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anonymous 30 August 2003

Anyone can give me an advice? i have to buy a matched pair of condenser mics...what do you prefer: RODE NT5, AT 30 series, Oktava? yeah i know the KM184 are way better, but, this is my budget... ;)

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lorenzo gerace Sun, 08/31/2003 - 02:11

Hi

I have a matched pair of Rode NT5, and considering the price I got them for they do their job in a brilliant way; my suggestion though is to check out the AT30 serie: I have a pair of 3035 (large dia) and they really sound amazing, neutral and clean, really far beyond their "project studio" name, so I guess that even the small dia models should be up to snuff. Cannot comment on the Oktava, never tested them.

Of corse if you have the budget a pair of KM184 would be your best bet, but I stress the fact that even with less expensive mics (read AT) you can get killer results.

Hope this helps

L.G. :)

KurtFoster Sun, 08/31/2003 - 12:16

The Studio Projects C4 might be a viable option. I have used a pair and they sound pretty good. I am waiting for the return of a matched pair of vintage 451s I have lent out to a friend to do some comparisons. I will make a post as soon as I have something more to say.. Keep an eye out for a review on the C4s.. coming soon. Kurt

quartermoonpro Sun, 08/31/2003 - 16:30

I've been using a matched pair of Superlux SMK-H8K small condensers for overheads and they kick ass. I have to do very little eq'ing to get a great sound. They are less than the Rode and I think they sound better. Try this link for more info:
http://www.avlex.com/superlux/live_sound.html

I live in Kansas City where the distributor is located. These are chinese made, but my matched pair sound great!
Brad

Doublehelix Mon, 09/01/2003 - 07:27

I have a pair of the NT5's and I love them. Add a few dB's at 12K with a low Q, and you get a really sweet sound!

I also have a Superlux CMHK that I use as a backup and it does have a pretty nice sound, considering the price. I wouldn't say it was better than the NT5's...but that is a matter of opinion I suppose. It is very open, and I have been using it on the high hats when the situation warrants it...very bright and clear.

anonymous Sat, 09/06/2003 - 03:23

Hi Aziel,
I'm a huge fan of the A.T 30 & 40 series mics. Very affordable and very good sounding. I have a 4033SE, 4040, 4035 and a Studio Projects C3. All great mics at very good prices.
A great "preamp" is also worth its weight in gold. Even the best mics don't function properly without a great pre!!

Mike

anonymous Sat, 09/06/2003 - 05:32

Well, i have a 4033SE too and a Focusrite Voicemaster for vocals (i know is not a great pre, but i live in Venezuela and its very difficult to afford a 2k pre) now, im trying to set up the drum kit, i want to buy a DigimaxLT and a pair of overheads mics...do u think it`s a better idea to buy another 4033 or like im thinking, buy a matched pair? :roll:

anonymous Sat, 09/06/2003 - 06:34

Aziel,
A pair of 4033's would be a great overhead set-up! And the Focusrite you own is a Top Quality piece of gear. They make some of the best pre's in the industry!!
Use the Focusrite on Everything you record, that includes drums! It's not just a vocal preamp.

As far as the overheads, just use two of your best condensers, roll off all the low end and get some "sizzle" out of them. Use some compression and a gate, only let anything over 5K come through. It will work great.
You don't need to run them very hot. Just below the overall drum mix should do just fine.

As far as buying a "matched pair", thats up to you. I would never do it, only because each side of the drums (or anything) is different. Matching mics won't do any good.
BUT Good mics always make a difference, so any good mic in the right place will get you the right sound! Mic placement is key, and I think with practice/experimentation, you will find that many mics work in many places. Especially with the Focusrite you have. That is the key to your sound!!

Mike

RecorderMan Sat, 09/20/2003 - 21:46

Guys....this is a caveat for any and all newbies.

While there are a thousand ways to do anything, and the ends justify the means.....do yourself and anybody that has to possible work on your stuff (including yourself, sometime down the road when you have even more experiance)

Do NOT gate OH's, or for that matter much else when recording, except for special effects and or extreme situations, or mic's key'd off of other mic's, etc.
Some people like to lightly gate snare, tom, kick mics.....to each there own. I will even lightly gate the bottom mic's key'd from the top mics if it's THAT kind of drum sound AND I have enough prep to get it right...then it's probably only about 10db of range...if that.

