Best Condenser Mic Under $600 Poll

[drossfile]

Anyone here used this mic? It has me really interested as a vocal mic, and I found this add for just under the $600 mark. It gets great reviews, but....
http://www.audiolines.com/M-Audio-Sputnik-p-16056.html

used it once--a dude i knew briefly had one. it is absolutely creamy and marvelous. i plan on owning one eventually.

 

[guitar zero]

used it once--a dude i knew briefly had one. it is absolutely creamy and marvelous. i plan on owning one eventually.

How do you think it would compare to a Studio Projects T3, the other tube mic that interests me. I wish I could A/B those two. No, come to think of it, I'm getting an ACM 6802, and I'd love to do a three way comparison. Would someone please do that, I'll loan out my 6802 to anyone willing and able.

 

[pohaku]

My take on it is this: none of the mics you have listed is a bad mic. In fact, as you have already noted, all have received glowing praise from other posters and published reviews.

Some are better at some applications than others (the MD421 for example). Some will sound at least good on more applications than others (IMHO like the SM7 for example). If you are looking for a mic as a general purpose mic to cover a lot of bases and do it well, then something like the SM7 is a "safer" bet than the MD421. The SM7 doesn't necessarily solo the best, but it works exceptionally well in a mix. That said, each mic will sound different on a particular voice (some better and some worse), and the only way to truly know which mic fits which voice the best is to try them. If you can't do such a shoot out, then you play the odds and pick the mic that is most likely to sound good on the most applications. If you want to listen to an album made using mostly an SM7, pick up Tim O'Regan's recent album (Jayhawks drummer). All the vocals, guitars and most of the other instruments were recorded with one of my SM7s (if I remember right, drum overheads were AT-4050s, kick was Audix D6, snare was SM-57).

 

[dgatwood]

Of those, I'd probably pick the 4047, but if you're looking for a radically different sound, you probably won't find it there. You might look into some of the tube condensers. I'm particularly a fan of the CAD M9. It's a hybrid tube/FET design that sounds quite a bit nicer (without mods) than most of the low-end pure-tube condensers, at least on my voice (high tenor).

 

[blue4u]

I haven't used the SM7b myself (plan on getting one soon) but it's been recommended that you have a nice preamp to use with it otherwise, it won't sound as great as people are saying it is here. In other words, it's a quiet mic. I think you need 50 to 60db of gain from the preamp to get a strong enough signal. Many stock preamps that come with audio interfaces won't get that loud without introducing some noise. So, you might take that into consideration...

Rich

 

[bubbagump]

The SM7 is a mic you never out grow... it works great on vocals, guitar amps, snare, kick sometimes... horns, piano... Hell, I have used it on damn near everything. I also have a few MD421s. They are more limted as find they work primarily on the occasional guitar cab and toms. Toms especially (duh). As for the preamp, I wouldn't get to worried about that. A simple little DMP3 will work fine. The SM7 isn't the most sensitive mic in the world (not a bad thing!), so you won't be using it on harp or dulcimer likely... but anything with a reasonable volume will work just fine with an SM7 and a decent-ish pre.

Here are clips of things with an SM7 that I have done:

<Vox

<Vox, guitar amp, snare

< Upright bass

< Vox (hey, it was a kid auditioning for some summer camp...)

< Vox, bass clarinet

< Vox

 

[cavedog101]

Any preamp with a decent amount of gain without noise will work on an SM7. It is not a mic I would use for acoustic instruments but it will serve you for years without fail on most any other source.

The KSM32 is a better mic on acoustic guitar, mandolins, fiddles etc...The 4047 is an incredible sounding mic on particlar voices and demonstrates that big 'In-Your-Face' sound.

The Rode is a nice mic and is a bit bright. Some engineers have no problem with 'bright' as it does have its place. Not as versatile as the Shure KSM32.

The 421 is a SwissArmyKnife mic........It sounds good on anything BUT it is not a mic I put up first for vocals and I think its because its a bit awkward for some folks to 'work'.........Its also kinda thin in comparison to the SM7.

I hope you had the opportunity to try an SM7 before you buy it. First impressions of this mic can sometimes run to 'dull' or 'flat'. Its neither in a real-time recording situation, but you cant really know that till you hear one with a bunch of other tracks. My favorite thing about this mic is its ability to cut through ANY dense mix for a vocal without having to boost any highs or upper-mids to do so.

Its also a GREAT mic for 'LIVE' in the studio tracking. Very very good rejection to the sides and its pattern is very tight.

 

[Dax Productions]

For rock/hip hop vocals I'd definitely get the sm7. If you want something a bit more versatile, maybe the at4047, although in that class of AT condensers, I prefer the 4033.

 

[Corndog]

I got an AT 2020 and an AT 2021 pencil as a bundle fer around $200 [?] and I love 'em.
I use the 2021 on the treble side f hole on uprite slap bass and get a great sound.

 

[zebra]

just bought this one matched pair, oktava mk 105. very nice in mids and low. nice high end detail too. 300€

http://www.oktava-shop.com/view_prod.php?id=15

 

[kidvybes]

thanks, very helpfull. I have a well constructed sound booth which keeps everything but someone banging hard on the door out, so little sounds getting in is not an issue. Is the dynamic still preferred over the condenser in this case?

...I have to echo most of what Pohaku has said in reference to the SM7...that said, if you want a bit more "air" and "sheen" than is characteristic of the SM7, you should consider the Heil PR series mics...as dynamic mics voiced to sound like condensers, the Heils are very unique and well respected, as well as relatively bargain-priced pro mics...my experience with the PR40 and the SM7 primarily as vocal tracking mics leads me to strongly recommend either...in my minimally treated recording space, both perform better than my condenser options (Mojave MA200, SP T3, Rode K2, MXL V77, etc)...

...if, on the other hand, as you say you have a well-built isolation booth, you would do well to consider (as has been recommended) the Studio Projects T3...I have quite a few valve condenser mics, and on a cost/performance evaluation, the T3 stands out as a terrific bargain...smooth, clear and very accurate reproduction of the source material make it an outstanding value (I got mine 2nd hand for $250)...so based on your premise of "best under $600", you could actually purchase 2 very fine mics at that price point from these 3 options: SM7/Heil PR40/SP T3 (used)...money well spent!

 

[Supercreep]

I like the RE20 for vox.

Condenser wise, I'd be looking for an AT 4050

 

[nuemes]

This is an old post but for $600 I'd get a SM7 & AT4033, assuming you don't already have those bases covered. They're both avail new for $300 (and under) if you search around a bit.

Much better than any single $600 condensor because you'll cover more bases. If your budget is $1600 then I'd say you can do better for a single mic and make the jump to Telefunken, Nuemann, Pearlman, etc.