A mic to complement my C1?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr. Moon
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Mr. Moon

Mr. Moon

Force of Naked
I'm in the market for a LDC mic to use (mostly) for male vocals which will complement the C1 that I currently own. I have been researching around here for quite a while, and I have been getting overwhelmed with the options that are out there. I will be using a SP VTB-1 as my main preamp, along with the built-in preamps in my Aardvark Direct Pro 2496, which I use once in a while too, depending on the circumstances.

I am not able to spend more than $500.00 (us) + tax.

Any opinions/suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks.

-mr moon
 
Mr. Moon said:
I'm in the market for a LDC mic to use (mostly) for male vocals which will complement the C1 that I currently own. I have been researching around here for quite a while, and I have been getting overwhelmed with the options that are out there. I will be using a SP VTB-1 as my main preamp, along with the built-in preamps in my Aardvark Direct Pro 2496, which I use once in a while too, depending on the circumstances.

I am not able to spend more than $500.00 (us) + tax.

Any opinions/suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks.

-mr moon
Click to expand...
Well, your C1 is what I'd call a bright mic, so I guessing that you want a darker mic to complement the C1... and if that's the case, there really are too many mics to list that fall in that catergory, so you really should audition a bunch of mics for yourself to find the one you like best.
 
Or maybe get one of those Groove Tubes mics from musicians friend while they're still only 300 bucks. The FET ones are only 200.
 
Flatpicker said:
I second that (if you're close to a Guitar Center).
Click to expand...

Yup, I just checked GC out (again), and they're all out of the 319's. I wanted to check one out even though I hear Octava's QC isn't so good, but each time I stop by there they have none in stock. ...And they haven't since the first day of the sale. Natch!!

-mr moon
 
Re: Re: A mic to complement my C1?

DJL said:
Well, your C1 is what I'd call a bright mic, so I guessing that you want a darker mic to complement the C1... and if that's the case, there really are too many mics to list that fall in that catergory, so you really should audition a bunch of mics for yourself to find the one you like best.
Click to expand...

Exactly, a darker mic is what I'm thinking I need! ....So many choices and so few places within driving distance to try them all out, as none of the dealers around here carry all the mics in one place. And it's not as easy as just taking a day to drive from store to store, as I'm not the one with the voice to be recorded and my voice sounds like sh1t no matter what mic it goes through, all nasally and crap. It also makes it a bit tough when most online retailers will not allow you to return *any* mic unless it's defective. That's why I was hoping that someone who has a C1 and other mics might have some suggestions from their own experience.

Again, thanks for any/all suggestions!

-mr moon
 
Mr. Moon said:
Yup, I just checked GC out (again), and they're all out of the 319's. I wanted to check one out even though I hear Octava's QC isn't so good, but each time I stop by there they have none in stock. ...And they haven't since the first day of the sale. Natch!!

-mr moon
Click to expand...

They should be able to order one or more from another store that has them in stock and have them there in a few days. You may have to pay in advance, but if you didn't like it I doubt it would be a problem to get rid of for $50. You might be able to return it also after trying it at home, but I don't know what GC's mic return policy is. I think it varies from store (manager) to store (manager.)
 
Mr. Moon said:
Yup, I just checked GC out (again), and they're all out of the 319's. I wanted to check one out even though I hear Octava's QC isn't so good, but each time I stop by there they have none in stock. ...And they haven't since the first day of the sale. Natch!!

-mr moon
Click to expand...
Have them give you a rain check for when they do come in, at which point in time there will be a-plenty to choose from and you will be able to pick out a good one. :)
 
crazydoc said:
They should be able to order one or more from another store that has them in stock and have them there in a few days. You may have to pay in advance, but if you didn't like it I doubt it would be a problem to get rid of for $50. You might be able to return it also after trying it at home, but I don't know what GC's mic return policy is. I think it varies from store (manager) to store (manager.)
Click to expand...

Thought about that GC option, but....

My local GC manager is telling me that the sale price was only good on the mics that they had in stock at their shop the day the sale began, but they'd be more than happy to sell me one at regular price if they had it shipped in from another store. I asked them if that made sense to them, and they said "yes." They informed me that they would not budge on the price. Even though I am blonde, I don't want to buy a mic for $100.00 today that I can sell tomorrow for $50.00.

...Considering the fact that I have bought a Marshall DSL 100 and mesa 4x12 recto cab from this very store in the last 2 months, you'd think they'd cut me some slack. But I guess they don't value their customers.... whatever.

-mr moon
 
Yeah, your store's manager seems to have his head stuck up the wrong place. The store here in Phoenix was glad to order some for me from another store at the $50 price, and the only other thing I'd ever bought from them were some MK012's on sale for $50 also. Come to think of it, they had to order those from another store too. Unfortunately it seems like a manager's discretion type thing.

Or maybe because my hair's brown. :)
 
crazydoc said:
Or maybe because my hair's brown. :)
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...could be!! :rolleyes:

Anyways, here are some mics that I have been looking at:

AT 3060
AT 4040

AKG C4000B

SP TB1
SP T3
SP C3

...Thoughts??!!

-mr moon
 
The AT3060 sounds like a White Stripes record. If you like that sound, then get it.

The AT4040 is a very fine, versatile mic with an open sound.

I don't have any opinion on the AKG.

If you want a tube mic, then the T3, NTK and the AT3060 all easly surpass the TB1.

The T3 and C3 have been covered. Search it out.
 
ozraves said:
The AT3060 sounds like a White Stripes record. If you like that sound, then get it.

The AT4040 is a very fine, versatile mic with an open sound.

I don't have any opinion on the AKG.

If you want a tube mic, then the T3, NTK and the AT3060 all easly surpass the TB1.

The T3 and C3 have been covered. Search it out.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! ...And yes, I have been searching the site here for all these mics and more. I'm really hoping to hear from folks who have done the side-by-side thing between the C1 and these various mics, as I won't have much of a chance to do so personally, which is a complete bummer! :mad:

-mr moon
 
I'd probably lean toward the AT4040, Shure SM7 or the Blue Baby Bottle. All would be a good compliment to the C1. I think the SM7 or Baby Bottle would be more of a contrast to the C1. Remember: The SM7 needs a pretty good preamp to get its sonics going.
 
ozraves said:
The AT3060 sounds like a White Stripes record. If you like that sound, then get it.
Click to expand...

can you describe what about it sounds like a White Stripes record? did they use one?
 
ozraves said:
I'd probably lean toward the AT4040, Shure SM7 or the Blue Baby Bottle. All would be a good compliment to the C1. I think the SM7 or Baby Bottle would be more of a contrast to the C1. Remember: The SM7 needs a pretty good preamp to get its sonics going.
Click to expand...

Bingo!! Great info!

I checked out the 4040 soundclips posted in another thread, and while the samples were not quite what I will be doing vocally, the mic sounds very solid!

I may not consider the SM7 at this time, since I don't have any really great preamps as of yet. :(

Thanks!
 
Mr. Moon said:
I'm really hoping to hear from folks who have done the side-by-side thing between the C1 and these various mics, as I won't have much of a chance to do so personally, which is a complete bummer! :mad:

-mr moon
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Why not?
 
The Oktava MK319 and the Studio Projects are also good complements for a C1. I sort of consider these along the lines of the AT4040 and Baby Bottle with both being more in spirit with the Baby Bottle. However, the Baby Bottle, by far, outclasses either one. The MK319 comes with a pad and high pass filter.
 
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