In this day and age though it makes even less sense because we have even less tape hiss than we used to.

Like I said to each his own, but you can always gate/mute/delete later when you have more time, and are not locking yourself into anything you can't change.

Gating on record is permanent.

If your reasonably new at this (even a few years into it) things CAN get by you...especially in a situation as complex as recording live drums.

I can't tell you how many times I've mixed a track with messed up drums because they were gated .

bettermics Tue, 09/23/2003 - 11:14

I would encourage you to try the Superlux line. I work for Earthworks; and yes I'm aware we are percieved as being out of your budget, (but a box set of SRO's is a whole lot of mic for the money...)
nyuk nyuk; but seriously; in the budget constraint reality, the Superlux mics have a bunch of enthusiastic fans.Call Ray Rayburn, you won't hate me cause I told you to. http://www.superlux.us/smalldiaphragm.html
The price is like $164.00 for the matched set plus shipping.
Check it out!
Jeff

RecorderMan Fri, 09/26/2003 - 20:51

Originally posted by Aziel:
None in reponding me anymore about the mics... :D

Well Launchpad67a, i dont blame them...you have a very unortodoxes recording doctrines... :D

I`m afraid that i have to agree woth RecorderMan... ;)

back to the advice....just from a reading posts I would pick between the Rode and the AT mics, there quality control seems to be better. That knocks it down to two.

Richard Monroe Sat, 09/27/2003 - 05:39

What mics you need depends on the application. Of the mics being discussed, I am most familiar with the Oktavas, the C-4's, and one that hasn't been mentioned- MXL 603s. For overheads, I like the Oktavas. For acoustic guitar, I like the 603's. All in all, I prefer the C-4's to either one. They are quieter and more transparent than the the Oktava's, with slightly lower output. Given that you get the airline case, the shock mounts, the omni capsules, and Studio Project's excellent customer service, my vote would go for the C-4's. I've used the NT-5's briefly, and found them similar to the c-4's. For $80 more, the C-4's give you an aluminum case, omni capsules, bass rolloff, and pads.-Richie

ahyatt Sun, 09/28/2003 - 18:27

The ADK SC1, Marshall 603, and the new Joemeek JM27 are all the same mic, with two of them made in the same factory, and one, although the exact same design and components, is made in another factory. So if these mics interest you, I suggest you get the one that costs the least as they are the very same.

Now, if you are looking for a step up, the RODE NT5, and Octava's are good. Matched pairs of Octava's are hard to find correctly matched. The C4's offer more features while offering the same kind of quality and consistency you get with RODE.

The C4's, NT5's and Octava's are step up mics. So you will pay a bit more, but you get more. In the case of the C4's you get both Omni and Cardioid capsules, and you get the pad and Hi-Pass filter, as well as the shock mounts that you don't get with the RODE. Is this worth the extra $80.00...Well, this is up to you.

Only giving you the facts. What you hear and what you like, is up to you. I also agree with Recorder Man. Matched pairs are good, and forget about the gates.

Bobby Loux Sun, 09/28/2003 - 22:25

[="http://www.soundbroker.com/MICROPHONES_WIRELESS/?listingid=14845"]JM27 $199.00[/]="http://www.soundbro…"]JM27 $199.00[/]

[[url=http://="http://macmidimusic…"]ADK SC-1 $129.00[/]="http://macmidimusic…"]ADK SC-1 $129.00[/]

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.edgemont…"]MXL 603 $89.00[/]="http://www.edgemont…"]MXL 603 $89.00[/]

This is just one of many things I dont like about this "seemingly" new movement in microphone manufacturing theses days. the Chinese builder that makes the same mic for 10 different companies and slaps different names on them. you get these unbelievable price differences just based on the companies name alone.

the consumer really has to do his homework these days like never before to get a fair deal. its always been bad enough with different distributers pricing the same mike all over the place, but now you really have to examine the manufacturers as well....

