Is this gonna be "the new and improved'' AT 4033?

[Speeddemon]

http://www.audiotechnica.com/prodpro...es/AT4040.html

AT 4040. Better specs than 4033, and transformerless, externally biased, yadda yadda. $300 at MusicStore Koeln.
Whaddayathink, guys?

[Dolemite]

I think the fact that its a true externally-biased LD condenser distinguishes it from the small diaphragm electret 4033. Whether that makes it better or worse is all in the sound you get out of it. Just comparing frequency response plots, the 4040 seems to have the same high freq. peaks at the 4033, at even higher amplitude, which may result in a harsh sound in some circumstances.

I'd say that when dealing with audio gear, you have wean yourself from the idea that new = better, or even "technically better" = better sound.

"New and improved" is marketing...your best instruments in this case are your ears, which are not susceptible to marketing to the extent that your brain is.

So you got that...turn your brain off for once, dammit! Or learn to use it critically.

[trpullen]

I was chatting with the AT rep the other day. He said there are less than 75 AT 4033s left at Audio Technica. That said, he did say that the 4040 is replacing it. He said to his ears, it sounds more like the 4050 but without the multi-pattern capsule.

Hope that helps.

[Speeddemon]

Dolemite, my saying that it was 'new and improved' was more laundry-detergent sarcasm. OFcourse, I don't know how this mic sounds, and specs don't tell ya much. However, if I read the specs of a Rode NT1000, and it says "Self-Noise: 6db SPL A-weighted" I sure know this is one silent mic.
Or Rode NTK's dynamic range: 147dB...WOW!
Some Nady and Stagg mics have specs like:"Freq response +/-3dB 80Hz-15kHz". That's NOT that good.

So basically, I know that both the specs on the AT 4040 and 3035 smoke the AT 4033, but that mic has a long rep.

Frankly, I'm still confused whether to buy a C1 or a AT4033 (or a 4040) as my main condenser. Just got a mail from Cyan Jaguar, he didn't like the C1 at all. But then again, I know some people that say that the AT 4033 sounds nasal/honky, and the C1 is much smoother...

Any more thoughts?

[geekgurl]

I found the 4033 to be too colored, like too "trebly" or something on my voice when I tested it ... but I heard it's great for guitar cabs and some like them as drum overheads. Have you had the oppty. to sing thru one at a local store? It's probably different on male vox and maybe better than the results I got.

Because of the results my test yielded I don't think the 4033 would work as an all-round mic for me. I would try it on guitar cab and drums, but I'd know I couldn't use it on vox.

I've heard the C1 on Alan's demo CD. Based on that, it was decent but didn't really jump out at me as great ... Now the C3 ...

The C3 is supposed to be the same, I think, just more polar patterns. But it seemed a fuller, more detailed sound, at least to me. I also noticed that the higher the mic quality went on that CD, the more apparent the differences were between the mic pres used (the CD demo'd the C1, C3, and T3). Maybe check out a C3?

You mentioned you were looking at the specs of the NTK ... a friend of mine has one and she *loves* it. I'm going to be demoing it shortly, but if that type of mic is also in consideration, you could also look at the SP T3, which I thought did in fact sound the best out of any mics demo'd on that SP CD.

[Speeddemon]

Geekgurl, thanks for the info, but the C3 costs $600+ in Holland, and the T3 costs $1150 !!!!! That could buy me 2 (!) NTK's and an Audiobuddy...

[Dolemite]

Originally posted by trpullen
I was chatting with the AT rep the other day. He said there are less than 75 AT 4033s left at Audio Technica.

I doubt that very much, unless he was referring to the original 4033 as opposed to the 4033SE, which is exactly the same thing. I still see magazine ads for the 4033SE all the time, which I doubt they'd buy to sell off the last 75.

Speedy...just bite the bullet and mail order from the states. Hell, try out a B1 for $80...can't go too far wrong there.

[trpullen]

Originally posted by Dolemite


I doubt that very much, unless he was referring to the original 4033 as opposed to the 4033SE

We were discussing the 4033. I use the original live to mic my bluegrass band. KILLER TONE!!!!!!

[Dr_Sbaitso]

I always saw the 4033 as a mic I want to own, but since its being replaced and Im in no position to buy one, what are the thoughts on the 3035?
In terms of international mail order, I just ordered a Studio Projects B1... $79 US, so by the time I get it shipped to Australia it will probably set me back just under 200 AUS. there only 2 dealers that I can find for them in aus, and they want $349 for it... Im pretty trusting of ordering online, but if I do have any problems I'll be sure to post them on the forum.

[Track Rat]

Dr_Sbaitso, I have two 4033's and a 3035 that a guy I know left here at the studio for the last 6 months. IMHO, it doesn't compare in any way to the 4033's. It has a harsh top end to my ear a lot like many of the cheep chinese mics. I've tried it on a lot of sources and haven't found a use for it yet. The 4033's on the other hand are the closest thing I own to a "swiss army knife" mic.
trpullen, what's the name of your band? Do you play in the area?

[trpullen]

Buckeye Creek is the name of the band. We play some. As much or more than we want to. More of a hobby.

Here is the website .

We are playing a KDHX benfit June 15 in South St. Louis and the Celebration of Music in July as well as some other things.

T

[Track Rat]

Cool. Do you know any of the guys in The Meremec Jets? They do a lot of the KDHX stuff too. I recorded a demo for them a few years back.

[trpullen]

They are on the same bill for the KDHX benefit. Cool beans man.

T