Am I missing something here

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Jones
  • Start date Start date
Michael Jones

Michael Jones

New member
There's been a lot of posts lately about cheap mics. (those in the $129 - $200 range) Maybe I'm missing something here, and I don't want to sound like a gear snob at all, but I was kind of saving up for something a little nicer, like a Neumann M147. I already have a locker full of some pretty nice mics. TLM 103's, RCA 77DX, Shure SM81's, BLUE Mouse. Given those as my sonic palatte, if I were to say go out and drop $250 dollars on a pair of Marshall V67's or something comparable, would I be dissappointed when comparing or trying to compare some of these less expensive mics to those I've listed?? See, I bought a 200 dollar mic once. And I was really dissapointed. And I don't want to blow 200 bucks again.
(Those of you that don't know, I record mainly Grand Piano, some vocals, and wind instruments)
 
Look at it this way...

Michael, It has a different sound than all your other mics, so that's good. And it only cost $150, so you feel a little safer using it on potentially damaging sound sources or situations. If you are concerned about damaging your 77dx micing up a dimed Marshall, you feel no fear of damaging your V67. If it blows up, no biggie.

Also, it sounds pretty darn good to boot. Although, for your app you already have the mic's you need. So you probably don't need to buy one.

Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support
(801) 568-7530
tcram@dbxpro.com

"Jazz, pfffft...They just make it up as they go along."
-Homer Simpson-
 
Michael Jones said:
There's been a lot of posts lately about cheap mics. (those in the $129 - $200 range) Maybe I'm missing something here, and I don't want to sound like a gear snob at all, but I was kind of saving up for something a little nicer, like a Neumann M147. I already have a locker full of some pretty nice mics. TLM 103's, RCA 77DX, Shure SM81's, BLUE Mouse. Given those as my sonic palatte, if I were to say go out and drop $250 dollars on a pair of Marshall V67's or something comparable, would I be dissappointed when comparing or trying to compare some of these less expensive mics to those I've listed?? See, I bought a 200 dollar mic once. And I was really dissapointed. And I don't want to blow 200 bucks again.
(Those of you that don't know, I record mainly Grand Piano, some vocals, and wind instruments)
Click to expand...
Michael, I'd say you're missing a lot. The V67G or C1 would be a great additional flavor for vocals. By not considering the Oktava MC012s from Sound Room or the Behringer ECM8000s, you're missing out on some great wind instrument mics.

Lemme also add that my mic locker can beat up your mic locker. :D

I have the TML 103, an RCA 77DX (and a 44BX, and a Coles 4038) and SM-81s, and I guarantee you that there are times when the V67G or some of the other low priced mics I mentioned will beat my "good" mics.
 
Actually, I do have the ECM8000's. The Octava mics, I'm leary of because of what I have heard about the lack of quality control at the Russian factory. I mean, if you got a good one of the Octava's thats great! But my luck, I'd get one made on a friday afternoon before a monday holiday!:p
And I have really been contemplating the Marshall's. Maybe I'll get one afterall.
 
I think the quality of recording gear necessary to have on hand is inversely proportional to the quality of performance.

A cheap guitar and mic on Eric Clapton will be a great recording. But even a newbie can strum a few clean notes on a Martin with a good mic and it will sound beautiful.

Of course Clapton and the great gear is even better but as an engineer we are just taking musical snap shots of a performance. The recordings that will stand the test of time are going to be those with inspiring performances not inspiring engineering (with a few exceptions).

If crappy sounding recordings negated a good performance than many of the classic albums of all time would be shelved forever.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Michael,

You might want to spend $50 on Lynn Fuston's mic shootout CD before you lay down $1300 for an M147. Perhaps it was the recording, perhaps it was the singer, or maybe Lynn somehow picked up a poor example of the mic, but I was very disappointed in what I heard recorded with the M147. The Studio Projects T-3 for half the price or the Audio Technica AT4060 are dramatically better than the M147 to my ears -- nothing subtle about the differences.

Mark H.
 
Michael Jones said:
Actually, I do have the ECM8000's. The Octava mics, I'm leary of because of what I have heard about the lack of quality control at the Russian factory. I mean, if you got a good one of the Octava's thats great! But my luck, I'd get one made on a friday afternoon before a monday holiday!:p
And I have really been contemplating the Marshall's. Maybe I'll get one afterall.
Click to expand...
If you'll note in my earlier post, I specifically mentioned buying the Oktavas from the Sound Room, who put them thru multiple levels of extra quality control and supply actual frequency response curves for every capsule.

I agree that it would be a crap shoot to try and buy them from Guitar Center.
 
the m147 is a horrible sounding mic. No better than many $500 mics
 
CyanJaguar said:
the m147 is a horrible sounding mic. No better than many $500 mics
Click to expand...
Really?
I knew it was "colored", but I'm surprised. Of course my basis is soley based on other Neumann products, and more than a few reviews, but its nice to hear someone here comment on it.

