AT 4040 vs. Rode NT1-A vs. SP C1

[Shadow_7]

I wouldn't worry about the pre's too much. DMP3 is good enough, to do better you have to at least double the price. If not increase it by a factor of 10. And even then the difference is minor. Less noise, more gain, more clarity, works slightly better with a particular mic and sound source. It's really not enough to debate over until you've at least experienced the DMP3. The VTB1 is good to, but adds a little too much color by others accounts.

Although a lot of these differences will go unnoticed if you're not listening to them on studio monitors or higher end stereo equipment. And even then you might need a treated room and a sub woofer to appreciate the subtleties.

As far as the mics in the title of the thread, I'd probably go with the AT 4040. Although that's probably based more on the resale aspects, than the inherent abilities of the mic. I've seen the NT1 come up on craigslist for a rather extended period of time. I can't say I've seen the C1 there. But that could mean that no one ever bought one, or that it was good enough that no one ever wanted to sell theirs.

 

[grapeboi510]

do you think that there will be a very noticable sound difference if i have the at 4040 plugged in to the mbox through the dmp3 or just the mic straight to the mbox w/o the preamp?

 

[2000Z28M6]

do you think that there will be a very noticable sound difference if i have the at 4040 plugged in to the mbox through the dmp3 or just the mic straight to the mbox w/o the preamp?

First of all does the mbox have a preamp? If yes does it also offer line inputs(bypassing the preamp)? Flexibility?

This is what I would do for now, if the mbox has a preamp, then get a decent condenser try it to see how noisy it sounds.

If you find you would rather upgrade, keep in mind that the mbox must have line inputs. If there is no line inputs on the mbox you would need a different interface to use with an external pre.

Otherwise the external preamp is not going to help any, because after it's all said and done you are still inputting to the mbox preamp stage.

I hope that made sense....

 

[grapeboi510]

First of all does the mbox have a preamp? If yes does it also offer line inputs(bypassing the preamp)? Flexibility?

This is what I would do for now, if the mbox has a preamp, then get a decent condenser try it to see how noisy it sounds.

If you find you would rather upgrade, keep in mind that the mbox must have line inputs. If there is no line inputs on the mbox you would need a different interface to use with an external pre.

Otherwise the external preamp is not going to help any, because after it's all said and done you are still inputting to the mbox preamp stage.

I hope that made sense....

does anybody know if the mbox has line inputs? so that i could use an external pre and it would work?

 

[Shadow_7]

You could probably save yourself a lot of headache (if all you want is a microphone input) by getting one of the better usb mics. I think the MXL990 (or was it 960) has a few deliverable options. One if which is a USB version. Those are mic, preamp, and converter (soundcard) all rolled into one. Granted that you can ONLY use them on computers. But if all you want is an input, it's an option. For $100 you could get a pretty decent USB mic. Better than an electret type mic that comes with most computer / webcam / camcorder / ??? anyway. It might not be as good as a 58, or it might be noticeably better.

It may not be a studio solution, but I think you might be holding yourself back (in terms of a typical studio) by sticking with the mbox. There's probably better options. Presonus firepod, Echo layla 3G, MOTU something or other, and other common ones. Many of which give you options, with onboard preamp, or without, even midi inputs and such. I don't know if the mbox offers without the onboard preamp, I suspect it doesn't. But you can still daisey chain preamps, you just end up with the lowest common denominator. And a longer troubleshooting checklist.

 

[guitar junkie]

Is this an old Mbox? or one of the new ones?

The old one had focusrite preamps in it, so not much to worry about upgrading there.

I have used an AT4O40 for years, and what I have found is that if the vocal sucks... So does the mic. It's really honest to me about my vocals

But it does sound good and clean.

MXL 960 tube mic sounds great, but I did swap the tube out for something better, and of course the V67g sounds wonderful too.

Right now I use a older Octava 219 with a few mods done to it.

 

[dgatwood]

You could probably save yourself a lot of headache (if all you want is a microphone input) by getting one of the better usb mics. I think the MXL990 (or was it 960) has a few deliverable options. One if which is a USB version. Those are mic, preamp, and converter (soundcard) all rolled into one. Granted that you can ONLY use them on computers. But if all you want is an input, it's an option. For $100 you could get a pretty decent USB mic. Better than an electret type mic that comes with most computer / webcam / camcorder / ??? anyway. It might not be as good as a 58, or it might be noticeably better.

I don't think I'd go the USB route. If you're even considering something as high quality as an AT4040, you're way, way above the quality level you'll achieve with any of those. They're all based on one of just a couple of Chinese condenser capsules that are fairly bright to the point of being harsh.

Worse, most don't even have a viable way of doing monitoring while recording. You'll get probably about a half second latency if you try to get input from a USB device and run the output to your built-in audio hardware. The alternative is one of the USB mics with a headphone connection, but that still doesn't make monitoring very easy or flexible.

Basically, USB mics are designed for recording podcasts, not for music recording or anything remotely approaching it....

 

[Shadow_7]

Perhaps I have a hard time distinguishing between a podcast and a rap vocal. Weren't not exactly talking brass quintet or woodwind quartet. Or brass band, orchestra, wind ensemble, pipe band, cheerleaders, .... It's a rap vocal. Last I checked that didn't happen (on a regular basis) as a duo or larger. And yes, latency is an issue with anything non-analog.

 

[dgatwood]

Perhaps I have a hard time distinguishing between a podcast and a rap vocal. Weren't not exactly talking brass quintet or woodwind quartet. Or brass band, orchestra, wind ensemble, pipe band, cheerleaders, .... It's a rap vocal. Last I checked that didn't happen (on a regular basis) as a duo or larger.

Most audio apps on the PC won't even let you monitor from your sound card while recording from a USB mic, so unless you can keep on beat without hearing the backing tracks, you might have a problem.

That's the big difference: podcasts record somebody talking, but it doesn't require performing in time within anything else....

And even if you get one with a headphone jack, there's still a matter of the relatively poor sound quality.

And yes, latency is an issue with anything non-analog.

6-10 ms latency is one thing. 500 ms latency is anther entirely.

 

[Shadow_7]

I guess I'm just from a time when rap didn't have backing tracks. It was only an option, not meant as the must have route. Just one way to avoid buying a decent mic $200, plus a decent preamp $200, plus a decent soundcard $200, plus a decent XLR cable $50, plus ......... plus ........ plus ................

 

[TimS]

The Studio Projects mics and the NT1-A both fall into the category of recent bright mics. While bright mics can be useful on some sources, the AT4040 is probably going to be a better mic in general.

Other mics you might look into are some of the CAD LDC mics like the CAD M177/M179 or the M9.

Just my $0.02.

I must say I agree 100% with this comment.
I own the C1 and a CAD M179 and the C1 is bright and lacks a little bottom end. The M179 is a better alrounder with quite a sweet low end..
However, I'd go for the AT 4040 if I were chosing from these 3 mics you listed.
Tim..