5 sm57s, 1 c3000, what next?

[prowley]

I am looking to expand the available mics I have and thought I could get some advice here. I am steadily building up, with an eye on price and utility. I was thinking that perhaps a small diaphram condensor stereo pair might be a good next purchase, sound? If so, any anything outstanding in the budget range (around $300) or would I need to go higher? Or should I be looking at getting a good large diaphram condensor/stereo pair?

Come to that, what else should I be looking out to fill out the mic selection for maximum versatility?

As background, this is all for home recording in the digital realm, I am a vocalist foremost, a guitar player almost, and a musical odd job man of the lowest calibre

Thanks for your input.

Pete

 

[Gidge]

the questions I have are what applications you are using these mics for, and what areas to you feel you are lacking in?.....

 

[Buck62]

prowley,

I had exactly the same mics as you (5 SM57's and an AKG C3000) up until 2 months ago.
Since then I have added a RODE NTK (tube mic) and a Rode NT3 (small condenser mic).
The NTK was the perfect addition to give vocal tracks that sweet, warm analog sound. Perfect!
The NT3 was needed to mic acoustic and wind instruments.... (guitar, piano, sax, flute, etc.)
You'll notice an immediate difference when you compare the NTK to the C3000. The C3000 is accurate, but it's unforgiving and somewhat harsh in the upper-mid to high range.

I got a nice deal on the two RODE's, since I buy alot of gear from the same person at Guitar Satan..... $400 for the NTK and $140 for the NT3.
I highly recommend both of these mics.

Buck

 

[prowley]

What Im trying to do...

Thanks for the tips Buck62

Gidge, well my main mic recording involves guitars (both acoustic and electric) and vocals and its all just me - I am always interested in improving vocal an acoustic sound particularly, and I have to agree with buck62 that the c3000 can be a bit brutal on my primary instrument (vox). However, I would like to build up the mic selection so I could take on others projects. I guess what I am looking for is versatility - pull a drummer in to put some live beats down on one of my tracks, or maybe record a demo for a local band and not feel constricted by lack of mic choice. I realise that getting a good mic selection together is not an overnight affair - at least on my budget - so I would like to get there in stages, buying the most diversely useful mics first, and add to them over time to fill out the compliment - that does necessarily imply that I am looking for mics you won't *want* to get rid of

 

[James HE]

Get a good kick drum mic. (I have the Shure Beta 52 and the Audio Technica ATM25) I like both, depending on the sound of the kick and what I'm going for, mostly the B-52 these days. The ATM will be more upfront in any mix, but the lower mids of the b-52 are gooooood THe B-52 will also do well on a bass cabinet. (I love it on low low floor toms too) THe ATM25 i like on my guitar cabinet. So even though they's kick mic's they are versatil (to an extent)

and a pair of small dia condensors. Octava MC012 (do a search for those here... you'll get earfulls) They sound good to me, soon I'll have a pair (maybe ) or AKG C1000's, or Crown (CM?)700's, Marshal 603's.... all pairs from $200 to $400.

hmm..... lots of choices

-jhe

 

[Gidge]

Ill go with Buck's line of thinking....a nice large dia. condenser for vocals (Marshall v67) and a good pair of small diap. condensers for overheads/acoustic guitar (Marshall mxl603's)......next in line would be a kick mic (beta 52, atm25, akgD112 are good choices, but a sm57 can get it done too).....

 

[tubedude]

123

Plus, for snare and electric cabs, get a Beta57 to go along with your sm57's. A stereo pair would be nice for mic'ing guitar cabs and a top/bottom pair for snare. Sounds better to me than the sm57. More detailed.

 

[blinddogblues]

The question is this: how much money do you have?? We'll have your mic cabinet full in no time flat!! It seems to me that a great deal right now are the Marshall mics. I just ordered a V-67 and a pair of 603s from Abe's for a grand total of $309 delivered! I already have a V-67, but this will be my first experience with the 603, but everybody here seems to really like both. This combo would give you a nice large diaphragm condensor for vocals, and a stereo pair of small dia. condensors for acoustic guitar, piano, drum overheads, etc. I have a pair of Octava Mc-012 and I love them, but if these 603s sound as good at $65 each, I will start recommending them highly. I should have them tomorrow or the next day.

 

[KaBudokan]

I'd agree with the recommendation for a pair of sm. dia. condensers. I recently got one Marshall MXL-603 and think it definitely works well for acoustic guitar. I had it matched w/ a Rode NT2 and got a cool sound, but a pair of the Marshalls would definitely do better.

After that, look into a LD con. like the V67 or maybe be our guinea pig for one of the Studio Projects C1 mics, which is the next wundermic that's the talk of the forums. "U87 sound for $200!!!" Maybe it's true.

 

[prowley]

Some great pointers

KaBudokan,

Heh, I feel like I was a guinea pig with the c3000, everyone was raving, and I bought it, only to discover it doesn't like me I am eagerly reading about the c1, but I think I would want to wait on Harvey Gersh to say a little more about it.

blinddogblues, Gidge

money is kinda flexible, lucky me ), but I was looking to get this done in under $500, much under if possible (U87 one day, but not this day) - I like the marshall combo you both suggested: tell me what you think when you get them

Thanks for all the great suggestions everybody, this is helping a lot.

 

[prowley]

oh by the way

Just thought it might help if you guys could hear me sing, lol.

So, if you are interested, head over to www.mp3.com/dtack

I don't sing on every track - some were recorded after I left the band. Of the ones I do sing on, "Ordinary", "Another Day", and "Hide and Seek" are probably closest to my solo style (that which I usually record). Though often it doesn't come out on recordings, my voice is prety darn loud even when I am singing the quiet bits, hehe, if that makes any difference.