Buying a 2nd pair of condensers: Rode NT5s or Studio Projects C4s?

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Whoopysnorp

Whoopysnorp

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I have had a pair of MXL 603s as my main small-diaphragm condensers for years now, and I think it's time to get something different for variety. A pair of either the NT5s or the C4s is pretty much the same price through my work, so I want to make a smart decision here. I hear that the NT5s are good dependable mics, whereas I've heard that the C4s sound great but the quality control is iffy. I don't want to have to mess with busted mics and doing returns and so forth. Any opinions on either of these?
 
If you already have a pair of 603s I wouldn't even bother getting another pair of SDC mics in that same price range. Lots of other ways to get "variety". What mics do you have and what are you recording?
 
Whoopysnorp! The coolest screen name ever! I still laugh when I think about the thread you started at jordokid's!

Do consider the MSH-1A SDC built by our own mshilarious. Check out the clips, then check out Timothy Lawler's review. And maybe mine, but I don't play as well as Tim.
 
Hehe, I remember that. Jordokid's one cool cat--I haven't heard from him in a while.

Unfortunately, since I don't have any actual money, I'm restricted to buying mics that are available on www.zzounds.com/a--2676837 (I work for them and I have some earned credit that I can only spend here at work). I do like the MXL603s a lot; I just thought that having something else around would be a good idea. Maybe I'll go back to my original idea of taking that money and buying a Jazz Bass...

edit: at $19 each, though, those are very tempting.
 
Whoopysnorp said:
Unfortunately, since I don't have any actual money...
Click to expand...

Actually, last time I checked, the MSH's don't cost any "actual money." Just some spare couch change and whatever they cost to ship.

.
 
You can get the MSH-1A SDCs for less than $50 a pair. That's almost not actual money. And knowing mshilarious, he might consider some kind of trade... :cool:
 
i also heard about him trading small microphones for small furry mammal companions.
 
Peluso CEMC6 is another good option

Whoopy, I had a pair of the NT5 and I did like them... mostly due to the price I paid ($220 new w/ S&H). I primarily used them on acoustic guitar and have only personaly compared them to Oktava 012 and C1000 :( for a SDC. 012 I like for OH drums very much, not so much for acoustic guitar.
I guess what I want to say is depending on where your at w/ Gear, $$$ and Recording abilities... I'd save up another $200 and get something like Peluso CEMC6. You can get a matched pair for $600 and for another $75 get a pair of shockmounts and flight case. The sound & datail these have compared to the NT5 was quite a improvement IMO. They are a very True sound w/ no hype which is what I was looking for. I too was looking for another flavour when I got the NT5 and you probably wouldn't go wrong w/ either pair your looking at... but the CEMC6 IMO are a step up w/ good features too.
http://www.soundpure.com/showProduct.do?id=714
http://cgi.ebay.com/PELUSO-CEMC6-ST...ryZ41466QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Good Luck,
B.
 
oops! I was writing that while you posted you have no $$$.

The $19 mics look interesting......
 
well maybe his company can order those mics?

i got a pair of the MSH mics in the mail today...im gonna try em later
 
chessrock said:
Actually, last time I checked, the MSH's don't cost any "actual money." Just some spare couch change and whatever they cost to ship.

.
Click to expand...

Brother, you don't know just how broke I am.

edit: I didn't realize you were a Chitowner. I am too, these days. Logan Square reprazent!
 
Bucktown / Wicker Park over here. We're practically neighbors.

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So maybe I'd be better off spending my cash on a bass at the moment--I don't currently own my own bass and I kind of need one--rather than a pair of mics that wouldn't be that much of an improvement over what I already have. That sounds reasonable. I'd hate to just throw money at basically duplicating what I already have. Maybe I'll wait on the next pair of small condensers until I can afford to get some really ace ones.
 
Whoopysnorp said:
So maybe I'd be better off spending my cash on a bass at the moment--I don't currently own my own bass and I kind of need one--rather than a pair of mics that wouldn't be that much of an improvement over what I already have. That sounds reasonable. I'd hate to just throw money at basically duplicating what I already have. Maybe I'll wait on the next pair of small condensers until I can afford to get some really ace ones.
Click to expand...

Have you considered modding your 603's?
 
TravisinFlorida said:
Have you considered modding your 603's?
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Hmm...I don't know that I'd necessarily want to, as I like them a lot in stock form, but do you know of any nice mods for them? If it's something that I can do without screwing it up too bad and it makes the mic sound better, I'm all for it.
 
i agree with whom-ever said don't bother, as there will be no serious difference between them and the 603's
 
I have'nt tried any mod's on any of mics yet. Look up the Dorsey mod if you're interested in modding.
 
TravisinFlorida said:
I have'nt tried any mod's on any of mics yet. Look up the Dorsey mod if you're interested in modding.
Click to expand...

That sounds familiar...if that's the one that makes it into a tube mic, I have read about it. I doubt I'll bother, although speaking of mic mods I did recently discover the Manning SM57 mod that involves taking out the transformer. It's pretty simple and it really opens up the top and bottom end (at the cost of dropping the output by a fair amount).
 
Whoopysnorp said:
I have had a pair of MXL 603s as my main small-diaphragm condensers for years now, and I think it's time to get something different for variety. A pair of either the NT5s or the C4s is pretty much the same price through my work, so I want to make a smart decision here. I hear that the NT5s are good dependable mics, whereas I've heard that the C4s sound great but the quality control is iffy. I don't want to have to mess with busted mics and doing returns and so forth. Any opinions on either of these?
Click to expand...
SE3's
http://www.seelectronics.com/
 
I've never used the c4's but I can vouch for the nt5's. I have quite a few different small diaphragm condensers at my studio, some which cost quite a bit more and I opt for the NT5's from time to time. I've gotten some really good acoustic guitar sounds with them. I recently recorded a well trained jazz player using a nylon string classical guitar with one single Nt5 and he (and I) loved the tone. I guess I should factor in I used a UA 610 pre with it, although I have gotten really good acoustic guitar tones with a nt5 and mackie pres too. Good luck.
 
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