another budget condenser mic shootout

[surfmaster]

on a fingerpicked acoustic

-msh-1a
-mxl 990
-nady scm900
-mxl v67g

hope this can help someone if they are in the market for a condenser of this price range.

link

 

[rayc]

Nicely done surfmiester,
I'm impressed with the results of the MSH-1a - it helps that I have one but it did well. Most sounded OK until the boomy notes came in - there were about three casualties to that I thought.
Glad I bought from Naiant.

 

[surfmaster]

Nicely done surfmiester,
I'm impressed with the results of the MSH-1a - it helps that I have one but it did well. Most sounded OK until the boomy notes came in - there were about three casualties to that I thought.
Glad I bought from Naiant.

yeah it seems like the naiant was the only one with a top end too. all the rest seemed to be cloudy upstairs. i didnt expect the LDC's to perform well on the acoustic, but i thought at least the 990 would have more top end just because its a smaller diaphragm.

 

[Micter]

the msh was by far the best. The 990 did better than I thought it would.

 

[PhilGood]

yeah it seems like the naiant was the only one with a top end too. all the rest seemed to be cloudy upstairs. i didnt expect the LDC's to perform well on the acoustic, but i thought at least the 990 would have more top end just because its a smaller diaphragm.

Size doesn't matter for low or high end. Not only that, as was pointed out to me, the 990 has a large, flat bezel surrounding the capsule which enlarges the pressure gradient so it act more like an LDC.

 

[surfmaster]

my nady ribbom (rsm-5) should be arriving today. i'll try and update the .mp3 with a sample from that mic when i get it even though its not really a condenser.

edit @ philgood: i guess i was thinking transient response and not frequency response

 

[Paj]

The CAD M177 is currently available from MF for $80 (wit case and shockmount)---VERY nice on acoustic guitar (and other things) and holds up in a mix. The GXL2200 (not as versatile as the M177) is also available for the same price.

I think the MSH-4 is really nice on acoustic guitar.

Paj
8^)

 

[kojdogg]

Nicely done surfmiester,
I'm impressed with the results of the MSH-1a - it helps that I have one but it did well. Most sounded OK until the boomy notes came in - there were about three casualties to that I thought.
Glad I bought from Naiant.

naiant makes great mics at a great price for sure, but depending on mic placement this could be about proximity effect vs. no proximity effect (i believe the naiant is the only omni mic in that group)

 

[danny.guitar]

MSH sounds the best.

What kind of guitar is that?

 

[Ridickolas]

the msh sounds the best by a lot.

wow just looked on there website they are DIRT cheap! $34 including the clip.. wonder if they ship to the uk...

 

[surfmaster]

MSH sounds the best.

What kind of guitar is that?

sigma dreadnought, basically a martin licensed guitar made in asia somewhere.

 

[tdukex]

naiant makes great mics at a great price for sure, but depending on mic placement this could be about proximity effect vs. no proximity effect (i believe the naiant is the only omni mic in that group)

Yes, you have pointed out two key variables (polar pattern and mic placement) that, especially when combined, will have more effect on the final sound than anything else.

By using mic polar patterns in combination with mic positioning in any given room you can drastically change the sound of any mic.

You can't just line a bunch of mics up--one after another--in the same position--in front of a dreadnaught--and declare one the winner. It doesn't work like that. Not that's what anybody is doing.

And...yes, Naiant makes great mics. I have two MSH-1's myself.

 

[surfmaster]

Yes, you have pointed out two key variables (polar pattern and mic placement) that, especially when combined, will have more effect on the final sound than anything else.

By using mic polar patterns in combination with mic positioning in any given room you can drastically change the sound of any mic.

You can't just line a bunch of mics up--one after another--in the same position--in front of a dreadnaught--and declare one the winner. It doesn't work like that. Not that's what anybody is doing.

And...yes, Naiant makes great mics. I have two MSH-1's myself.

i wasn't trying to show that any one was any better than another, i was bored and figured some people could use this as a reference.

 

[JPXTom]

I love the first one, and the 990 is okay, and the other 2 i dont care for....thanks though man, i'll know to pick up the first one!

 

[Ironklad Audio]

damn....it sounds like the little naiant's are smoking the competition all around

i need to stop being a cheap-ass, and pony up the cash for a pair

 

[surfmaster]

damn....it sounds like the little naiant's are smoking the competition all around

i need to stop being a cheap-ass, and pony up the cash for a pair

and the new ones are only better from what i've heard

 

[danny.guitar]

sigma dreadnought, basically a martin licensed guitar made in asia somewhere.

I've played a few at the shop when looking for a new guitar. Almost ended up getting one. They're easily better than all the other guitars in that price range and even higher.

 

[Ford Van]

I wouldn't use any of them if I was recording an acoustic and wanted a nice sound.

A AT 4033 can be had for around $200, and will blow any of those out of the water. For around $350, a AT 4050, and we are getting into big time!

 

[tdukex]

i wasn't trying to show that any one was any better than another, i was bored and figured some people could use this as a reference.

I didn't say you were. Other posters are concluding that--and seem to feel that your "mic shootout" has merit as a mic "reference." I don't.

Nice playing , though.

 

[danny.guitar]

I wouldn't use any of them if I was recording an acoustic and wanted a nice sound.

A AT 4033 can be had for around $200, and will blow any of those out of the water. For around $350, a AT 4050, and we are getting into big time!

What would you recommend? The AT or SM81? For acoustic...