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manontheside
New member
with a budget of around $300, what are some good options?
reshp1
New member
At that price it's hard to beat a pair of MXL603's, although they just came out with the 604's so it might be worth checking those out too.
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Robert D
New member
A pair of Oktava Mk-012s will fit the bill nicely too.
-RD
-RD
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manontheside
New member
is it usually more wise to go with a pair of small omni's rather than just a single larger diaphragm for recording?
scrubs
Not of sound mind
Studio Projects C4 is another one to check out. Both the C4 and the MXL 604 have switchable caps for either cardioid or omni pattern.
The choice of small vs. large diaprhagm is often a factor of what types of recordings you will be making. For solo acoustic music (with or without vocals), it is often preferable to record the guitar with a pair of mics (usually small/medium diaphragm condensers) to get a big, full sound. For acoustic guitars that will be part of a dense mix, usually a mono guitar recording will suffice. Small diaphragms will typically give you a more accurate representation of the sound of the guitar, while large diaphragms may offer a slightly more colored, often flattering, sound. Still, it's nice to have a pair of SDC's around for all sorts of things.
The choice of small vs. large diaprhagm is often a factor of what types of recordings you will be making. For solo acoustic music (with or without vocals), it is often preferable to record the guitar with a pair of mics (usually small/medium diaphragm condensers) to get a big, full sound. For acoustic guitars that will be part of a dense mix, usually a mono guitar recording will suffice. Small diaphragms will typically give you a more accurate representation of the sound of the guitar, while large diaphragms may offer a slightly more colored, often flattering, sound. Still, it's nice to have a pair of SDC's around for all sorts of things.
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ozraves
New member
In that budget range I like the AT4040 if you're going to be having the acoustic guitar as one instrument in a mix. If you're going for solo acoustic guitar then I suggest the MK012 pair as suggested above.
If you got more money then I like the Blue Dragonfly as a single and the Avenson STO-2 as a pair.
If you got more money then I like the Blue Dragonfly as a single and the Avenson STO-2 as a pair.
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Wiz
New member
I have a pair of Oktava MK012's and a pair of Rode NT5's, both small diaphragm condensors...usually one pair or the other will suit a particular guitar..
Also , I have found a good technique is using, sometimes a small D condensor on the fret board a Large D condensor "over the shoulder" and a SM57 on the sound hole, and blending the three....also if the guitar has a pickup and you have enough tracks, record that as well.
Having said all that, sometimes, particularly in a dense mix, just a LD condensor sitting around the 9-12th fret aiming at the neck body join works great. Mic position is so important ....moving the mic(s) a couple of inches, and playing with channel delays or time aligning the multiple tracks can have a huge effect on the "focusing" of the sound.
cheers
Wiz
Also , I have found a good technique is using, sometimes a small D condensor on the fret board a Large D condensor "over the shoulder" and a SM57 on the sound hole, and blending the three....also if the guitar has a pickup and you have enough tracks, record that as well.
Having said all that, sometimes, particularly in a dense mix, just a LD condensor sitting around the 9-12th fret aiming at the neck body join works great. Mic position is so important ....moving the mic(s) a couple of inches, and playing with channel delays or time aligning the multiple tracks can have a huge effect on the "focusing" of the sound.
cheers
Wiz
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manontheside
New member
well now i'm happy to say i've narrowed down about 1000 mics to about 500. 
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Rick Shepherd
New member
Seriously, I recommend stretching the budget for a matched pair of Peluso CEMC6s. Awesome for the money!
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Big Kenny
New member
get the oktavas, you will always find a use for them
Warhead
Jai guru deva om
reshp1 said:
In my limited use of that 604 thus far I'd say that's a good suggestion.
War
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sdelsolray
Active member
manontheside said:
Need more info. A pair? A single mic? Style(s) of music? Solo acoustic guitar? Fingerstyle? Flatpick? Ensemble/band? Solo singer/songwriter/guitar accompaniment?
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manontheside
New member
i do want a pair, seeing as they seem to have a broader range of picking up sound. i guess i consider myself a solo artist that plays a wide varety of styles ranging from fingerstyle to flatpick. i think i'm gonna take a look at those mxl604's tomorrow
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jkokura
New member
another vote for the MK012's...they're useful in so many ways. I love mine.
Jacob
Jacob
ljmaxx
Hurricane Offender
Check out the Crown CM700's. You can find a used pair for around $300 or so. Here's a pair now on ebay sitting @ $222 with ten hours to go. Good luck.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-Crown-CM700...ryZ41466QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-Crown-CM700...ryZ41466QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
mrbowes
New member
Bought the SM81, Okvata MK012, and the MXL 603s.
Ended up selling the Oktava and MXLs in favor of the SM81.
I think it does better for solo acoustic than the mc012/603s b/c IMO it has a less metalic/brittle high end and more bass and richer mids. If you're trying to really cut through a mix, then mk012 or 603s might work better for that application.
You can find them used for $200, and sometimes even less.
It might be worth investing an extra $100.
Also, check out the Peluso stereo pair of SDC. CME-6 or something like that.
Ended up selling the Oktava and MXLs in favor of the SM81.
I think it does better for solo acoustic than the mc012/603s b/c IMO it has a less metalic/brittle high end and more bass and richer mids. If you're trying to really cut through a mix, then mk012 or 603s might work better for that application.
You can find them used for $200, and sometimes even less.
It might be worth investing an extra $100.
Also, check out the Peluso stereo pair of SDC. CME-6 or something like that.
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sdelsolray
Active member
manontheside said:
A pair of SDs would probably serve you best. In the $300+- price range, there are at least a dozen mics out there that would work. The usual suspects are the Oktava MC-012, Rode NT5, MXL 603s (and now, I would guess, the MXL 604), and Studio Projects C4. You might want to add to the list the ADK SC-2 or SC-T and the recent SE SD mics (haven't heard those, but good initial reports).
I'm sure you would enjoy any of these mics. However, there are differences that you might want to explore to refine your search. Of course, working with them in your recording environment, with your gutiars and playing technique, using your recording and monitoring signal chains would help the most.
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exojjl
New member
I heard that a mic that you would use for recording a bass drum is suppose to sound the greatest for acoustic guitar.
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Big Kenny
New member
Nah................ ya need more definition, unless it is just gonna hang around in a mix, then it would probably be okay but not the greatest. here's the greatest http://www.dpamicrophones.com/
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xfinsterx
New member
Big Kenny said:
Another vote for the Oktavas.
Good round tone for the $$$.
-Finster
