Which condenser mic for $200 ?

[jbgoode]

OK, I imagine this is covered somewhere in the forum, but I'm shopping for (2) new O/H condenser mics to use on the drum kit and want to keep the price at $200 or under for each.

I've currently got some Marshall MXL 2001's and am not really happy with how they record, and what little I've read in the postings makes them sound like the bottom of the barrel.

I'm sure someone will have an opinion or two on this. The typical use is in a vaulted ceiling room, wood floor, a little bit too much natural echo for my taste in the current recording setup with the 2001's.

Thanks
-JB

[ozraves]

The Studio Projects C1 works really well as a single overhead condensor on a drum kit.

On a lot of the mixes I do for other artists, I will turn off one of the overhead mics a lot of times. I know conventional wisdom is to have two channels of overhead but I tend to prefer one channel slightly more than 50 percent of the time. I don't have a technical explanation for the difference.

Steve
www.piemusic.com

[neirbo]

MXL 603. Do a search and you'll find lots of info on this mic.

[musikman316]

Heres a list:

Audio Technica AT3035
Oktava MK-19
RODE NT-1
Behringer B2
AKG C2000B
CAD M177

I am not telling you to buy one or the other, this is just a list of some of the more popular mics for $200. Check them out on your own and make a decision...

[musikman316]

Although, you could spend $100 more dollars and get the Audio Technica 4033, I really like this mic for the price...

[Wide Awake]

Overheads-

Oktava MC-012

Audio Technica 4041, 3031

Think pairs

[chessrock]

I think everyone here has prettty much made some really good recommendations.

You absolutely can't go wrong with a pair of AT 4043's, or a pair of Oktava mc012's . . . or Marshall mxl 603's.

If you have really good accoustics, a pair of ecm8000's would do really nicely for like $40 a piece. But I'd only do that if you have a really nice-sounding room, because they will pick up a lot of embience.

[knightfly]

I have an AT-4033, and was considering getting another for stereo because I really like the way it does vocals/everything - Then, about 2 months ago I helped a newbie GC salesman set up an A/B/C test of the AT 3035, Shure KSM-32, and Rode NT1 - All mics thru a Mackie 32x8 into HR-824's, all mics set to same volume, all EQ off - The AT3035 ate the other two for breakfast. By that, I mean cleaner, clearer, more accurate sounding, quiet - I can't see how they can sell it for that little - So now, instead of $300 for a second 4033, I'm going to buy two of the 3035's for a total of $400, and still have a 3rd condenser mic for something else... Steve

[ozraves]

Originally posted by knightfly
I have an AT-4033, and was considering getting another for stereo because I really like the way it does vocals/everything - Then, about 2 months ago I helped a newbie GC salesman set up an A/B/C test of the AT 3035, Shure KSM-32, and Rode NT1 - All mics thru a Mackie 32x8 into HR-824's, all mics set to same volume, all EQ off - The AT3035 ate the other two for breakfast. By that, I mean cleaner, clearer, more accurate sounding, quiet - I can't see how they can sell it for that little - So now, instead of $300 for a second 4033, I'm going to buy two of the 3035's for a total of $400, and still have a 3rd condenser mic for something else... Steve

The AT3035 is a special mic. It seems to the darling mic of bluegrass and mountain music right now. Here in Oklahoma we call it flatlander music but what the hell.

Steve
www.piemusic.com

[pratt]

nobody's mentioned Rode NT3s...

$150 a piece, small-diaphraghm condensers; work VERY well as drum overheads...