Crap microphones

[PhilGood]

I think we need to list any mics that we feel are absolutely useless! I think it should be a sticky and would help newbies be able to see right up front which mics are being pawned off as decent for the price, but in reality are just about as junk as can be.

My nomination: MXL 2001 and 2001P

These are junk and no one should waste any money on them! If we can get the manufactured pressured, we can stop these from being portrayed as tools.

Anyone else?

List the mics you know to be complete CRAP!!!

Ready?...GO!

[superspit]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

I think we need to list any mics that we feel are absolutely useless! I think it should be a sticky and would help newbies be able to see right up front which mics are being pawned off as decent for the price, but in reality are just about as junk as can be.

My nomination: MXL 2001 and 2001P

These are junk and no one should waste any money on them! If we can get the manufactured pressured, we can stop these from being portrayed as tools.

Anyone else?

List the mics you know to be complete CRAP!!!

Ready?...GO!

No matter how I tried setting this thing up, it just wouldn't work.
And don't get me started on that so-called noiseless cable.
Farking waste of money, in my opinion.

[zazz]

this could get busy ...if i see my microphone being mentioned that everyone slags ...the akg c3000b.. then i may be forced to defend the little critter

The "Realistic" microphone. There is nothing realistic about it.

[Daisy]

Oktava MK-219

[WhiteStrat]

Originally Posted by Daisy

Oktava MK-219

Me too. But what's your take on the same mic w/the famous Oktavamod? Or do you have any experience with it?

[kojdogg]

Originally Posted by Daisy

Oktava MK-219

Chess, I thought you only ever owned a MK-319

[kojdogg]

Originally Posted by WhiteStrat

Me too. But what's your take on the same mic w/the famous Oktavamod? Or do you have any experience with it?

It's a very good mic with the Mod (PE) in my experience. I had one and only sold it after I picked up a couple of far more expensive mics (a BLUE Kiwi and a badass mic that Philgood put together for me) which I use for the same sources-- vocals, acoustic guitar, occasional amp room mic (I don't record drums at my place).

[antichef]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

My nomination: MXL 2001 and 2001P

The MXL 2001 is good for using to learn how to solder -- that's what I've been using mine for. Questions like "just how long can I press the tip of the soldering iron against that circuit board without causing any serious damage?" pester newbies like me, but they're all getting put to rest, thanks to the MXL 2001.

[WhiteStrat]

MXL 990. Until this I never thought something could be harshly bright and delightfully boxy at the same time.

And yet, I've heard others do decent things with it. Maybe I should try again...Nah. I've got scabs to pick.

[tarnationsauce2]

Karma K-micro. Tiny and useless.

Ok I take that back, they work pretty good as a talkback mic.
They are supposed to be cardoid, but are more egg-shaped response (still aimable but picks up the whole room). And since they are so tiny they take very little desk space. Plus they are a good conversation piece and worth a laugh by people who see the mic fitted in a XLR connector.

For recording the noise is too high and SPL handling is horrible. Meaning you have a very limited range of dynamics to work with.
BUT for $0.99 I feel bad complaining.

[Big Kenny]

AKG C1000s, couldn't get rid of it fast enough

[jonmatthews]

Ahhhhhhhh, I knew the c1000s would come up before ten replies in.

I feel the need to come to its defense a little (I love underdogs) and state that it's my go-to mic for banjo. Mmmmmmmmmm, banjo. I also quite frequently use it as a mono overhead for my live small pub drum gigs. I find it does a respectable job of carrying the toms on a small PA. It's also seen some use in my studio as a handheld interview/VO mic for radio commercial production - pretty good for that, actually.

I don't think I have any mics in my locker that I despise. I can usually find something productive for them to do.

Jon M

[Randy Yell]

I'll second the MXL 2001-p. I don't even remember what I did with mine, lol.

[omtayslick]

Originally Posted by kojdogg

Chess, I thought you only ever owned a MK-319

Don't blow his cover, he's pretending to be Daisy. Hmmm, I guess that would make him/her Chessrock in drag.

[omtayslick]

Add the Behringer B-1. Although I've never owned one, I did audition one in the store once. Cuts right through the ear wax.

