which tube mic?

[jimini2001]

i'm looking for a tube mic for studio vocals under $1000us.which ones do you guys recomend to start listening to?

[Wil Davis]

I picked up a couple of Groove-Tube MD-6TM kits from FullCompass Systems for just under $700 each, and have been pretty happy with them.

- Wil

[CyanJaguar]

hi jimi,

I just read an article on a soundulex u99($2500) mic, and while the reviewer said that it emulated- i dont remember which neumann- very well, that he liked the sound of the

RODE NTV as well in many applications.

Check it out. I think it costs about $600,

Also, it was compared to other expensive mics, and other people on this board chose it over a c12($4000) etc.

[Gear_Junky]

I think I just saw a tube mic from Groove Tubes for under $400 in the new Musiciansfriend catalog. Let's hear some input on that Could this be an "NT1" of the tube mics?

[saxman72]

Has anyone else here checked out the CAD VSM-1?

I used one for a couple of weeks and thought it was a killer mic. It's got a nice high end sheen to it, and has a musical squishiness to it. almost breathes with the music. many have said that the band from Conan O'Brien's show used them while they were in LA and loved 'em too.

!!! I just checked zzounds.com and they're selling them for under $620!!!! Not only that, they have a 30 day guarantee that includes mics you don't put your lips to. I sent one back and there were no questions asked! ;>

:>saxman72<:

[Recording Engineer]

You'll want to check this link out:
http://www.keyboardmag.com/features/.../tubemic.shtml

You could contact The Sound Room look into seeing how long from now the RTT MKL100 (going to be the "little-brother" of the MKL101) will come-out. I know it will go for no more than $1kUS once it does come-out though.
http://www.oktava.com

Oh, you might want to look into the the Microtech Gefell M990. I don't remember what it's going for but I don't this it's much over $1.kUS, regardless.
http://www.microtechgefell.com

And IMHO of what others have said here:

I like the "A Series" of all the Groove Tube mics the most.

I not heard any of the CAD tube mics myself but I remember hearing good reports when the first 2 came-out, but obviously these A LOT more tube mics out now, so... I don't know the deal on those.

And YES INDEEDY did Ed put a smile on my face. The 797 Audio CR998 has been a "fabulous" mic for me! I 've been told the CR100 sounds JUST like the CR998 in cardioid but I don't really know for sure. A friend of mine has two CR100s so I hope to "test" that theory/rumor soon.
http://www.797audio.com

The thing is I'm sure if you can get a hold of them anymore. You can try contacting them and see. Another route to look at if you can't get a hold of them is the ADK A-51TC (EXACTLY the same mic as the CR100 but with a different finish and/or grill) going for $550Us @ http://www.8thstreet.com and an ADK A-51TT (EXACTLY the same mic as the CR998 but with a different finish and/or grill) going for $1kUS @ http://www.superdigital.com
http://www.adk.cc/main.html

Also, there's another route. It's the Studio Projects T3 (which is suppose to be a "modified" version of the CR998) list-priced @ $1.1kUS.
http://www.pmiaudio.com/studioprojects.html

And yet again, there's another route. It's the MXL V7 (EXACTLY the same mic as the CR100 and A-51TC but with a different finish and/or grill) which you can get for $575 @ http://www.zotzdigital.com
http://www.mars-cam.com

[jimini2001]

hey thanks guys.i appreciate your time and your sharing of knowledge.i'll get aound to checking out all of these before i make my choice.
jim

[Recording Engineer]

Let us know when you do...

[jimini2001]

hey RE i didn't know how ignorant i was about mic's until i started looking at some of the links you put up for me.thanks for the education man.and i will definatly let you guys know the out come.
jim

[Recording Engineer]

Also, another thing to note is of those mics which are EXACTLY the same (electronically) AND manufactuered by the EXACT same company, if the grill the grills are different, that CAN GREATLY affect the frequency response.

Just something, in case you didn't know, so you know there is more involved in those EXACT same mics besides price and warranties.

[saxman72]

R.E...

So these are all different versions of the Marshall tube mic? (or vice-versa)...

The VM100 is pretty cool, by the way... Great for the alto, pretty good for tenor, and I'll check it out on soprano and bari today...

How does the 797(in cardioid) compare to the VM100?

Thanks,

:>saxman72<:

[Recording Engineer]

PMI Audio T3 = 797 Audio CR998 modified by PMI Audio
797 Audio CR998 = ADK A-51TT - Both by 797 Audio
797 Audio CR100 = ADK A-51TC & MXL V77

Well glad you like the VM100.

"How does the 797(in cardioid) compare to the VM100?"

Sure is night and day/apples and oranges; in a good way; of course.

Rather than explain the sound, I'd rather let you hear it.

Soon, I promise.

[bwindsor]

When you hear the "right" mic with the "right" voice, there's no question...you know it! But the same mic with the "wrong" voice...forget it...What your looking for is either a tube mic "just" for your voice, or one that sounds good overall. For me, that was the Rode NTV, taking price into consideration...it sounds good on "almost" everyone, and I just tracked "the right" voice on the weekend with it...very nice! In fairness, I also tracked a female vocal with it that was not so nice (surprising, it usually warms up the girls :>)
Anyway, there are lots to choose from, this is just what works for me...Good luck!

BW

[jimini2001]

just to let you guys know i've been out of touch latelty due to an opperation on my back.blew a disc.first thing i ever blew and as far as i am concerned the last.i'm in nashville tennessee for about a month and am giong to MARS music tomorrow to check out some of these mics.thanks again for all the help.i'll keep you posted on the outcome.