Crap microphones

  • Thread starter Thread starter PhilGood
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PhilGood

PhilGood

Juice box hero
I think we need to list any mics that we feel are absolutely useless! I think it should be a sticky and would help newbies be able to see right up front which mics are being pawned off as decent for the price, but in reality are just about as junk as can be.

My nomination: MXL 2001 and 2001P

These are junk and no one should waste any money on them! If we can get the manufactured pressured, we can stop these from being portrayed as tools.

Anyone else?

List the mics you know to be complete CRAP!!!

Ready?...GO!
 
PhilGood said:
I think we need to list any mics that we feel are absolutely useless! I think it should be a sticky and would help newbies be able to see right up front which mics are being pawned off as decent for the price, but in reality are just about as junk as can be.

My nomination: MXL 2001 and 2001P

These are junk and no one should waste any money on them! If we can get the manufactured pressured, we can stop these from being portrayed as tools.

Anyone else?

List the mics you know to be complete CRAP!!!

Ready?...GO!
Click to expand...


No matter how I tried setting this thing up, it just wouldn't work.
And don't get me started on that so-called noiseless cable.
Farking waste of money, in my opinion.
 

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this could get busy ...if i see my microphone being mentioned that everyone slags ...the akg c3000b.. then i may be forced to defend the little critter:)
 
The "Realistic" microphone. There is nothing realistic about it.
 
WhiteStrat said:
Me too. But what's your take on the same mic w/the famous Oktavamod? Or do you have any experience with it?
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It's a very good mic with the Mod (PE) in my experience. I had one and only sold it after I picked up a couple of far more expensive mics (a BLUE Kiwi and a badass mic that Philgood put together for me) which I use for the same sources-- vocals, acoustic guitar, occasional amp room mic (I don't record drums at my place).
 
PhilGood said:
My nomination: MXL 2001 and 2001P
Click to expand...
The MXL 2001 is good for using to learn how to solder -- that's what I've been using mine for. Questions like "just how long can I press the tip of the soldering iron against that circuit board without causing any serious damage?" pester newbies like me, but they're all getting put to rest, thanks to the MXL 2001.
 
MXL 990. Until this I never thought something could be harshly bright and delightfully boxy at the same time.

And yet, I've heard others do decent things with it. Maybe I should try again...Nah. I've got scabs to pick. :D
 
Karma K-micro. Tiny and useless.

Ok I take that back, they work pretty good as a talkback mic.
They are supposed to be cardoid, but are more egg-shaped response (still aimable but picks up the whole room). And since they are so tiny they take very little desk space. Plus they are a good conversation piece and worth a laugh by people who see the mic fitted in a XLR connector.

For recording the noise is too high and SPL handling is horrible. Meaning you have a very limited range of dynamics to work with.
BUT for $0.99 I feel bad complaining. :o
 
Ahhhhhhhh, I knew the c1000s would come up before ten replies in. :)

I feel the need to come to its defense a little (I love underdogs) and state that it's my go-to mic for banjo. Mmmmmmmmmm, banjo. I also quite frequently use it as a mono overhead for my live small pub drum gigs. I find it does a respectable job of carrying the toms on a small PA. It's also seen some use in my studio as a handheld interview/VO mic for radio commercial production - pretty good for that, actually.

I don't think I have any mics in my locker that I despise. I can usually find something productive for them to do.

Jon M
 
I'll second the MXL 2001-p. I don't even remember what I did with mine, lol.
 
Add the Behringer B-1. Although I've never owned one, I did audition one in the store once. Cuts right through the ear wax.
 
jonmatthews said:
Ahhhhhhhh, I knew the c1000s would come up before ten replies in. :)

I feel the need to come to its defense a little (I love underdogs) and state that it's my go-to mic for banjo. Mmmmmmmmmm, banjo. I also quite frequently use it as a mono overhead for my live small pub drum gigs. I find it does a respectable job of carrying the toms on a small PA. It's also seen some use in my studio as a handheld interview/VO mic for radio commercial production - pretty good for that, actually.

I don't think I have any mics in my locker that I despise. I can usually find something productive for them to do.

Jon M
Click to expand...

You can defend just about any mic for live situations because a P.A. isn't really high fidelity audio, or at least shouldn't be considered so IMO.

In a recording situation, if you put up an SM81 where you used the C1000, that 1000 would wind up on eBay in about an hour.
 
Daisy said:
Why not just get a decent mic in the first place?
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Why didn't I think of that??

Actually, I have done just that, many times now. Unfortunately, before I did that--long before--I bought a crappy 219 (my very first condenser in fact). Which begs the question: does a $250 overhaul make this as useful or moreso than a new $250 mic, or do I chuck it? ('Cuz I certainly don't record with it...)
 
Daisy said:
Why not just get a decent mic in the first place?
Click to expand...

Pardon the poor grammar, but:
- because even if all you keep is the body and grill of a mic, it still cheaper than having custom metal work done. If the body and grill work, you can put in whatever guts that fit that you want . Even the supper crapulent mxl 2001 was the basis for the well-known Royer mod. Scott Dorsey talked about how part of the reason that the stock MXL 2001 sucks so much is because the capsule isn't powered properly, which is a large part of what the Royer mod corrects (and what is different in the Mojave mics (which IIRC, use ADK capsules).

- because, a good tech will change everything that matters without the kind of markup you will see in a retail product.

- because companies like Telefunken, Shinybox, Charter Oak, and Mojave audio, among others, do exactly that and incorporate a cost increase that suits them, plus all of the steps of the retail market in between.

WhiteStrat said:
Why didn't I think of that??

Actually, I have done just that, many times now. Unfortunately, before I did that--long before--I bought a crappy 219 (my very first condenser in fact). Which begs the question: does a $250 overhaul make this as useful or moreso than a new $250 mic, or do I chuck it? ('Cuz I certainly don't record with it...)
Click to expand...
IMHO it does and I've owned a PE modded MK-219 and numerous $250 mics.
 
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