[PhilGood]

Originally Posted by jonmatthews

Ahhhhhhhh, I knew the c1000s would come up before ten replies in.

I feel the need to come to its defense a little (I love underdogs) and state that it's my go-to mic for banjo. Mmmmmmmmmm, banjo. I also quite frequently use it as a mono overhead for my live small pub drum gigs. I find it does a respectable job of carrying the toms on a small PA. It's also seen some use in my studio as a handheld interview/VO mic for radio commercial production - pretty good for that, actually.

I don't think I have any mics in my locker that I despise. I can usually find something productive for them to do.

Jon M

You can defend just about any mic for live situations because a P.A. isn't really high fidelity audio, or at least shouldn't be considered so IMO.

In a recording situation, if you put up an SM81 where you used the C1000, that 1000 would wind up on eBay in about an hour.

[Daisy]

Originally Posted by WhiteStrat

Me too. But what's your take on the same mic w/the famous Oktavamod? Or do you have any experience with it?

Why not just get a decent mic in the first place?

[WhiteStrat]

Originally Posted by Daisy

Why not just get a decent mic in the first place?

Why didn't I think of that??

Actually, I have done just that, many times now. Unfortunately, before I did that--long before--I bought a crappy 219 (my very first condenser in fact). Which begs the question: does a $250 overhaul make this as useful or moreso than a new $250 mic, or do I chuck it? ('Cuz I certainly don't record with it...)

[kojdogg]

Originally Posted by Daisy

Why not just get a decent mic in the first place?

Pardon the poor grammar, but:
- because even if all you keep is the body and grill of a mic, it still cheaper than having custom metal work done. If the body and grill work, you can put in whatever guts that fit that you want . Even the supper crapulent mxl 2001 was the basis for the well-known Royer mod. Scott Dorsey talked about how part of the reason that the stock MXL 2001 sucks so much is because the capsule isn't powered properly, which is a large part of what the Royer mod corrects (and what is different in the Mojave mics (which IIRC, use ADK capsules).

- because, a good tech will change everything that matters without the kind of markup you will see in a retail product.

- because companies like Telefunken, Shinybox, Charter Oak, and Mojave audio, among others, do exactly that and incorporate a cost increase that suits them, plus all of the steps of the retail market in between.

Originally Posted by WhiteStrat

Why didn't I think of that??

Actually, I have done just that, many times now. Unfortunately, before I did that--long before--I bought a crappy 219 (my very first condenser in fact). Which begs the question: does a $250 overhaul make this as useful or moreso than a new $250 mic, or do I chuck it? ('Cuz I certainly don't record with it...)

IMHO it does and I've owned a PE modded MK-219 and numerous $250 mics.

[Rust E-Z]

also a Russian capsule sounds different than anything that comes out of Germany, and especially china. After the mods they are in the same class but just a little different. always nice to have another color in your pallet. And it allows you to work your way toward a good mic in installments.

[Somnium7]

I'll +1 on Realistic - all of them...

I'm not entirely sure what is so bad about the MK-219. granted it isn't anything special but I find uses for mine which is stock. For the type of music I do it fits right in on some tracks.

Although my Sennheiser MD-441 U Kicks it's ass in EVERY situation for the money of a Realistic the MK-219 is a good deal.

[MichaelJoly]

Originally Posted by WhiteStrat

"...does a $250 overhaul make this (Oktava MK-219) as useful or moreso than a new $250 mic, or do I chuck it? ('Cuz I certainly don't record with it...)

You can judge for yourself - here's a modified MK-219 against a $4500 Neumann M149. Here's a modified MK-219 in the midst of some "new" U47 type mics.
And here are a few of the 200+ OktavaMod user reviews.

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by kojdogg

Even the supper crapulent mxl 2001 was the basis for the well-known Royer mod.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it does.

http://www.answers.com/crapulent&r=67

[kojdogg]

Originally Posted by dgatwood

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it does.

http://www.answers.com/crapulent&r=67

haha
pardon me
i just flashed back to the beavis and butthead episode where someone explains to beavis what a bunghole is