AT 3035 (review)

[jake-owa]

Ok, I'm no pro or even anything close but I have a few mics...few. I own an AKG c3000, an ADK A51 and a few typical dynamics.

I just got this mic today and I have to say that I totally love it! It has a rich thick sound with plenty of highs. I've heard it said that it has a hyped high end but I found it very flattering to my voice. The high end is nice because while bright it is still very detailed and not hashy or crispy at all. The lows are nice too. It seems to capture the meat without being boomy or popy. I had a hard time getting any bad plosives or sillibance which is a huge contrast from the c3000. Even the ADK had a bit of high end sensitivity even if a bit dark but this thing just seems to eat anything I can spit at it. I used it on a really intimate song and found that every nuance of the vocal was brilliantly captured without the need to edit anything....a first for me.
Next to my other mics the real clincher is the presence, it seems to just push the vocals out to the front of the mix and A/B ing against other vocal recordings in the session there was no comparison.

Lovin it!

Jake

[Track Rat]

Jake, I had one in here for almost a year and every time I tried to use it I always gave up on it and tried something else. Maybe I just had a lemon but it's the only mic I ever got rid of. I'm glad you're getting good milage out of yours.

[Tonio]

Thanks for the info Jake. Hows about intruments? Anything you can report in the near future?

Thanks
T

[chessrock]

Way to blow the wind out of a guy's sail, Track Rat !

[Track Rat]

I'm such a prick.

[jake-owa]

Well my low budget sail is still pulling me right along thank you very much.
I will report back on instruments when I get some time to test it out.

[Freudian Slip]

Hey Jake I'm in the same boat. I'm not a mic expert but I bought one quite a while back and I love it on my voice. I have a full dark voice (danzig, Bowie, etc.) and this thing works great for it. I rarely have to eq at all. It took me a while to find my set up as far as gain goes, but once I did I became very happy. Put it this way I'm not rushing out to buy another mic for my vocals any time soon.

Any way, I like mine and there are plenty of others that are very impressed for the price so you're not alone.


Blows the hell out of my mxl990s That by the way have almost the exact same eq curve on the specs??? But then abain they where only $70.00 a peice.

F.S.

[Freudian Slip]

Hey Chessrock??? Wasn't it you that turned me on to the 3035?? Did you record a song "what I need"?





F.S.

[omtayslick]

I've had a 3035 for almost a year. After going through a few other inexpensive LDs, I finally zeroed in on this one as a cut above the other mics in it's price range.
The longer I have it the more I like it. And that's a good thing. Usually with low priced stuff it's the other way around.
I even prefer it to the 4033 on most things. The 3035 does a very nice job on my Martin acoustic. It's sweet paired up with an sm-81 on acoustic.

[Kaz]

I've got the AT3035, it's the only Condenser microphone I own right now.

I really like the -10DB option, and the low cut switch is also nice (not for everyone) in a home recording environment. Tho I don't think the 3035 picks up low end frequancy enough, even when I baratone my voice (make it real deep) I couldn't get that boosting sound. I had to change my setup three times to get the right sound, revolving arround the mic (since that's the one thing you can't seem to return at Guitar Center).
Right now I'm using a TubePre, and a Delta 44 - If the delta 44 wasn't being a complete ASSHOLE! then I'd let you know how good this setup can be.

[Freudian Slip]

Originally posted by Kaz
I've got the AT3035, it's the only Condenser microphone I own right now.

Tho I don't think the 3035 picks up low end frequancy enough, even when I baratone my voice (make it real deep) I couldn't get that boosting sound. I had to change my setup three times to get the right sound, revolving arround the mic (since that's the one thing you can't seem to return at Guitar Center).
Right now I'm using a TubePre, and a Delta 44 - If the delta 44 wasn't being a complete ASSHOLE! then I'd let you know how good this setup can be.

Don't confuse what you hear through your skull with what you actually sound like I hated my voice when I first heard it recorded well. Thought my balls had fallen off

I actually like that the 3035 captures the lows and still has an open airy top end that captures texture well. and I use the roll off. But then thats just me.


F.S.

[XHipHop]

I've had a pair of 3035's for over a year and 1/2 and they've snuck into almost every session since then (on a variety of different sources). I love them on toms and vocals the most.

The top end IS NOT hyped at all and i don't know how that rumor was started. Usually on vox you need to do some boosting to match the sizzle you hear on the radio today. Luckily, this is a very easy mic to eq.

Sometimes i've heard a slight ringing when recording very loud sources (screaming electric guitar, cymbals). It seems that the sound sometimes rings around inside the round enclosure. It's only happened a few times and in that situation i switched the mic out and used something else.

Nevertheless, they're great utility mics that have paid for themselves over and over.