buying first condenser mic, recommendations?

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ssseals

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I'm going to buy my first condenser mic for my home studio soon, any recommendations? My budget will be around $200. What about the Rode NT-1? What else? Thanks.
 
Depends on what you are going to record. For acoustic guitar, I would buy an Octava MC-012 small diaphragm condensor for $150. It is excellent. For vocals, perhaps a large diaphragm Audio Technica AT-4033 which is $300. I think you will see both of these mics get favorable reviews on this forum.
 
I'd go for a Neumann U87. :D











Uuummm... Ok. Never mind. A couple of options: A lof ot people really like the NT1, though MANY people find it a bit harsh on the high end. I've seen a lot of good things about the Marshall V67g in that price range. I haven't heard one though. If you can go up to ~$300, you'll have a lot more options. The new Rode NT1000 is supposed to sound really good, and that goes for $300. The AT4033 is about the same price at 8th Street music.

If you can, try to get out and listen to as many mics as possible in your price range.

Hope this helps more than the "Sell your left nut to buy the new mic" suggestions that run rampant around here. ;)
 
the 'save more money' approach is a good. but if you really want $200. your choices are slim. i think if you read around the site you will catch recommendations for every mic, and people speaking against every mic. however there are better mics in teerms of qulaity of sound. which are less hyped in the high or low end. and there are mics that have true responses.
 
Id go with KaBudokan on the Marshall.....Ive heard from a couple of people who's ears I trust that some of them are pretty good mics.....the v67, mxl603, and mxl1000 are the ones Id look at....
 
Yep, I have a pair of the Marshall mxl603s and am very happy with them. Also a 4033 with which I've learned alot. Yes, I will save up and get better mics as well, but I believe these mics will continue to get used even after I get better stuff.

I'd say the Marshalls in particular sound much better than their price would suggest. See Harvey G.'s comments on these elsewhere in the forum.

I'm no golden ears, but have been lucky enough to work with a variety of mics over the years, and you don't have to drop 1 Grand to get something you can work with. Heck, you don't even *have* to get a condensor if you're in the lower price range. There's some pretty darn good sounding dynamics in the 200-300 dollar range. Definitely better than some of the "large diapragm" condensors in that range.

But I would recommend checking out the Marshalls if you can.

Jon
 
hi,

I just listened to a bunch of songs recorded on a rode nt1, and it sounded quite good. very good in fact.

But if you can, please save for that AT 4033. It is absolutely awesome. Or maybe the new rode nt1000
 
There's someone on eBay who's selling the Marshall V67 (black...not the shiny green & gold one) for $160. That's the cheapest I've seen.

Isaiah
 
CyanJaguar said:
But if you can, please save for that AT 4033. It is absolutely awesome. Or maybe the new rode nt1000

I love the "please" in that sentence. ;)

I only have one condensor mic for the moment and it's a Rode NT1 that I bought used for $140. I use it for voice, acoustic guitar and some percussions and it's been pretty good to me so far. But I'm no golden ears either. I guess it's a decent condensor mic to start with, considering your budget.
 
c1000

I've used the c1000 quite a bit. For the price of one c1000 you can get a pair of mxl603s and I don't think there's really any comparison. When listening to acoustic guitar recorded with the AKG it really starts to grate on me with repeated listening, something in the high end really bothers me. I haven't had this problem with the Marshalls.

Jon
 
the c1000s sound tinny. i know ive heard some people make some semi decent music with them, but ive been far from impressed. are they still going for $200 a mic? you can get some crown CM700s for that price. but the point is the 603s have been well spoken about by many people. seems like $150 for a pair or whatnot is a rpetty good deal. i would like to test them out one day.
 
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