Choose your favourite mic! All under $400

  • Thread starter Thread starter maffooo
  • Start date Start date

Which under $400 condenser?

  • Audio Technica AT2020

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • MXL V63M

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • Samson C01

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • AKG C1000s

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • AKG PERCEPTION 220

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • Rode NT1A

    Votes: 7 53.8%

  • Rode NT1000

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    13
  • Poll closed .
M

maffooo

New member
Hi all, new here.

I went through the forum quickly and have adapted a vague understanding of what to go for and what to avoid, in terms of a condenser microphones, between the $200 - $400 range.

im buying for recording acoustic and vocal.

i cant buy from ebay since im in nz but heres the list of mics im looking at and their auctions:

the common at2020: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-inst...s/Condenser-microphones/auction-303854166.htm

MXL V63M: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-inst...s/Condenser-microphones/auction-303681845.htm

Samson C01: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-inst...s/Condenser-microphones/auction-303090806.htm

AKG C1000s: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-inst...s/Condenser-microphones/auction-304183876.htm

AKG PERCEPTION 220: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-inst...s/Condenser-microphones/auction-303770743.htm

Rode NT1000: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-inst...s/Condenser-microphones/auction-303134581.htm

Rode NT1A: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-inst...s/Condenser-microphones/auction-303594231.htm


Im currently hot for the Samson C01 and MXL V63M..
Anway. i'd like your opinion / use on the mics mentioned above!

thanks.
 
If I had to go with one of those, it'd be the NT1A. But (A) there are a lot more fish in the sea than what's on that list and (B) there's no "one size fits all" microphone out there...
 
indeed...my favorite mic is my only mic and it's not on the list, MXL 9000 - $200ish.
 
I think you may have a typo in your poll. You're also missing an "Other" or "None oft he above" option.

If I was for some arbitrary reason straightjacketing myself by limiting myself to a condenser only, my vote goes to an MXL V69M (I've never heard of a V63M). We have a V69M in our iso booth and also pull it out for utility work, and it works wonderfully for us.

On the other side of the coin - in one of those rare times where John and I ever disagree on anything - I also have two NT-1s, and find very little use for them where their harshness doesn't completely destroy the sound. Probably the worst $400 I have spent in the studio.

But my real choice for microphone in that price range would not be a condenser at all, but rather an EV RE-20 LDD. Good for everything from vocals to kick drum, and just about everything in-between.

IMHO/YMMV/RSVP/IHOP/ETC.

G.
 
mxl 63m is transformerless and sells for under $100

also no mic on list which I would recommend in other then very specific circumstances

and also like EV RE20's as general purpose solution probably have slightly more affection for the Sennhieser MD421 also dynamic . . . do not typically use it on vocals but see no reason by it couldn't function in some situations

for somewhere in neighborhood of $400 would probably look for AT4050 used or grab some transformer based MXL as cheaply as possible and have OctavaMod modify it with electronics & K47 capsule
 
oretez said:
mxl 63m is transformerless and sells for under $100

also no mic on list which I would recommend in other then very specific circumstances

and also like EV RE20's as general purpose solution probably have slightly more affection for the Sennhieser MD421 also dynamic . . . do not typically use it on vocals but see no reason by it couldn't function in some situations

for somewhere in neighborhood of $400 would probably look for AT4050 used or grab some transformer based MXL as cheaply as possible and have OctavaMod modify it with electronics & K47 capsule
Click to expand...

thanks for everyones response; sorry for the n00bidity but how do we feel about the audio technica AT4033?

this is primarily for vocals. my range is moderate to high, with not alot of body.. i dont know much about this stuff, ive spent all my life composing rather than performing / recording my own voice, but im embracing both worlds now.
 
maffooo said:
thanks for everyones response; sorry for the n00bidity but how do we feel about the audio technica AT4033?

this is primarily for vocals. my range is moderate to high, with not alot of body.. i dont know much about this stuff, ive spent all my life composing rather than performing / recording my own voice, but im embracing both worlds now.
Click to expand...

You might want to think about different micpres that would color your vocals some.
Along with other processing like verb, EQ and compressors. Then you can mold the recordings some to your likings while mixing.





:cool:
 
I like the look of that EV.
I'm up for some suggestions too, guys.
I love my ribbons but I really need to stop footering and get some recording done.
The Bluebird and Baby bottle interest me.
 
Oh and what Glen pointed out is that you did paint your self into a corner with out the possibility to choose *other*. For that was not a very good list of possibilities for the task at hand.

What you have to consider is having two microphones for the task one on vocals and one on guitar.



:cool:
 
absolute #$^ i even emailed the dude, the exchange rate between us vs nz is good atm.

no problem, didnt hear anyones juice against the audio tech. AT 4033 ??

i can MAYBE get something from australia ebay.. nz is quite sheltered in terms of quality second hand goods..

roger on the flawed poll it wont happen again ;)

however sm57s are about $160 on trademe (nz's ebay) but that turns around to be about $115 usd.

yick I JUST WANT MY PERFECT MIC, and now im told mixer, oey..

Jim Lad said:
And... there are two EV RE 20 microphones for sale right here. https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=307266


Never mind. They're gone.
Click to expand...
 
Actually, my answer is multiple "other". For example:

AKG C2000B
B.L.U.E. Bluebird
MXL V67G
Oktava MK319
CAD M179

For my money, the C2000B is perhaps the most versatile sub-$400 condenser on the planet.

Richie
 
maffooo said:
thanks for everyones response; sorry for the n00bidity but how do we feel about the audio technica AT4033?

this is primarily for vocals. my range is moderate to high, with not alot of body.. i dont know much about this stuff, ive spent all my life composing rather than performing / recording my own voice, but im embracing both worlds now.
Click to expand...

The 4033 is a better mic in general than any of the other mics on your original list. It's good on acoustic, but for vocals it depends on the singer.

I had a v63. It can be ok on acoustic, but is a little sibilant on vocals.

If you can go to $425 or so, I would suggest a Shure SM81 for acoustic and an MXL V67g for vocals.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
If I was for some arbitrary reason straightjacketing myself by limiting myself to a condenser only, my vote goes to an MXL V69M (I've never heard of a V63M). We have a V69M in our iso booth and also pull it out for utility work, and it works wonderfully for us.
G.
Click to expand...

I looked on the website and could find a v63m but only a v69xm and a v69 lm.

what de ell man?

btw good idea for a thread! it sets nice parameters for a mic choosing festival. next time i would explain ur choices a bit better though
 
iLogical said:
I looked on the website and could find a v63m but only a v69xm and a v69 lm.

what de ell man?
Click to expand...
Sorry, that was a typo on my part. I actually use the V69 ME, a.k.a. V69 Mogami Edition. And, no, I honestly don't know the difference exactly between the three.

G.
 
wicked thanks for everyones help, has given me alot to think about ;)
 
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