Originally posted by TexRoadkill
...Of course Clapton and the great gear is even better...
Click to expand...
I agree. But why limit yourself with mediocre gear when higher end gear, coupled with inspirational performances gives you the ability to achieve stellar results?
 
Last edited:
Michael, what you may be missing is that this is HOMErecording.com.....while alot of the guys here get into the big name/$$$ mics, there are still lots of people here whos best mic is a sm57...and there is nothing wrong with either...its all about the results you expect and the $$$ you are willing to spend....

sure id like to have a few thousand dollars worth of mics, but i rather take my daughter to Disney World every year and buy every new toy she wants and feed and clothe her.....

so to spoil her the best i can, i make do with my v67 and sm57, and soon to be ECM8000's and ATMPRO25 and my Delta DMP2 preamp and Joe Meek preamp.......
 
Gidge said:
Michael, what you may be missing is that this is HOMErecording.com.....while alot of the guys here get into the big name/$$$ mics, there are still lots of people here whos best mic is a sm57...and there is nothing wrong with either...its all about the results you expect and the $$$ you are willing to spend....

sure id like to have a few thousand dollars worth of mics, but i rather take my daughter to Disney World every year and buy every new toy she wants and feed and clothe her.....

so to spoil her the best i can, i make do with my v67 and sm57, and soon to be ECM8000's and ATMPRO25 and my Delta DMP2 preamp and Joe Meek preamp.......
Click to expand...
Oh believe me Gidge, I understand that economics dictate! But if you can afford a Jaguar, are you going to buy a Hunday? Its about disposable income I guess.
 
Its like this, if you can afford the Jaguar, but not have anything for gas, insurance , and maintenance, you are pretty much fuc&%d......

so id get like a Toyota Camry.....

in musical terms, im not gonna get a slamming mic then plug it into the mic in of my soundcard...i iwanna have decent quality across the whole chain and still be a father....

"Its about disposable income I guess"
yep, somewhat.....

also, im just doing basic demos in my spare bedroom using a closet as a vocal booth...you wont see me spending much more than $200 on a vocal mic and $200 for a preamp to record in this situation.......

btw, im not flaming you...im just trying to show you the flipside of the coin......
 
Just sipping on my Sierra Nevada...,and I thought I would chime in. As a former TV guy, we would always laugh at the free-lancer who had that pro-sumer camera...what's he doing with that piece of %^^*???? Well, those boundries are now so blurred that the technical differences are in many ways indentical. So are cheap mics cheap??? That's a question with as many different answers as there are members to H-R.com. Let your ears and your pocket book be the judge.

Harvey,

Guitar Center called me todat...they just got a shipment of the GT 66's in today. I think I'll go down there on Monday and take one for a test drive!
 
Yeah, I do see the flip side of the coin Gidge. In fact I went down that side once too. Just wish I never had really. I mean I started recording with an SM57 and a 4 track cassette, but that setup never gave me the quality I was looking for. I'd just rather spend the money, get something that I know I won't outgrow in 6 or 8 months, and have it for many years to come. Even now I still have a few items I wish I had never bought. Live and learn I guess. Oh, yeah, and I'm a father too! 2 great little boys! One is actually starting to play piano, and I swear I didn't push him into it!

And, if you can't afford the gas, and the insurance, and the maintanence, then you really can't afford the car!:(
(no flame take either):cool:
 
Barnes & Noble has a great book for $6..."The Millionare Next Door." Incredible reading! But I got to admit, the guy that always dresses like a million dollars is the guy that gets the contract. So, can we assume that musician that sounds like "balls to the wall" is the musician that gets the record deal??? Perception is everything! Where do you want to go today?
 
If I could afford a jaguar, I would not buy a Jaguar,

I would get a fully restored 70 barracuda
and fit it with

a 600hp/600 ft lbs torque crate motor
gut the cat
throw 10 inchers on the back with 335/50s

245s in front
rollcage
4 inch exhaust with cherry bombers
headers
supercharger and 150 hp nitro kit

NOW thats a man's car for a man-sized man.
should be good for low 10s or maybe high 9s in the quarter,

GOSH, I forgot, we were talking about mics not jaguars,

Anyhow, in the spirit of music, here is a track I just recorded using just a jv1010 and the blueberry. I was amazed at the jv1010

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/10/1099/singles.shtml

Who made us?
 
Gidge said:
[B..... but i rather take my daughter to Disney World every year and buy every new toy she wants and feed and clothe her.....

so to spoil her the best i can, i make do with my v67 and sm57, p....... [/B]
Click to expand...

shit Gidge..you're gonna make me cry...If you post sumpin' like that every 5000 posts...you're a winner in my book;)

(hey...can she sing.....wants her own mic...eh, eh???)
 
hey, do a search, i actually have a few clips of her posted.......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top