what about the Gefell M930? is that in the same price range? everyone seems to like it.

If you are gonna get an AT, consider the 4047.

..and yes the Gefell is a very good mic.

Keep in mind I have no experience with these microphones but as I've been looking out for a good vocal mic recently ive read a lot of impressions and reviews...

from what ive heard about the baby bottle.... i think it can really shine on some sources but can be somewhat picky about what you use it for (not the best all around mic?). Overall Ive read a lot of people that werent that satisfied with this mic....

I've heard nothing but praise for the ADK TC (actually the mic i was going to spring for when i get some money) but then again, I havent heard much of all about it (not as widespread).

I've heard great things about that gefell mic but its maybe twice as expensive as the TC (ive seen it go on ebay for around $300-$400).

I wouldnt worry too much about the fact that both your mic and pre have tubes... just because they have tubes doesnt mean they'll be overly 'warm' or 'more complimenting than accurate' (but then again they could be... but i dont think the TC is like that).

hope this helps.... let us know what you eventually get. (especially if its the TC, i want to see what you think)

Bottle etc

I have a Baby Bottle and a lot of other mics - I've heard the ADK tube mic. As I recall I AB'd them in New York under good conditions and discovered they sound very similar. If wanted an all purpose mic that shined in (male?) vocal I would pick... neither.

The BB is flat-ish, nice mids and sweet highs - but seems to do best on Female voc. It has so-so rejection but at least is reasonably flat off axis. I've had male clients who sounded downright bad on the BB. I've never had a woman sound bad, only less than ideal.

As far as tube mics - man, be careful. If you have that u47 continuous sweep (I don't know if the adk has it) that can be a huge advantage, huge. However, if all you got is a tube cardioid then you have most of the issues of a tube mic such as warmup time, and general persnicketyness without all the cool stuff many tube mics bring to the table. Take it from an old tube amp guy - it ain't pretty when you can't tell if the coloration is coming from some wacky thing like a slightly microphonic tube. Solid state is way more reliable and if you already have a tube pre....

This is not to say tube mics don't have something special, they do, but they can come back and bite you. I've used c12's that wern't quite right. All I'm sayng is you need a stake in the ground somewhere. Get the basics right first.

imho you should audition the Gefell per the prev recco.

I have half a dozen or so late 60's/ early 70's Fender and Marshall amps so I know all about the quirks a tube introduces and how pissy they can be at times.

One of the reasons I picked the BB as a possibility is that it's fairly flat. I wanted to avoid mics that have a big highs/presence boost. I'm not sure its really needed on a digital platform. Maybe thats a flawed theory but the idea being that digital doesn't roll pff the highs over many playbacks so the extra top isn't needed.

As for covering the basics, I do agree. My 57's and Kels for example are solid and versatile. LDC's have been a little more work in sorting through the literally hundreds to choose from. Particularly given the lower end models tend to really be bright. Si I have been trying to look at 'intermediate' level mics in hopes of finding something more to my liking.

I have arranged to test drive both of these mics to listen in my own room so that should really clarify what these mics are about.

I appreciate the feedback everyone....

let us know your impressions and what you go with!

photoresistor wrote: let us know your impressions and what you go with!

I ended up going with an AT4050.

The baby Bottle gave way to the the Red / B7 combo. I was looking real hard at a Red / B7. Something in the ballpark of a U47 was very tempting. But I couldn't audition it, it is a single pattern, no pad, no rolloff and I have found a total of 1 review that wasn't a verbatim copy of the Red propganda. The ADK is still on the wish list but I thought it would be a little too colored to be good on many sources

I needed a proven all 'rounder and the Red just isn't yet. The 4050 is a proven entity, has omni, F8 and Card patterns, a bass rolloff and pad and was about half the price leaving a few coins for filling in other weaknesses in the recording chain.