Advice on the second mic

[jhughs]

I recently started recording as a hobby and am recording acoustic guitar, violin, piano and occasionally a string quartet. I'm using an AT3035 and an old microphone (I think it's a Sony ECM333 condenser with a battery in the mic, it works but I have trouble with it).

I want to use two mics to record individual instruments to get a fuller sound (and with the quartet to get stereo imaging).
Is it better to just opt for another AT3035 or should I get something different like a small diaphram condenser (instead of another large)?

 

[mshilarious]

If you want to do stereo recordings, which is a good idea for piano and string quartet, you need two of the same mic. Another AT3035 will work. However, you are correct in noting that this type of recording is usually done with SDCs. You might consider trading in the AT3035 for a matched pair of SDCs.