ebay stores for like $135 (a steal). I recently scored a used 4033 on ebay for $175 and it's in great condition and sounds beautiful. No scratches, dents, etc. Usually people take very good care of their AT mics. I record alot of AC guitar and native american flutes and the AT's are usually my go-to mics for that stuff - plus my little secret weapon, an Alice mic from Scott Helmke (high output and solid, agressive mids).

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:22 pm

4047 and 4050 are a bit too much for me. Im looking at the 4033 & 4040 however.

So the AT4040 or AT4033? The 4033 is $100 more. What are the differences between these two mics?

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:41 pm

IMO, the 4033 has silkier high's and a slightly more output in the midrange. That's about it (again, my opinion). But silkier high's are very important with male vocals and very nice to have when recording AC Guitars. More agressive mid's are very important too. You'll hear the difference with nicer preamps as you move up into high quality pre's. You can't lose with either mic though IMO.

Something else to consider though is if you're thing of the 4040 you may want to save money and go with the 3035 instead because there's not much of a difference between the 3035 and the 4040. Just my opinion.

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:58 pm

anybody else think the 4033 is worth the extra $100 over the 4040?

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:04 pm

Well this what it's all coming down to. I don't have much money. So basically I will have only one vocal condenser. Either the AT4040 or the AT4033. It will mainly be for male vocals. But since it will be my only large diaphragm cardioid mic, I'll probably try it on a few other instruments. So what should it be the AT4040 or the AT4033? Im looking on Ebay right now and the 4033 will run me $100 more

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:25 pm

Baderup99 wrote:

Well this what it's all coming down to. I don't have much money. So basically I will have only one vocal condenser. Either the AT4040 or the AT4033. It will mainly be for male vocals. But since it will be my only large diaphragm cardioid mic, I'll probably try it on a few other instruments. So what should it be the AT4040 or the AT4033? Im looking on Ebay right now and the 4033 will run me $100 more

Well, I'm looking on Ebay (US) right now, and I don't see the $100 difference. Granted, the Aero Turbine AT4040 muffler is cheaper, but there's more variation in the completed prices of 4040 mics than there is between the 4040 and the 4033. However, the one thing I don't see is many 4033As. The A version is significantly improved, and you should shoot for that if you can.

I use a 4033A for certain vocals (it's really good on low female voices), and also for wind instruments (flute, clarinet, sax etc). You have to take care to position it to avoid direct air movement, as it's rather sensitive to being blown at.

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:41 pm

ok basically should i pick the 4040 or the 4033. I can get the 4040 for around $80 cheaper? So is the 4033 worth the extra cash?

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:43 pm

im on eBay bidding on the AT4033 - im pretty sure its a at4033a because in the picture there is a letter after the 4033 on the mic which i presume is an "a".

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:34 am

I LOVE AT mics. Havent found a bad one yet.

The 4033 is a 'swiss-army-knife' mic. Works on everything. The 4040 is a general use mic, much like the 4033 just not as pretty sounding.

The 4033 is NOT a large-diaphram mic but it is a mid-diaphram mic at .75 inches. It is, however a large sounding mic.

You could certainly record everything with that one mic. Since it doesnt have any real big peaks and dips in its frequency response, you'll not get a noticable buildup of frequencies throughout an entire recording with different instruments.

ALWAYS record vocals with a 40333 slightly off center.. It does not like wind in its diaphram...( Thanks Boswell!)

This topic sponsored by: