First post! New Mic: CAD M179 or MXL 960 for vox/acoustic

[Tag1]

Hey guys,

I am going to be getting a new mic soon for my extremely budget studio. I just acquired a ART Tube MP, so I'll be using that as a pre (I know it's cheap but better than nothing) into my M-Audio USB Fast Track Pro, and Reaper is the software. All I'm recording is male/femal vox and acoustic guitar/acoustic bass. So far I've been using a 58 on everything, which has been ok, but still sounds pretty flat and one dimensional:

myspace.com/taganov

I'd like to improve the quality of the next tracks I record substantially, so I've learned a bit more about recording technique as far as the room goes, which should help too. But I'm trying to get the best sounding all purpose LDC for around $200 and these two seem to fit the bill. If you have any other suggestions, please chime in, I could probably swing up to $250-300 for an extraordinarily superior mic...

Thanks so very much for your help, I definitely look forward to learning a lot here and contributing what I can!

 

[LP2006]

I think the CAD M179 would be an excellent first condenser. Sounds decent, switchable polar patterns, hours of fun.

 

[mrface2112]

fred, welcome! i dropped you a PM with more info....but here's some cliff's notes for those keeping score at home.

I think the 960 is a great vocal mic and is even better with a good tube in it. It's the first mic that's ever made my voice sound "big" and "good" (my voice needs some help!). Can't go wrong for the $150 or whatever they go for. I've got an NOS RCA blackplate 12ax7 in mine--not cheap, but worth every penny. really brings out the character in that mic.

It's NOT an all-arounder. It works good on some electric guitar tracks, but I've got other mics i prefer on acoustic guitars, overheads, etc. I keep 960 around solely for vocal duty.

As an all-purpose "LDC", I would more recommend the Studio Projects B1 or the old MXL V77 (admittedly both are closer to mid-sized diaphragms than "large"). The V77 is great on some vocals, some amps, some acoustics and drum overheads. they're a little hard to find these days. the B1 is very neutral and doesn't impart a lot of anything to the track (which could be good or bad). it gets the job done on a lot of things but doesn't really excel at anything either. of course, the B1 isn't my first choice by any stretch of the imagination on vocals.

The CAD may be a better all-arounder for you--i don't have any experience with it. Lots of folks here love em.


cheers,
wade

 

[Daveg62]

I have the Cad M179 and use a pair of them for drum overheads with great success. If you are looking for an all-around condenser I would go with a SP B1 though. Better on vocals and acoustic guitars, amps IMHO

 

[kidvybes]

...the M179 is versatile, but frankly it's a bit unimpressive as a vocal mic...I'd recommend it as an 2nd addition to a more competent vocal mic, but not as a primary purchase when vocals are considered...

...if I remember correctly, someone is selling an SE 2200A in the classified section of this site (within your price range as well)...I would recommend doing a bit of research on that mic...I believe it is a better all around performer than either of those other 2 mics...I have owned all 3 and only the 2200A earned a spot in my home studio mic cabinet...just my .02c...

...you may want to start your research here:
http://www.seelectronics.com/revpdfs/sE2200a/FM_sE2200A_AWARD.pdf

 

[Tag1]

Ok, thanks very much for the feedback so far...that SE 2200a looks to be quite the nice mic...

So now I'm looking at:

CAD M179
SE 2200A
SP B3
MXL 960

With the 2200a being in the forefront, after reading kidvybes comments, and there IS one for sale in the classifieds...

I've got a bit of a louder mid-rangey voice (see mp3's on the myspace), don't know if that helps distinguish what would be the best choice...I know you're supposed to try them each and see what sounds best, but I don't have that option unfortunately...

 

[corban]

I have the B1 and M179. The CAD is definitely a good all round mic, but the one thing it is not very useful for is lead vocals. The B1 on the other hand sounds good on lots of stuff too, and except for some shrill highs is pretty good on vocals. Between those two if you're doing a fair amount of vocal stuff I'd get the B1.

 

[kidvybes]

I've got a bit of a louder mid-rangey voice (see mp3's on the myspace), don't know if that helps distinguish what would be the best choice...I know you're supposed to try them each and see what sounds best, but I don't have that option unfortunately...

...singing technique, mic placement, a good pop screen, room sound treatment, among other controlable factors play an important role in getting good useable tracks...from my experience with the SE 2200A, it is a well balanced cardioid condenser mic that doesn't suffer from the over-hyped "sizzly" top-end common to so many of the inexpensive Chinese mics...it shares the same basic design as the MXL V67G, but is crafted from higher grade components with the added 10dB pad and 100hz cut switches...probably one of the best (if not THE best) $200 condenser you can purchase...

...besides, at that price you can always resell it it without loss (as the mic generally sells for around $300), but I'm fairly confident you won't be sorry you bought it...just take the time to learn proper recording technique before blaming your "hardware" as the faulty element when tracking...there is a "craft" to recording, and learning your craft is always time well spent...Good Luck!

 

[kidvybes]

sorry, duplicate post...

 

[isfahani]

Thanks for pointing those important variables out. when I see these kinds of posts and then no indication of what kind of vocals, it's almost a waste of time to recommend anything due to the nature of mics... and vocals!

For what it's worth I have had great results with the CAD 177 on one particular voice, and acoustic guitar.

http://www.eqmag.com/article/cad-m177-cad/Sep-05/12840
http://cgi.ebay.com/CAD-M177-Cardio...316149349QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320316149349

Then again, the GXL3000 is still on sale: http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/CAD-GXL3000-Microphone?sku=270366

 

[stressfree]

preamp or no preamp

this is my first time posting on this site, ive used it in the past for many questions. i just ordered an mxl 4000 today, and it has a built in pattern selection (figure 8, cardiod, omni). can i use pre amp on all of the settings, or will they be crisp without the preamp

 

[corban]

without the preamp you will get no sound. if it were me, I'd use the preamp. the pattern is not a factor.

 

[stressfree]

well i have an m audio interface, but i heard if you use a real pre amp, you will get crisper vocals, thanks for the help im still new to home recording. im a rapper trying to cut down on costs of going to a real studio.
and i allways get new ideas for music, so its easy for me to record on the spot instead of booking time. ive got a ton of equipment and im still mastering all of it, ive spent so much on sound proof enclosures, korg keyboards, multiple computers, programs, drumkits/samplers, cables/cables/cables. i just dont wanna waste my money

 

[Tag1]

this is my first time posting on this site, ive used it in the past for many questions. i just ordered an mxl 4000 today, and it has a built in pattern selection (figure 8, cardiod, omni). can i use pre amp on all of the settings, or will they be crisp without the preamp

If you've used this site in the past you ought to know to start your own thread since your topic is totally unrelated to mine...

You're also more likely to get more/relevant replies that way.