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So; I have around $300-400 that I can spend on purchasing some drum overheads for my home studio. I'd like to replace the cheap MXL 603's that I've been using with, I guess, "less" cheap ones. I've been reading some interesting things on different sites about the Avantone CK-1's and the Kel KM-1's. Understand that I'm not going to be able to get any more money together at the moment because the wife has plans that among other things entail having piano movers move my grand from one room to another and buying new couches, lighting etc.

Any thoughts or help? As always, thanks in advance for your input.

Comments

lambchop Tue, 03/27/2012 - 07:10

Aren't the SM81's unidirectional? I want to use these for overheads so I would think that cardiod or hypercardiod would be the way to go, unless someone can educate me otherwise.

EDIT: Forget that! I received some incorrect info. about the SM81. Are there sonic preferences between the Shure and Rode mics?

moonbaby Tue, 03/27/2012 - 07:56

"Unidirectional" IS cardioid or hypercardioid (or "super cardioid")...The SM81's are perhaps a bit smoother in the 5KHz + region, and their off-axis is very good (not muddy). The Rodes are good off-axis, and maybe a tad "brassy" , but certainly not harsh. They are actually pretty close in actual useage, but for overheads, I think that the 81's are a bit better overall.
They are also great on acoustic guitars/mandolins/fiddle ("Paddle faster, Daddy, I hear banjo music!"). The NT-5's are pretty good on acoustic strings, and I like them on choral groups. To each their own. BTW, ,what are you using on the pianer?

lambchop Tue, 03/27/2012 - 09:18

Thankee for the furthering of my limited education. I thought that unidirectional was a more myopic range than either the cardiod or hypercardiod.

Currently I'm only recording my Roland RD700 direct. I removed my upright from the studio since I really wasn't using it and have yet to wire the house up to my grand (good thing since I'm moving it closer to the studio shortly). When I did record the upright I used some Crown PZM-6D's and also tried using some the MXL 603's with limited success. However, the upright was a Hamilton institutional (made for schools etc.) and not the greatest sounding to begin with. The grand is a 1903 A.B Chase completely rebuilt (I just did the hammers and had it regulated last spring) and it sounds wonderful.