~$400 budget - Too many mics to choose from...

  • Thread starter Thread starter mellotron
  • Start date Start date
M

mellotron

New member
I'm still trying to decide if I want to get a pair or just a really nice one. I'm going to use a Firebox for the audio interface. I'm limiting myself to $1000 total. Studio monitors are going to cost me another $300.

I could get two AKG Perception 200s, or I could get one AT4033CL. I've also heard audio samples of the Oktava MK-012 and 101 on studioauditions.com and really like the sound of them. The problem is that the 101 is out of my budget, I think.

I'm going to be micing cello, acoustic guitar, bongos, piano, tambourine, and melodica one track at a time. Any info on strengths or weaknesses of these mics would be really helpful. Thanks!
 
4033's are a good choice. Sometimes you can get a pair of 4040's around $400. I have a friend who has a small set up and has done some nice recordings (acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo and vocal) with only a 4033.
 
i have a 4033 that i fucking love...i recently put it up against a U87 on piano, and it was pretty damn close in terms of both tone and output. the U87 had a little more low end, but it's also $2500 more

as much as i like the 4033, for the instruments you listed i would prefer to have some sort of SDC, and there's some pretty sweet ones to be had for $400
 
Ironklad Audio said:
as much as i like the 4033, for the instruments you listed i would prefer to have some sort of SDC, and there's some pretty sweet ones to be had for $400
Click to expand...
You are aware that the AT4033 is not a large diaphragm mic, right? It's a little over 1/2", around 5/8", actually. So is the 4050.
 
Ironklad Audio said:
as much as i like the 4033, for the instruments you listed i would prefer to have some sort of SDC, and there's some pretty sweet ones to be had for $400
Click to expand...

What about the 4050?

The 4033 has a bit of hyped high end and lack of low end (good for vocals and OH's for this reason I think) but for a single mic multitracking I could imagine a lot of midrange and high-end build up as the track gets larger.

The 4050 might be better as it's more neutral.
 
I'd prefer a single good mic that I'd likely keep to a couple less expensive mics that I would want to upgrade in a couple years. That said, I prefer the 4050 to the 4033. I have 2 4050s and 1 4033, and I almost never use the 4033. I personally find it too hyped for my taste. I can't imagine using it for strings. YMMV.
 
Would I get around the same results with a 4047 as I would with a 4050? I hear the 4047 is great for cello because of the coloration and warmth.

I also hear that dynamics and ribbons especially are good for strings?
 
you need cheap mics that will let you create

hey, the presonus gear is a great choice, they are friends of mine.

you won't really be tracking one track at at time, because you will want some stereo tracks occasionally like on piano, or percussion...so you need at least two microphones. on your budget you should buy a few mics so you can have fun learning how to place the mics. if the mic is quiet and interesting then it would work great for you. go over to cascade microphones.com and order the M39 pair so you have a fast stereo option for $150 bucks (great for guitar, perc, drums and more), and then grab the Elroy tube mic (voice, stereo configs, instruments, room) which has switchable patterns so you can record omni, cardioid, or figure 8 for only $300 bucks, and you are in great shape. i just used both of these mics on albums for national release and was very pleased. they are durable, and the Elroy looks so good that it will make you and your friends think you are cooler than you really are. hope it helps.

ben pasley
 
Those M39s look like a really good deal. How do they compare to Naiant's MSH-1s, if you do have experience with the MSH-1s?

I'm really unsure of what type to use to mic cello and melodica. I think I'd use whatever they use for accordion to mic my melodica.

Do most people use ribbon mics for stringed instruments? I know Nady makes a cheap ribbon mic, dunno about the quality though. It seems like results vary so much that I really could use any type, though from doing some research, it seems to me that I'll have to spend a lot more to get a good sound for cello from a condensor than dynamic or ribbon. A lot of it will depend on my room too, so I'll try to find a good balance between getting decent mics and decent improvements to my room.
 
