broadcast mics - how expensive are they *really*?

[wes480]

I always heard (and believed) when I was 16 or 17 that a lot of the mics they have in radio stations and such for broadcast cost like 15,000 dollars? or something...my dad always told me that...he works in radio a bit...but, doesn't know that much really.

It just seems that I always heard about mics like that before I got into recording..

Now that I am....I see like, 3-4 grand as a pretty high limit for a mic to cost..all things considered. But...I am of course not looking at all of the 'options'.

So, are mics used for radio broadcast and such really that expensive? Or is that just some myth. Becuase I don't see how a C1 or an NT2 or NTK or a Marshall or whatever else wouldn't be more than good enough...

 

[mixmkr]

electrovoice re20 = $325 approx street price. Kicks butt over most sub $300 LD condensors, imo and looks like a gawd awful starwars ray gun, and weighs about 5 times that of a shure sm57. beau-ti-muss on kick drums and just about in every radio station you see (especially the TV clips of control rooms )

 

[Michael Jones]

I don't know, thats a good question.
David Letterman uses an RCA 77DX, so does Larry King. At least thats what they look like. Johnny Carson used to use an old RCA as well. Howard Stern uses som kind of Neumann, looks like an M149 or M150. Those guys are pretty much heavy weights in the broadcast industry. I figure they, of all people, could use what ever they want. None of those mics come near $15,000.

 

[chessrock]

The first "real" vocal microphone I bought after getting a "real" job was an SM-7 for about $500 so I guess that pretty much settles this debate. Harvey Gerst always talks about his, and understandably so. It's just a fine, warm-sounding mic. Works just as good on vocals as it does voice-over and broadcasting.

Actually the Shure SM-7 is another standard in the Broadcast industry along with the RV-20. I've used both in two of my radio stints (in a past life). Howard Stern doesn't use one, but Robyn, his assistant, talks in to an SM-7.

I used to stay late at one of the stations I worked at, so I could record some tracks using those mics, the reel-to-reels, and the DAT recorders (which, at the time, we all thought were the shit). I'd show up all tired the next morning and the station manager would say: "You been up late recording your music again?" He was a musician too, so I'm sure he had done the same thing, though he never admitted it out loud.

 

[crawdad]

I've seen the RE-20's in the few radio stations I have visited. I have also seen AT 4033's on a few of the talk shows from time to time. I'd love to have one of those RCA "jellybean" mics!

Here in Detroit, every studio that does voiceover and commercial work seems to have an AKG 414 as standard equipment, by the way. My 2 cents.

 

[philboyd studge]

I posted this in another thread but it's a great site to get a handle on broadcast mics, old and newer:
http://www.k-bay106.com/mics.htm

It appears vintage broadcast mics are very collectable.

 

[Cave Dweller]

alot of lower budget and college stations use sennheiser 421s. great mic, in my opinion. it has a 5 position bass roll off.

 

[Michael Jones]

Here's another site for vintage mics. This guy does repairs and rebuilds of vintage mics. Its worth a look, this guy is amazing!
http://www.bigdmc.com/mic-repair.htm

 

[lavoz]

I worked in radio for eight years...a thousand years ago...the choice mic for any braodcaster at that time was an EV RE-20. You'll often see the the RODE Boradcaster in use today, but more often than not, EV remains a constant. However, in very small markets, folks are still using Shure ball mics. On the issue of using C-1, or C-3, IMHO either one would make an excellent choice as a station mic. The only major concern, how would they holdi up to daily use (misuse) by so many people. Shennheiser is also a popular mis in a broadcast setting.

 

[lavoz]

Hey Phil,

Excellent site...kbay106! I remember that one.

 

[wes480]

thanks for the info guys. yeah...i didn't think radio station mics cost 15,000 just making sure. hehe.

 

[chessparov]

The Peavey PVM 520i according to a review in pro rec is a "sleeper"
large diaphram dynamic for under $175.00 new!
The article is "True Love" and the website is www.prorec.com
Just use the search feature.....

P.S. I have a Sennheiser 421 MKII and love it!

 

[Mark H.]

Chess,

Have you been able to *find* the Peavey 520i?

It's bad for the soul to think ill of one's dad, so in his defense I'll say it is possible that a good radio station mic could cost $15,000 -- some collectors have spent far more than that for their favorite microphone. Perhaps his station was using a prized, vintage Telefunken ELAM 251.

However, as mentioned above, one of the most-used radio mics is the Electro-Voice RE-20, which retails for $800, has a normal Internet street price of $429, and is available brand new from BSW (who must buy them by the gross to get this discount) for $369 (definitely a best-buy at that price). It's the mic you see on the desk of the "Frasier" TV show set.

I just bought the successor to the RE-20, the RE-27, and I have to say it has a gorgeous tone on spoken voice. Soon I hope to audition the RE-20 and RE-27 side by side. Physically, the RE-27 has a polished case and looks great. Both are solid steel and tough as nails; they're both dynamics and do not require phantom power. Both are designed to be boom-mounted from above.

I've also seen the SM7 used a lot. Given the rough use many mics get at radio stations, I don't think a sensitive condenser would be a great choice (unless you took it home with you at the end of your shift).

Best wishes,

Mark H.

 

[lavoz]

Hey Mark,

I was just reading a thread on "cheap mics" where you recommended the GT AM62...do you own one...I'm thinking about adding another mic (a tube mic, if possible) to my cabinet. It will be used for V/O's and narration. The RE20 is a great mic, I used those years ago when they first came out. A great mic for the "spoken" voice!

 

[Mark H.]

Lavoz,

No, I do not own one, but read on.

The GT AM62 (which just sold out at ZZounds.com but may be available from other sources for as little $400 -- make sure the price includes the power supply, cable, shockmount and case) is one of the 49 mics that Lynn Fuston used on his mic shootout CD (www.3DAudioinc.com). On that recording, with those voices, it was one of my top picks. Of course, it was still a $1500 microphone when they tested it, don't forget.

There is still a music store on eBay trying to get $1000 (and another $875) for the same mic (but watch out for the guy selling the mic by itself -- where'd he get it, and why doesn't it have its power supply, etc.?).

Basically, if you can pick it up for $400 new and complete (or in excellent used condition), I doubt you'll ever be sorry. I re-listened to parts of the mic shootout CD again this morning just to hear if the GT AM62 tracks still sounded as good to me as I remembered. They did. It has a huge presence, warmth and fullness that worked for both the female and male vocalists. It seemed a bit noiser than the very, very best mics, but that could have been the singer's voice on that take -- I can't tell.

I've already got the Studio Projects T-3, or I would have snapped up a GT AM62 as soon as Zzounds announced they were on sale. On the shootout CD, it easily out-performed the Rode Classic for instance, which sounded smaller and more closed in, at least to my ears. (It also sounded a damn sight better than the Neumann M-147, but that's a whole other story.)

If you can find one and decide to buy it, please be sure to let me know what you think of it. I'd love to hear more than just those two recorded samples.

Best wishes,

Mark H.

Zzounds.com says, "Availability: Not in stock - next shipment to our warehouse expected 02/17/02." That's for the GT AM62 at $399.99 and free shipping.