Best LDC for $200

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Kasey

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My friend is in the market for an LDC, with a budget of $200. Right now he's looking at the Studio projects C1, the AT3035, and the Rode NT1. It will be used mainly for vocals and drum overheads.

PS he's in a punk rock band (without much screaming, fortunately.) Oh and he has a folk sort of side project so i bet he'd end up using it for acoustic guitar too.
 
yup the cad is nice, AT 4033 or 4040 might cost a couple more bucks but would be worth it, C1 ain't bad either, you can get a C3 from Warhead for $269
 
I'm actually in the same boat...I'm leaning towards the C1. What about the AKG Perception 200? Anyone check it out? it's $160. What about the MXL 960 tube for a little more? $250. ? Any others?? Thanks guys :)
 
the match is now down to the studio projects C1 and the Rode NT1. we've ruled out the 3035.
 
...of those two choices, the C1 gets the nod...but a clean, used Rode NT1000 (much better mic than the NT1) for about the same money (on Ebay) is an option...
 
Man, that's a great price on that C3. I've grown to dislike the C1's sound, but the C3 is a FINE mic.

I find the NT1-A to be a really clean mic that has a way of sounding not quite as good as it should be given the specs. I'd choose an SP B1 or even the much mixed response MXL 990 over the Rode. The 603 that comes with the 990 will be useful for that acoustic guitar you mention in the first post.
 
out of those two, i'd go with the SP C1, i dont like the NT1 all that much

The AT 4050 is a nice mic, but that's another $100 ontop of the $200.
MXL 990 for half that price, and most stores do the 990/991 deal for $100.

the SP C3 usually go for about $350
Anyone have any experience with the AT 3033?
 
I used an ADK A-51S that a muso had brought in for a session the other day. I ended up using it on all the vocals for 4 songs that were tracked that day. A very impressive mic for under $200 ($150 I think). I used it on both male and female vox with stunning results. It didn't seem like the output was as hot as a C1 but the sound was great. Real transparent and mellow. No hyped highs like the C1.

I would definately recommend it to anyone on a budget.
 
the nt1 still has a super low noise floor... which is keeping it attractive... and its response is flatter than the C1.
 
the studio projects c1 is your best bet. it's actually competitive with microphones in a much higher price range. it's an excellent vocal mic with clear, crisp response on vocals and instruments. highly recommended in the $100 - $700 range, or as a suitable alternative to the overpriced U87.
 
Kasey said:
the nt1 still has a super low noise floor... which is keeping it attractive... and its response is flatter than the C1.
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I've tried the NT1A and didn't care for it. Specs aren't necessarily that useful when choosing mics. The original NT1's were pretty good from what I hear, but when they redesigned it with cheaper components and manufacturing, the sound changed for the worse. Try the M-Audio Luna or if he can spring and extra 100 try the Solaris. I'm seriously looking at one of those based on rave reviews by several here, just need to find a local shop that has them so I can try them out.
 
applejax said:
What about the AKG Perception 200? Anyone check it out? it's $160
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Interestingly enough, I got a chance to try one out on a session not long ago, and it wasn't half bad. Has a pronounced presence peak to it like most LDC's in it's price range do. I was pleasantly surprized with it, though. Not half bad.
 
The SP C1 is not a particularly good OH or acoustic guitar mic. Of the 120 or so mics we've used and tested with The Listening Sessions, ones in the $200 [ give or take ] range that can work well on vocals and OH's and acoustic guitar:


Red5 Audio RV8
ADK Vienna or Hamburg
Audio-Technica 4040
Oktava MK319
Oktava MC012
Studio Projects B1
CAD M179

My 2¢.
 
Kasey said:
PS he's in a punk rock band (without much screaming, fortunately.) Oh and he has a folk sort of side project so i bet he'd end up using it for acoustic guitar too.
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haha, this is the story of every new punk band nowadays i think.
 
Interestingly enough, I got a chance to try one out on a session not long ago, and it wasn't half bad. Has a pronounced presence peak to it like most LDC's in it's price range do. I was pleasantly surprized with it, though. Not half bad.
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So what would this compare to a C1? :)
 
applejax said:
So what would this compare to a C1? :)
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Not as scooped out, I guess. Little more solid in the midrange, and thus more versatile. Just like with anything else, it would depend on the voice.
 
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