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shadowfax

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heya folks. i just got my drums set up with a bunch of AKGs, (D112, 4x C418, 2x C1000s), an SM57, my Mackie CR1604 and an M-Audio DMP3. (though i plan to replace my C1000s with 603s.) I record into my computer on cubase via a Delta 1010LT (hooked up to a neutrik patch bay so its kinda like the 1010)

anyhow.. now i need to take care of both vocals and electric guitar, acoustic (though perhaps the 603s would suffice when i get them) and possibly even some stringed instruments (violin and viola - until i get a ribbon mic, probably next summer), with one pre and one mic, if at all possible. that is to say, i want a very versatile, high quality set up so i wont have to diversify my mic collection for some time so i can spend cash on other things (like guitar effects, more cymbals, a bass, etc)

I've decided on either a Peavey VMP2 (should the deal i want not fall through... haggling is fun.) or, more likely, a brent averill vintage API mic pre (http://www.brentaverill.com/#apipres)

From what i've read, either should more than take care of that aspect of the signal chain, so now what's left is to decide on a mic. I want something roughly 500$ though i could probably go up to 700 or so if need be.

These are the mics i was considering, thus far:

Something from the TLM series (103, probably. they're going for 500 roughly w/o the shockmount. - or recommend a different TLM if something else is better suited...)

something from Studio projects (i, like everyone else, has heard stellar things about the C1. perhaps the T3 is worth considering as well?)

Recommend something else if you know of a mic i havent thought of. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
 
If you can afford to go a little higher (not much), you can not go wrong with the AKG 414. The TL is just over $1000, but the B/ULS has a street price (or an internet price) of about 750 or so. The 414 is one of the most versitile mics on the planet, and you get a multi pattern mic. I use cardioids a lot of the time, but having other options is very important to me. Just my thoughts.
 
worth consideration, i suppose.. 8thstreet is offering them for 700 with a free pair of K-240 headphones - which aren't exactly sealed, but i suppose i could use nonetheless..

anyone else have any recommendations?
 
The C414B/TLII is a very nice mic. I don't think so highly of the other C414B model. You can get a pretty good price on these from a European dealer. You might try http://www.studiocare.com I think you can get one for a little under $700.

I'd look at the Rode NTK, Studio Projects C1 or C3, Blue Baby Bottle. You might try for a used Rode Classic. Boy, those are sweet.

Good luck,

Steve
http://www.piemusic.com
 
Nice.

So you got smooth. Now you want crisp and/or warm. Hmmm.

Get one of these, just because they're on sale for $300 and they're cool. :)

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=4626&Category=Microphones

And now get one of these because they're so versatile and are good for just about every instrument/voice. It will never suck on anything. And it should be a real nice contrast to the sm7 and the v77:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/love.music?p=p.AUTAT4033SE&z=1438604599086

That should just about cover all your bases for $600.

With the sm7, that would be my "if I had to do it over again" setup.
 
hmmm.. i suppose i could get a couple less expensive mics, but i sorta had my heart set on something with the quality to compliment the brent averill..
 
i said i'd do 700. perhaps a little more... all of this is going to be shipped to my grandparents place in the states so that i can avoid taxes and duties by bringing them back at christmas in a minivan full of 5 kids and two good humored caucasian parents unlikely to be stopped at the border. What does this mean? it means i'll spend whatever i can save between now and then, which will probably be about 3k+ canadian (~2k+ US) on the averill, behringer truth monitors, and whatever's left for the mic. also considering i'm 18 now and will be getting a credit card soon, i can probably spend a little credit too, raising the bar a little more.
 
in other words..

consider 1k my max for a mic to go with my brent averill
 
If you gotta' go with just one outstanding mic, then I'm afraid you're going to have to go even higher.

If you just want the one best all-around mic for $1,000 or under, I'd seriously just look at getting either a TLM-103 or one of these:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=020724174020068020032137755841/search/g=home?q=CAD+E-350

I don't think you'll find much in the $1,000 bracket that will be any better, so you may as well save your money untill you're ready to spend like $3K on a Neumann U87 or something.

You might want to ask Little Dog the same question, though. I assume he'll probably have some $1K gems he'd suggest.
 
With all the lower cost options available, I'd split it up. I'd do the SM7 (Jacko recorded "thriller" on one), and SP C1 or C3 (I prefer the versatility of the C3) for a versatile, transparent vocal mic. Both of those are workhorse mics with bizzillions of applications from project to pro studio. If you really have to spend money to convince yourself you've arrived, buy the Neumann. Personally, I'd rather have sm7 and a C1. Try the 603 in front of the acoustic with the C1 over your shoulder, it really works well for me, although I use Oktava 012 instead of a 603.-Richie
 
Rode NTK
AKG C414B
AT 4047 or 4050
Shure KSM44
Studio Projects C3
Neumann TLM 103

Less money- AT 3035, SP C-1

Skip the Behringers and get a pair of Mackie HR824s.
 
the mackies are too expensive and i've actually heard really good things about those monitors. i know behringer is a bad word around here but they've been recommended by lots of people.

anyhow, perhaps i will split it up. thanks for the feedback, folks.
 
on the other hand, perhaps it'd be worth waiting to get what alan and stephen come up with :D
 
shadowfax said:
on the other hand, perhaps it'd be worth waiting to get what alan and stephen come up with :D
Click to expand...

From the hints that have been dropped so far, I'm guessing that mic will be closer to $1500, although I wouldn't be surprised if it was an order of magnitude better than anything else in it's price range or lower - possibly revolutionizing mic purchasing decisions in the same way the RNC did for low cost compressors.

Meanwhile, I don't have any real strong recommendations, but in addition to the ones mentioned (TLM 103, 414TL, etc.) you may want to add the Shure KSM44, the BLUEberry, and the AT4060 to the list of sub-$1000 mics to check out.

Good luck.
 
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