NT5 vs NT3 vs MC012 vs MXL603

[Stainless]

Hi,

I'm intending to do some piano(Grand) and guitar (Acoustic) recording. Which of the above mics do you guys think will be the most suitable and the differences between them.

Thanks

[DJL]

All of those mics will work for recording piano and acoustic guitar... I'd lean more towards MXL603S or MC-012 with the extra capsules etc... but the NT5 and NT3 can sound good too. You really need to audition the mics, because they all sound different and it really comes down to personal preference and that can change with different projects and etc.

[Stainless]

Thanks for the comment. I think I'm now gonna exclude the MXL and the NT3 in my selection, since I can't find MXLs and NT3s are a bit too expensive. So I'll have to choose between mc012 and the nt5s.

Anyone have those mics please tell me what they're like. Thanks

[Big Kenny]

I use the oktavas on acoustic guitar almost always. Definition and range are very sweet. Sits in the mix better than a large but if there is just acoustic or maybe acoustic, bass and a little drum I will still use a large. Sometimes both together sound good. Work well as overheads too.

[tkingen]

I used to own an NT3 and a pair MC012's. The NT3 reminded me of an AKG C1000S, which was very brittle sounding. The MC012's were sold because I thought they were a bit mushy in the low end, but now I'm realizing that they were probably picking up those frequencies from my lousy recording environment.
I was glad to see the NT3 go, but wish I still had the MC012's.

Good luck with your search,
Terry

[Gidge]

what about SP C4?

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by Gidge

what about SP C4?

Probably a good choice, if for no other reason than you get both omni and cardiod capsules. Although both are acoustic instruments, recording a piano is rather different from recording an acoustic guitar. You might find that placing two cardiod SD mics on a grad piano a little challenging, given the size of the instrument. Omni mics can work very well here.

The Oktavas also have omni capsules available, as well as other capsules. So they are worth checking out.

[charger]

The MXL 603s are still available at 8thstreet.com. However, at $199 a pair, they're no longer the bargain they used to be. I think MXL is replacing them with the 993, which has a pad and a rolloff. $170 a pair at musiciansfriend.com.

I have used the Oktavas and the MXL 603s. I like the MXLs more on acoustic guitar, with one mic in front pointing at the 12th fret and one mic over the shoulder. I like the Oktavas slightly more on drum overheads. I feel about the same about them on piano. On the whole, I don't think either mic is clearly superior for either application, but they both work well.

[apl]

I used an NT3 for the vocals in the song in my signature line. I took it to a friend's studio and he liked it a lot; we A-B-ed a vocal track; the other mic was an AKG, ~$400. I got the NT3 for $99 at GC on clearance last January.

[DJL]

And the Rode NT3 doesn't sound anything like an AKG C1000S either... which is a good thing IMO.

[sickstring69]

I use an NT3 pointed at the 12th fret with an AT4040 a foot from the soundhole with very super results. I find the NT3 has a nice "punchy" quality...I can feel it in my chest on playback. My 603's just couldn't match it. One improvement though...my new DMP3 pre. Sweet. So for 5 or 6 bills for everything you can't go wrong.

[In Tune Audio]

I own a pair of NT5s, and have used the Studio Project C4 quite a bit.

I prefer the C4 on piano. But they both sound decent on acoustic guitar, just a different flavor.

But the switchable capsules with the C4 is nice