Advice on Upgrade

[mattya]

I record rock form acoustic to heavy. My setup:

Motu 896
FMR RNP/RNC
NHT a-20 monitors
Rode NTK, SM57, (2) Samson hypercardiod drum mics my friend gave me.

I have $1200 to spend. My goals are to get a pair of SDC’s for drum o/h’s and stereo acoustic guitar (and anything else for that matter), and a better quality dynamic for guitar cabs/vocals. I have been interested in the Josephson C42’s for a while but those with the appropriate stands and cables would wipe out my budget. Another option would be to get an NT5/Crown CM700’s (random examples of SDC’s) which would allow me to get an SM7/M88 or any other dynamic.

In your experience is it better to go with the best quality possible even if you don’t accomplish all your goals at the time? Meaning, should I go with the C42’s (knowing I won’t regret it) and wait a few moths to get the dynamic? I’m asking because I’ve heard good quality recordings with mics much cheaper than the Josephsons, but I figure I can put off my need to upgrade for a while if I go with them (at least that’s what I tell myself). Alternate mic suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

 

[Michael Jones]

I'd get 2 Shure SM81's and 1 Shure SM7.
The 81's will work great as overheads, and will sound absolutely fantastic on acoustic guitar.
The SM7 is a phenominal vocal mic; one that you'll find yourself going to time and again.

The SM81's and the SM7 are studio workhorses that will work well in a multitude of applications.

 

[GABritton]

I second Mike's suggestion on the SM-81. Great overhead mics and AWESOME acoustic guitar mics, espescially when using 2 mics at different points on the bridge and then blend them together.