Crap microphones

[Rust E-Z]

also a Russian capsule sounds different than anything that comes out of Germany, and especially china. After the mods they are in the same class but just a little different. always nice to have another color in your pallet. And it allows you to work your way toward a good mic in installments.

 

[Somnium7]

I'll +1 on Realistic - all of them...

I'm not entirely sure what is so bad about the MK-219. granted it isn't anything special but I find uses for mine which is stock. For the type of music I do it fits right in on some tracks.

Although my Sennheiser MD-441 U Kicks it's ass in EVERY situation for the money of a Realistic the MK-219 is a good deal.

 

[MichaelJoly]

"...does a $250 overhaul make this (Oktava MK-219) as useful or moreso than a new $250 mic, or do I chuck it? ('Cuz I certainly don't record with it...)

You can judge for yourself - here's a modified MK-219 against a $4500 Neumann M149. Here's a modified MK-219 in the midst of some "new" U47 type mics.
And here are a few of the 200+ OktavaMod user reviews.

 

[dgatwood]

Even the supper crapulent mxl 2001 was the basis for the well-known Royer mod.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it does.

http://www.answers.com/crapulent&r=67

 

[kojdogg]

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it does.

http://www.answers.com/crapulent&r=67

haha
pardon me
i just flashed back to the beavis and butthead episode where someone explains to beavis what a bunghole is

 

[leddy]

I came accross a deal on an EV635 so I grabbed it. Not sure what it's good for. I just ran through all my mics just see what I have not used in a while and may want to sell to purchse other things I want. When I plugged in the EV635 next to my other dynamics (RE20, M88, M201, SM58) I almost laughed. Sounds like I'm talking on the phone. What the hell is thing good for?

 

[WhiteStrat]

I came accross a deal on an EV635 so I grabbed it. Not sure what it's good for. I just ran through all my mics just see what I have not used in a while and may want to sell to purchse other things I want. When I plugged in the EV635 next to my other dynamics (RE20, M88, M201, SM58) I almost laughed. Sounds like I'm talking on the phone. What the hell is thing good for?

At first I thought it the same as an old EV I've got--a 623 that's great like an old Shure 545 on guitar cabs and harps--but then I realized you're talking about something different.

The 635 you've got isn't actually meant to plugged in to anything. It's a stage prop for the Miss America Pageant host.

 

[PhilGood]

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it does.

http://www.answers.com/crapulent&r=67

Maybe Koj meant "craptacular".

(Koj, I should have your power supply done soon!)

 

[LP2006]

anything best buy sells should raise a red flag.....

 

[sound125]

I've never had much use for MXL mics, which includes the V67 and 603. Don't much care for the SP C1, C2 or Rode NT1A and NT5. The only budget line of mics that I've had any luck with are Audio Technicas and Shure. I like mics that have a pleasing midrange quality and smooth silky highs. I have found none of those qualities in the budget mics I've used.

 

[antichef]

Even the supper crapulent mxl 2001...

I thought Koj got crapulent after supper, and even the 2001 started sounding good

But I agree -- I'm certain I couldn't get a mic better than my modded MK-319 for what I paid for it plus the mod cost.

 

[Daisy]

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.

You could also just buy a decent mic in the first place.

 

[WhiteStrat]

I've never had much use for MXL mics, which includes the V67 and 603. Don't much care for the SP C1, C2 or Rode NT1A and NT5. The only budget line of mics that I've had any luck with are Audio Technicas and Shure. I like mics that have a pleasing midrange quality and smooth silky highs. I have found none of those qualities in the budget mics I've used.

I just got a pair of NT5 and I love 'em--for acoustic and drum OHs. But they were replacing something that was clearly craptacular/crapulent. In other words, maybe I don't know any better.

Help educate me and tell me what you like about some others relative to the NT5s. Thanks!

 

[jonmatthews]

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.

Re: live situations, I agree with you. I was just providing an example of a good use I've found for the much-maligned c1000s. I've never used a Shure SM81, but I do have many well-respected mics in my locker, both SDCs and LDCs...and through trying many of them, for me, the c1000s can't be topped for sitting the banjo right where I like it in a mix. That is the ONLY instrument I'd favor it on, though!

Jon M

 

[kojdogg]

You could also just buy a decent mic in the first place.

true, but i choose to aim higher than decent. i own a stock blue kiwi that i like and probably won't mess with

 

[antichef]

You could also just buy a decent mic in the first place.

If I did this professionally or semi-professionally, and I needed a good mic I could use right now for a bunch of sessions that I had scheduled later this week, and I knew what I was doing, then absolutely - makes no sense to dick around with a cheap mic for lord knows how long. The time and energy I save and the good tracks I start getting with a good mic in the first place would be worth much more than the differential in cost.

On the other hand, if I'm doing it non-professionally, only recording myself and other people who can wait ten years for anything to get done with no complaints and can re-track repeatedly until the cows come home, I actually enjoy fussing around with something cheap that eventually gets interestingly better, and I don't so much know what I'm doing [so a) there's a chance I might go out and plop down $2k for the *wrong* mic, b) the modding process is actually helping me learn what I'm doing], then...

 

[ch2os7]

banjo and...

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

Not bad on dobro either.

 

[PhilGood]

Re: live situations, I agree with you. I was just providing an example of a good use I've found for the much-maligned c1000s. I've never used a Shure SM81, but I do have many well-respected mics in my locker, both SDCs and LDCs...and through trying many of them, for me, the c1000s can't be topped for sitting the banjo right where I like it in a mix. That is the ONLY instrument I'd favor it on, though!

Jon M

I don't think the C1000s could be classified as a true "crap mic". I think it falls into the "ify" category. Folks go back and forth with that mic, so it has merit. I've heard some decent recordings with it. I've also heard bad recordings. Even the C3000 can be ok on somethings.

They just can't compete on a crap level with the likes of the 2001.