reed and bowed strings

yes, ribbons are excellent for these types of instruments which can be reproduced with a harsh tone on many condensors which most of us solve to some degree with compression and eq. however, in your budget you could consider the ribbon mic as a substitute for the tube, or it could be your next $200 bucks. when you need it buy the Cascade VinJet which I also use, which I know for a fact, is better than anything else at that price point or the Fathead if you want an even thicker sound. you can record both the M39 and a Ribbon coincident (elements facing forward on same plane), then mono them together, and track a super cool vocal sound if you must have a ribbon to start because your strings and reed instruments are more important than vocals, but you must be extremely careful with your ribbon, always use a pop filter, never take it out on the field, and expect to mic fairly close to fairly strong audio as it has a low, low output. that combo actually fits in your budget, and i highly recommend it. the ribbon will do figure 8 naturally, but will not do true omni or cardioid and that is the creative trade off.

i have no experience with mics you named. once i find a shop where i can get the cheap stuff and get a little better quality control and service i just stick with it.

ben pasley
 
+1 for the 4050... If you want two of them save up some more money. You will NOT regret it. Can't say the same about any other mics you'll get two of for that price (You might not realize the difference @ first but you will later).
 
I like the 4050 too. Having a multipattern condenser is handy.

I'd reccommend a nice dynamic like the RE-20 but I'm not sure you'll have enough gain from the Firebox.
 
I've changed my mind and decided that I'll use an Audiophile 2496 with Behringer mixer for recording. The preamps on Behringer are okay, right?

I'm really considering buying cheaper mics to start off with. I have no acoustical foam or any knowledge of that stuff. I'm looking at AKG mics in the <=250 range. Two AT3035s look pretty good too. I also might end up getting two cascade m39s or two naiant msh-1s for a stereo pair and one condenser for vocals.
 
mellotron said:
I'm really considering buying cheaper mics to start off with. I have no acoustical foam or any knowledge of that stuff
Click to expand...

If your choice is to stay low cost then I'd look into ribbons. But then you'll need a healthy preamp with a lot of gain that can power them... And you'll have to record in a good room or put up blankets, etc. to deal with the figure 8 patterns they have.

And by then then you'll be hooked and end up buying expensive mics anyway:D
 
mellotron said:
I've changed my mind and decided that I'll use an Audiophile 2496 with Behringer mixer for recording. The preamps on Behringer are okay, right?

I'm really considering buying cheaper mics to start off with. I have no acoustical foam or any knowledge of that stuff. I'm looking at AKG mics in the <=250 range. Two AT3035s look pretty good too. I also might end up getting two cascade m39s or two naiant msh-1s for a stereo pair and one condenser for vocals.
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of most AKG mics, especially the cheaper ones. I find them harsh and hyped. Personally I'd pass on them with the exception of the C414 and C535eb.

I'd take AT4040 the AT4040 over the AT3035. I think it is a smoother and generally better mic. You could easily get by with a pair of the Naiants and one AT4040 for vocals. I don't know what the pres in the BWord mixer are, but I'm doubtful they would be suitable for ribbons or better dynamics that require a lot of quiet gain (like the SM7 or RE-20). I'd say you would want at least 62db of quiet gain (more is better) and figure the last click will be noisy and unusable so they should provide at least 66db of gain.
 
For starting a mic collection, I think you are best off getting a pair of condensers. My first real mics were a pair of Oktava MC012's. Thousands of dollars and dozens of mics later I still use them. Ribbons are great, as are dynamics - but a pair of MC012's (or similar) can do everything. A bunch of tracks done with the same ribbon mic through a cheap preamp is not going to do the job.

The Niant mics are decent - even better when you consider that they are practically free. A couple of those with one good condenser is another good suggestion.

Gotta be able to do stereo. Can't start off with too much color as your only choice (like a ribbon). My $.02.
 
Where could I get a stereo pair of MC012s? I looked it up on Oktava USA online, but I could only find the MK series.
 
The MK and the MC are the same mic; just a different way of converting the Russian language to English.
 
the 012's give you a lot of cool options too. I have a matched set that have been Premium Electronics modded by Michael Joly at Oktavamod and they sound fantastic.
You can buy hypercardioid, figure 8 and omni SDC capsules (the figure 8 capsule(s) is really expensive however) or front and side address LDC capsules for them from Oktava, several LDC capsules from RTT Lomo and one LDC lolipop capsule head from Red (on sale I believe until the end of the year). It's a mic that Oktava still seems to be developing products for, which is cool.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top