In fairness it looks like Atlas Audio has an ADK SC-T which is a slightly different version of the 3 mics mentioned above (featuring a seperate pad and roll off) for $199.00

still, what a mess!

anonymous Mon, 09/29/2003 - 13:07

Originally posted by bettermics:
I would encourage you to try the Superlux line. I work for Earthworks; and yes I'm aware we are percieved as being out of your budget, (but a box set of SRO's is a whole lot of mic for the money...)
nyuk nyuk; but seriously; in the budget constraint reality, the Superlux mics have a bunch of enthusiastic fans.Call Ray Rayburn, you won't hate me cause I told you to. http://www.superlux.us/smalldiaphragm.html
The price is like $164.00 for the matched set plus shipping.
Check it out!
Jeff

ANYONE TRY THESE?????

anonymous Sun, 10/12/2003 - 16:42

Unmentionable as it is.. Radio Shack sux a lot less than the average for "no-name" gear. If not for the new trade w/China things would be less desirable for the consumer, quality for less/wise.
I have keyboards I am sure Casio made I have quite a ways to go with learning all they'll do,&the sound is superb, with drums of all sorts & styles(all midi,of course) purchased from RS, and a single aaa battery-inload mike of the condenser type. Maybe I am underclass, but I compare my sound to any I have heard anywhere, not to be embarassed by the role played by this gear.
And of course if you are like me, unemployed, very reasonably priced for up to date gear.

http://www.mp3.com/Jbon <---LISTENHERE<---

COMMENTS WELCOME

anonymous Tue, 10/14/2003 - 01:18

Yo, davedog asked me to chime in so...
Cold hard facts... I still haven't heard a chines SD capsule that's worth using. Not to mention the usual QC problem... So it looks like the current SD mics in the ADK line will be eventually discontinued. We're looking for another source of SD capsules, but the price of the resulting mic will be higher than any chinese made mic currently on the market. Sucks doesn't it? The problem is that a stupid price war got the potential buyer USED to seeing mics that are under 100$. Come ON! A few years ago, I would've laughed if you'd told me"I just bought a great SD condenser mic for 69$!". Now, it seems to be the "right" price. Actually, I really like the GT mics, and I think they use chinese capsules.
But hey, I'm used to my old 84s and 451s... so maybe that's why I don't see what's so great about a 69$ chinese mic.
JP

Davedog Tue, 10/14/2003 - 21:43

Thankx JP...good to see ya ...SO...and this ,by no means, says everyone needs to dump their Chinese SD's in favor of something else...Theres one model that gets mentioned very little that I happen to like and thats the Audio Technica 4051...maybe intentionally similar to the AKG451...i dont know but similar in sound and response..Under a grand for a pair..and like JP i ALWAYS favored the KM84...Wish I still had em...but sometimes the rent needs to get paid.....somehow....I do know where theres a really nic conditioned C17 Sony forsale..... :cool:

anonymous Thu, 10/16/2003 - 00:16

There are many affordable SD condensers, you just have to look for them, but don't expect sub-300$ price tags... And don't forget to add the Gefell 691/692 to the 84 and 451 family. I just bought a 48V converted RFT mv692 w/M94 and its wonderful. A bit of work to bring the noise floor down but otherwise really cool. You can still buy the mv692/m94 combo from gefell, brand new.

I'm sure we'll somehow manage to come up with a good chinese SD condenser in years to come. Just have to find the right capsule, and I want a transformer output. So... quite a bit of work ahead.

JP

anonymous Tue, 10/21/2003 - 06:33

Yep, they're good!
And don't forget the Calrec 1050.
Hebden sound make a reissue, identical to the Calrec. HS is part of Bridge Microphones, a company created by David anderson Head of the Calrec mic dept. in the early 80's ; hebden sound was created by Keith Ming, ex-Calrec as well.

I have a pair on order, I'll proabbly post a short review. When I tried the 1050 years ago I liked it so much I had to get a pair... So the Hebden Sound reissue is an obvious choice!

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