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Ok. Setting up a small studio in the next 6 months for local bands to record on.

Now I expect to have mostly Rock->Heavy rock/metal and all in between but I will have some ambient and Rap here and there.

Now I need to out fit the studio with mics for all seasons.

Where should I start. I would rather start with the tried and true then build on that if everything goes ok.

I was thinking:

( 1-2 ) AKG C414 - VOX mainly
( 8 ) SR57's (Drums and Cabs)
( 2 ) SM58's (Drums & Cabs)
( 2 ) Condensers for overs (not sure but possibly AKG or Shure)

Should I toss in any others while I putting this together?

I just need enough of the industry workhorses to get me off my feet at first before going further BUT NEED a good studio sound from them.

Any suggestions?

Comments

frob Wed, 08/18/2004 - 13:42

your off to great start in deed but like gaff said dump the 58 if im not mistaken they are essetualy 57s with a bass rolloff and difrant wind screen. put the money into mics if you want i would go into some good room treatment, you would be suprised what you can do to your sound on everything with a cuple hundred buck in inteligent decorating; some one here gave me some exelent advice once. order of operations;

DAW - ROOM - PREs - MICs - TOYSs

i edited it a litle but thats a good thing to think about when making up grades.

paulears Fri, 08/20/2021 - 05:02

I like that flowchart. I'm absolutely against spending ANY money on anything boutique or clever until you get to the toys section. One really good allrounder mic like the 414 can do so much and is very versatile. To improve on the 414 will cost lots, and will it ever return it's investment. Your target bands are typically always skint!

audiokid Fri, 08/20/2021 - 20:59

Any Royer ribbon would be on my list. They are an essential mic because of their unique smooth sound and easy to hear and dial in eq.
If you are looking for a smooth silky sound they work well with clean preamps like Millennia. They sound beautiful on acoustic instruments, blend well with other mics combined with an sm57/58 for guitar amps.

Mojave (made by Royer) wasn't around during the time of the OP but today these mics are really nice as well. The MA 200 are excellent.