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Hi I'm new here, but you guys seem really helpful so here goes.

I'm looking for a mic to use in my home studio. Right now I have an AT4050 which I like, but I'm in the market for something a little better. The mic will be used mainly to record my voice and some acoustic guitars.

I already ordered a T.H.E. Audio KR-33a, but I didn't like it on my voice, and had to send it back for other reasons.

I've been looking at a few mics that seem interesting:

the BLUE Kiwi

the BLUE Mouse

the Soundelux U195

Some of the Microtech Geffell stuff also looks cool.

The only mics I would be able to try are the BLUE mics, but I'd hate to pass up some other really great mic.

Also I have really shyed away from tube mics just because I'd rather spend $1000-$2000 on a really good non tube mic than spend the same money and get a medium quality tube mic, but mabye I'm wrong here, let me know

So set me straight. What do you guys think about these mics, or should I look at something else.

Thanks.

Comments

anonymous Thu, 03/28/2002 - 05:14

Your on the right track with your thinking regarding tube mics :)
I own the U195 and it smokes. If I had the budget you have, I'd have gotten the BLUE Mouse to compliment the U195. For my humble little facility, I don't like putting much more than $1400 into any single piece of gear ;)

Hope this helps,

T. Alan

anonymous Thu, 03/28/2002 - 05:29

another option you may consider is the Oktava MC012 - it's a small diaphragm condenser, sort of a 'poor man's' Neumann small cond. mic. you can get a separate Lomo large diaphragm capsule for it that supposedly rocks the casbah (Harvey Gerst raves about it). so you'd basically have one mic doing double duty. Taylor at the Sound Room carries them and makes sure that the mics check out ok when they come into the US. I have a matched pair and think they are a good value for the $$$. of course YMMV.

anonymous Thu, 03/28/2002 - 08:38

I'm near South Miami. Tell me more of this "Magmic" you speak of. I vaguely remember reading an article about a guy using the casing of a maglight for a mic, is that what you're talking about.

The modular idea is cool thats why I went for the T.H.E. in the first place, but I won't sacrifice quality as a vocal mic. I didn't dislike the T.H.E. line, the mic I got sounded amazing just not on my voice. I would probably get another small diaphragm T.H.E. for guitar later. I already own a couple of OK small diaphragm condensers, so I'd rather just wait on a good guitar mic.

So one vote for the soundelux.

Thanks.

rivers Thu, 03/28/2002 - 18:31

Cornflake,
I'm in almost the exact same situation as you.I have a AT4050 and for the most part it sounds pretty good,also have a Rode NTK and Royer121 which give me other flavors but have been thinking of making that next jump up...Soundelux U195(I've got a line on one for about 825$ or if I really stretch things a Lawson 47mp or Soundelux U99? I want a great versatile vocal mic but at that price it has to be flexible enough for me to use on other stuff...maybe kick,OH or Gtr overdubs.From the research I've done seems like it's hard to go way wrong with any of Soundelux or Lawson mic.
How does the U99 sound compare to the U195?
Is the U195 a killer Vocal mic?