uh...maybe some ribbons.
Coles 4038?
Royer
I use coles, love 'em.
:w:

Royer SF12 stereo ribbon
Or
Neuman KM 84 pair

If you record to digital, ribbons are a must for OH IMHO.

:)

Jules, have U tried that Royer stereo ribbon? How does it work for ya on OH's and room? I was thinking about buying one of 'em but wasn't sure about the "fixed-angle" coincident pair thing... I kinda like being able to move the individual mics around!

Whadja think??

Originally posted by Julian Standen:
Royer SF12 stereo ribbon
Or
Neuman KM 84 pair

Or, you could have the best of both worlds mentioned by Jules by using a figure of 8 small diaphram condenser. I am in love with the MBHO 603 microphone body with the figure 8 small diaphram KA-800 interchangeable capsule. I like ribbons and I like condensers, and this makes the decision very easy...plus they sound more pleasing to the ear than the new Neumann series (much closer to the older type solid state Neumann), but somewhat more realistic similar to a Schoeps (as I understand it their head engineer worked for Schoeps for 20+ years). Good Luck with your search!

Jules,
I'm also intrested in your take on the Royer stereo ribbon. I got one from Fletcher a month ago or so, and so far I love the sound but I'm getting a lot of noise. I realize that I'm running the pre's (API 3124, Manley tube, DBX 786)a good bit hotter than with other mic's just to get moderate gain. But the noise seems out of perportion to me. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Marc McManeus
SoundPost Productions
marc@soundpostaudio.com

I have a pair of C451's, and with them came the kinda-omni-kinda-figure 8 large diaphragm CK4 capsule. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but it's flat amazing as a drum room mic. Big and fat.

Maybe a pair of BLUE dragonfly's. I've heard their awesome for OH/Room stuff.

Originally posted by Julian Standen:
If you record to digital, ribbons are a must for OH IMHO.

:)
I don't seem to get the problem with drums to digital that most people experience - maybe it's my converters or the rest of my chain (or my ears) but I am trying to get hold of some Royers to audition anyway.

Has anybody tried the BLUE dragonfly mics for this application ?

Remember I'm looking for ROOM mics that can double as OH on occasion and I haven't had much success with small diaphragm for this.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
-Peter

"Remember I'm looking for ROOM mics that can double as OH on occasion and I haven't had much success with small diaphragm for this."

So! Are you only looking at another pair of large diaphram mic's then!

Classic would be AKG 414's then, I always prefered them over 87's or the little guys...

KM 84's 451's, Earthworks omnis

I am a fan of fixed axis (all in one) stereo mic's for overheads (C24, SM2, U67)

Ribbons LIKE certain pre's better than others.. Grace, Great River, Millennia etc all, I think, make versions that cope well with ribbons.

With the Royer SF-12 I find I need to use the pliars on the HF eq (crank it in mucho) but once I've done that they are good to go.

To describe it, they reveal a good butch metalwork tone, say on a ride and not too much of the dreaded hi hat 'hiss'.

:)

Jules

Originally posted by The Establishment:

Has anybody tried the BLUE dragonfly mics for this application ?

They are decent for the price

Remember I'm looking for ROOM mics that can double as OH on occasion and I haven't had much success with small diaphragm for this.

I can't stand hyped mics in the highs for overheads anymore. I like natural and somewhat flat. If you are set on large diaphram you may want to consider a pair of Polar Pattern switchable MBHO 608's. What kind of polar pattern do you usually like for overheads? I don't think I can go back from Figure 8, I think that's why most people like the ribbons because they are by default figure 8 (maybe there is one that is not...I don't know of any). MBHO also make a Cardiod only large diaphram which is a little less. I say the MBHO because they aren't unaturally hyped in the highs or mids like many of the newer Neumann's or BLUE's, but they are more "real" in highs than the ribbons to my ears. The transient response on the Bauns are probably the best I have heard in a large diapram condenser microphone.

Hey Nathan! I wanted some info on the mic, but it went to your website and I got little!

:)

Hi Jules,

We just had a professional photographer take some updated professional photos of the entire line that will be up on our site soon. The marketing is scarce for MBHO in the US (and as you saw from their website, it's in German), so expect to see some good things soon from us and them also very soon. Thanks for the interest!

I'd get a pair of Royer R-121's or SF-1's. Another good choice would be 414 TLII's if you want a large diaphragm mic. What is your small diaphragm collection like? I usually prefer those for overheads.

I am not a big fan of the new AKG line compared to many other mics. IMO the 414 TL-II sounds like a cartoon version of the real source run through a Mackie eq with a 7k shelving boost. If you were to insist on a newer 414 I would get the TLI, which is the transformerless circuitry of the TLII, with the capsule of the regular B-ULS. YMMV.

Nathan
Originally posted by atlasproaudio:
What kind of polar pattern do you usually like for overheads? I don't think I can go back from Figure 8,

I almost always use F8 on overheads. I haven't had the chance to try it out on room though.

Thanks again for all of the suggestions. I've now go to try and get them all on loan at the same time to give them a proper comparison test.

-Peter