Help me deGAS - is a new budget LDC worth it?

  • Thread starter Thread starter apratsunrthd
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apratsunrthd

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Hello, All.

I'm (clearly) new to the community here --been lurking a while but no posts. My current setup is very basic:

Mics: MXL990, MXL991
Pre-amp: M-Audio AudioBuddy
Audio Interface: Line6 Toneport UX1

It's just me and my acoustic guitar. I play southern alt-country/americana music a la Drive-By Truckers, Lucero.

I've actually gotten decent results using the MXL990 on the guitar and MXL991 on vocals. So here's the question:

Would I realize any appreciable difference in picking up a 'true' budget (<150)LDC (MXL991 is only 20mm) for vocals? If so, what are your suggestions? I've heard good things about the MXL V67G and SP B1.

Otherwise, if it's smarter just to wait until I can get closer to the $300 range, that's what I'll do. All suggestions/thoughts are appreciated!
 
apratsunrthd said:
I've actually gotten decent results using the MXL990 on the guitar and MXL991 on vocals. So here's the question:
Click to expand...

Funny, I thought it would be the other way around, not that either mic is spectacular in any way. Just decent.

The V67G gets high praise from most. I liked it. Its has a less exaggerated high end.

The SP-1 is more neutral. A good workhorse mic.
 
PhilGood said:
Funny, I thought it would be the other way around, not that either mic is spectacular in any way. Just decent.

The V67G gets high praise from most. I liked it. Its has a less exaggerated high end.

The SP-1 is more neutral. A good workhorse mic.
Click to expand...

Sorry -- you're right, it IS the other way around... the pencil 991 for guitar, MDC 990 (if that's even a designation) for vox.

I don't think they're spectacular either, just workable--I'm just wondering if a mic that's $50 more is going to be worth buying another.
 
apratsunrthd said:
Sorry -- you're right, it IS the other way around... the pencil 991 for guitar, MDC 990 (if that's even a designation) for vox.

I don't think they're spectacular either, just workable--I'm just wondering if a mic that's $50 more is going to be worth buying another.
Click to expand...

the MXL 990 is super brittle, I would not use it for vocal. Try the CAD M177, I learned to appreciate it more the more I use it, good for male vocal IMO, but it's kindda boring.
 
...I've heard some great stuff about the new KEL Audio HM-2D mic...it's a condenser that's voiced like a dynamic...been thinking about getting one myself...price is good ($149 shipped)...their other mics get excellent reviews as well...check it out:

http://kelaudio.com/hm2d.html
 
.........I don't think the difference is substantial enough to blow your mind, certainly nothing that couldn't be reasonably emulated with judicious EQ.

V67 I used quite a bit, touchy at high spl.

B1 is a workhorse, multipattern, a little bright and maybe a little brittle for vox.

I don't think the audiobuddy has enough gain to really drive a nice dynamic, otherwise I'd be recommending an RE-20.
 
I don't own either of the mics you've got so I can't compare but...

I have a V67G and a pair of B1's and both of them are good to have around.

I've really only used the V67G for vox and am pretty happy with the sound. The B1's I've put in on toms, OH's, acoustic guitar and a guitar amp. The only place I didn't really like it was on the amp. Maybe it was just what I had going but it sounded pretty good to me on all the other apps.

Next mic on my list is the SM7B. Looks like a nice dynamic for vox too. Worth a look.
 
Hey Kidvybes,
I hope you get the kel hm 2d
because if i remember right, don't you
have some dynamics that you could compare it to?
Like; Heils, REs, sm7's, etc.?
 
zorf said:
Hey Kidvybes,
I hope you get the kel hm 2d
because if i remember right, don't you
have some dynamics that you could compare it to?
Like; Heils, REs, sm7's, etc.?
Click to expand...

...yes...I have a pretty good selection of dynamics (the SM7B still my fav)...just have to sell something in order to buy something new (it's the "house rule" these days)...probably put one of my guitars up on Craigslist next week to raise some coin...been wanting to buy one of the KELs for a while now...the Heil is a dynamic voiced like a condenser, and the KEL is the reverse configuration...sounds good to me...;)
 
I have a KEL HM-2d and love it.....definantly has a dynamic vib to it....you won't regret it I promise....if you do you cand send it back within 21 days...how can you beat that ...

David B
 
I've got the 990 and 991. I used them to learn some about modding mics, and I've pretty much trashed them both. The 990 is the large one, right? The diaphragm is the same. I remember liking the 990 after one change -- I replaced the capacitor that attaches the capsule to the rest of the electronics on the backside of the circuit board.

"Stock", I didn't like either of them, especially the 990. If you want a cheap LCD that sounds better, try the Oktava MK-319. I have three of those, all of them modded, one by Micheal Joly at Oktavamod (the other two by me). Stock, two of the three were pretty good. Another really cheap one I have that I think sounds better than the 990 is an Apex 430. That one may have been modded before I got it. I also have a MXL 2001 that is essentially the same design as the 430, but sounds horrible.

My favorite cardioid LDC right now for vocals is the Oktamod MK-319, followed by an Audio Technical AT4040, followed by an AKG C414B-ULS (when in cardioid mode) that I somehow got for cheap, followed by the other two MK-319s, followed by the AT4033a (not truly LDC), followed by the Apex 430, followed by the MXL990 (actually an SDC) when it was working, followed by the MXL 2001.

edit - but for stuff *other* than vocals, I generally start with the C414, and the 4033a (actually a pair of them) is nice, too.
 
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