Need condenser microphone recommendations

[Arcy]

Hello,

I need recommendations for a condenser mic. I've got some dynamic mics already (SM57's) but I need something for some tonal difference. Primarily I'm looking for a LD condenser that will work well for male vocals in a dense rock mix. And I don't mean screaming or anything... I just mean a lot of clarity and detail and "cut" (ie ability to hear those strained vocal cords ala nirvana or something). It would be cool if it worked well for accoustic guitar and room-miking as well, but that may not be possible. I was considering the MXL V67g for a while but every review I read basically said the same thing... it gets lost in the mix, it works best for female vocals, and it isn't good at all for "male vocals in a dense rock mix" etc. So... any recommendations?

Secondly, if the male vocal mic won't work for accoustic guitar or room-miking, how about some recommendations there? I don't mind a small diaphragm condenser for this... On what I consider to be my greatest recording, I got an incredible guitar amp sound by putting 2 SM57's close, and then a Crown CM700 SD condenser on the room. I'm thinking of just buying a CM700, but there may be better stuff, and it's kinda expensive too.

Any advice is much appreciated.

-Richard

[Dethska]

This will get you started.

www.hr-faq.org

[Arcy]

thanks, but that basically told me what i already know... and it reads more like an advertisement cause it doesn't take into account any of the negative reviews ive read about any of those mics. I can look through a musician's friend catalog and get the same info that's in there :]

[chessrock]

You could also look on this board, because all of those comments are taken directly from members from past threads by people asking the exact same question (as you're asking right now) . . . one of the other 10,000 or so times it's been asked.


Another option might be to use the search function. You shouldn't have too much difficulty. It's not like what you're asking is uncovered territory or anything.

[Reilley]

There should be a sort of a, mmmm, a pre-question forum, where people can submit questions and find out if they are worthy of being asked, you know, get some pre-posting feedback, see what kind of reaction they're going to get after posting. That way, the question could be withdrawn before the REAL posting if the geek-critique thing promises to be especially rough.

[Innovations]

Budget?

[chessrock]

Originally posted by Reilley
There should be a sort of a, mmmm, a pre-question forum, where people can submit questions and find out if they are worthy of being asked, you know, get some pre-posting feedback, see what kind of reaction they're going to get after posting. That way, the question could be withdrawn before the REAL posting if the geek-critique thing promises to be especially rough.

Someone's already thought of that:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/for....php?forumid=3

[Arcy]

Sorry. I guess I should have realized that was a popular question.

[tdukex]

Arcy, the search function is a great tool. You will get more information from that than from any single thread. I use it all the time.

[chessrock]

Well, as long as you're sorry. I didn't mean to come accross so harsh, Arcy. It's just that a few guys worked really hard on putting that FAQ together, so I kinda' seemed like you were insulting it, but you probably didn't know.

Anyway, I think the Audio Technica mics (anything in the 40 series, in particular) might fall in to the category you're refering to. They seem to hold their own and cut through well in a dense rock mix.

[ozraves]

I really like the AT large condensers in the 30 Series and the 40 Series. One of my faves is the AT4040. Dot tells me he likes the AT4047.

Steve
www.mojopie.com

[grahamware]

Originally posted by Arcy
thanks, but that basically told me what i already know... and it reads more like an advertisement cause it doesn't take into account any of the negative reviews ive read about any of those mics. I can look through a musician's friend catalog and get the same info that's in there :]

Hi Arcy. It's FAQ guy.

I'm not sure what parts you've read so far, but I don't think you've read enough yet. The site is completely composed of quotes from this very BBS. Many mics have both positive and negative reviews from qualified, experienced members.

If you find a slant on the FAQ towards a certain mic, chances are you're going to find a bias here as well. No mic is perfect, but certainly some are better than others, and that will become very clear if you look at the pages for the Behringer B1, Samson, etc.

Best of luck,

Graham D.

[Dethska]

Arcy- If you don't like the FAQ, go ahead and order out of Musician's Friend. I was just trying to point you in the direction of a LOT of information.

Chessrock- You the man. Thanks for defending the FAQ. I didn't know you cared.

Graham- Will it ever get stickied? I'm sick of having to bump it.

[DJL]

Originally posted by Arcy
Sorry. I guess I should have realized that was a popular question.

It's not as much a unpopular question as it is a question that no one can answer... I mean after all, no one but YOU will know which mic(s) YOU'LL like best with your voice and projects... and that's why YOU should audition all the mic's before you buy any... unless you have extra money to throw away.

Edited spelling.

[ozraves]

BTW, I'm also a fan of the FAQ as there is lots of good info there on the often asked questions.

Steve
www.mojopie.com

[grahamware]

All right! Thanks for the props guys.

No, it's never going to get stickied Dethska. Keep on bumpin'.