Audio Technica AT3528?

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DaveO

DaveO

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I'm looking for a lower priced, small diaphragm condenser mic and had basically decided on an AKG C1000, mostly based on comments I've seen here. I recently bought an AT 4033 and found I like the low end rolloff switch, which the AKG doesn't have.
Does anyone have any experience with the AT 3528? It's in the same price range as the AKG and includes the low end rolloff. If not the AT, any other suggestions?
 
If I was going to buy a budget small diaphragm mic for the first time, I'd go with the Oktava MC012 (comes with 3 different caps) from The Sound Room only for $280US. I wish The Sound Room was around when I bought my first small diaphragm mic. I'd take it over a C1000 any day.
 
RE,

How did I know that would be your response? :D

I checked The Sound Room's website and didn't see anything about a low end rolloff switch on the MC012. Based on my experience with my 4033 I was hoping to find a decent sounding, budget-priced, small condenser that also had it (I guess I'm asking for a lot). If there isn't anything that fits those criteria, I'll probably just wait until I can convince "the boss' to let me increase the budget.
 
You got it!

I knew you wanted a roll-off switch, but you get three caps to choose from. It's like having three different natural EQs without it sounding EQed.

I don't know of any other small diaphragm condensers w/ a roll-off switch. May want to check-out the Beyer lines. They have some very nice mics which always get over-looked.

Also, what is your purpose for this mic? Remember, most things you're likely going to use a small diaphragm on is probably not going to produce much lower than the beginning point of the roll-off.

If you're looking for flexiblity, it doesn't get much more flexible than the MC012 due to its 3 changable patterns. Sounds damn nice too.
 
I'll show my greenness here a little bit...

How do the three different patterns affect EQ? I know a cardoid shows a proximity effect, so I can increase the distance to the mic to reduce bass response or get clsoer to the mic to increase the amount of bass.

Does the omni pick up bass well regardless of the distance to the mic? Any other characteristics of an omni (besides picking up every sound from my house, my neighbor's houses, etc.) that affect EQ? I've only bought directional mics because I record in my basement and can't really do a lot of soundproofing (the basement is small my son uses most of it as play area). Maybe if I try an omni mic I'd change my thinking, at least to some extent?

Also, does a hypercardoid show even more of a proximity effect than a cardoid? Any other unique characteristics of a hypercardoid besides an even tighter pattern?
 
I don't know the theory w/o sounding clinical why changing polar patterns changes the EQ (regardless of proximity effect), but I know it does! Anyone who's used a multipattern mic can tell you that. An ex. would be that nearly everyone who hears a Lawson MP47 agrees that the cardioid patteren is the worse sounding patteren on that mic. Go figure most reviews mainly deal with cardioid patterns; because that's what's used most often.

Also, another thing is that hypercardioid is tighter in the front and rejects the sides even more than a cardioid, but there's that lobe from behind.

Lastly. An omni can be more directional than a cardioid if close-miking due to The Inverse-Square Law.
 
Thanks for the info.

After my last post I found two pages in the Recording section in Harmony Central that went into some of the details I asked about (I didn't see anything about the Inverse-Square Law, though). I've gotta remember to do some poking around first before I ask questions a thousand other people have probably already asked.
 
At 3528

hey davo, the at 3528 is perfect, thats all there is to it, its great as a drum overhead. or for any percussion, ive used it on all my projects.
 
Frequency said:
hey davo, the at 3528 is perfect, thats all there is to it, its great as a drum overhead. or for any percussion, ive used it on all my projects.
Click to expand...

THe output of the older 35 series microphones is not very hot at all .. make sure you have a decent pre if you're getting this. It sould probably be fine for percussion

Open circuit sensitivity
-51 dB (2.8 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa

That's the same as a lot of dynamics

The new model is the AT3031

Open circuit sensitivity
-51 dB (2.8 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa

http://www.audio-technica.com/prodpro/profiles/AT3031.html
 
Frequency said:
hey davo, the at 3528 is perfect, thats all there is to it, its great as a drum overhead. or for any percussion, ive used it on all my projects.
Click to expand...

THe output of the older 35 series microphones is not very hot at all .. make sure you have a decent pre if you're getting this. It sould probably be fine for percussion

Open circuit sensitivity
-51 dB (2.8 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa

That's the same as a lot of dynamics

The new model is the AT3031

Open circuit sensitivity
-34 dB (19.9 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa

http://www.audio-technica.com/prodpro/profiles/AT3031.html
 
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