The best mic I have had so far is a Behringer B-1. So, it's time for me to step up, and spend some money. I'm looking to spend anywhere from $600 to $1200.
Mic will be used for vocals, guitar cabs, overheads, etc.
Looks like these are my options.... or at least, the mics I know I can buy locally.
Shure KSM44 - $799
Studio Projects T3 - $839
Rode K2 - $699
NT2000 - $599
Blue Baby Bottle - $599
I am leaning towards the KSM44 because it seems to be highly recommended.
Any thoughts?
Any other mics in the price range I should consider ?
Everything that follows is my opinion, nothing more....and nothing less.
The sound you get with a mic is only as good as the best sound you get from your preamp. At the very least, you can make sure you dont put any chinese tubes in your ART preamp. It's not a bad preamp, judging by the spec sheet.
Whomever above said that you should buy from a place that will let you test and return the mic is spot on. The most futile endeavour I've pursued in recent years is trying to compare microphones by listening to sound clips on the internet. Wasted time. The only valid sound clip comparisons are the ones you make yourself using the mics in your studio on your gear, and then playing back the clips side by side on your own monitors. That is the only way you will be able to judge the differences at all. Listening to clips on the web will tell you nothing about what kind of sound YOU will get using those same mics.
The Mojave mic is an awesome American made piece of transducer beauty.
You will never be happy with the sound of a chinese made mic.......unless the only mics you ever try yourself are chinese made mics. The moment you hear side by side compares of tracks made with chinese mics and tracks made with non-chinese mics, you will never (want to) buy another chinese made mic. I understand there are budget forces in control most of the time, but IF money were not a concern, and you could compare any mics your heart desires, I guarantee you would never buy another chinese made mic.
The German and Australian and Austrian mics are good......but imo the American and Japanese mics are better, assuming a comparable price and spec sheet.
Never underestimate the value of a good ribbon mic. For $500-600 bucks you can get
a Beyer M130 (I think that's what it is, might be M160?) that will never let you down. Even in the budget category, a $100 dollar ribbon mic like the Apex 210 will always give better results than any $100 dollar dynamic or $100 dollar condensor mic.
If your best mic to date has been a Behringer, then I assume you are recording at home, probably not for money? If so, then you should consider the caliber of your other gear as well. For example, if everything else you have says "Behringer" on it, then it will not benefit you to spend $1200 dollars on a single mic.
Couple that with the fact that no one mic is right for everything (although a few of them come close!) you can do a lot better if you lower your expectations and spend $1200 bucks on 2 or 3 good mics instead of on 1 great mic. Just the fact that you want to use mics as overheads means you should be looking for 2 mics, not 1. Acoustic guitar is better with 2 mics. You can record 2 singers better with 2 mics. etc..... As good as I think the Mojave mics are, if I had $1200 bucks I'd get two $600 dollar mics before I'd buy just one Mojave. (I always have second thoughts when I say that, though! Mojave's are nice!)
Heck, for $1200 bucks you could get two AKG C414's and cover almost any base you want to cover......and you will find a use for multi-pattern if you have it. It isn't that hard, and it adds so much to your sound canvas.
Of course, there are exceptions to every opinion....aint nuthin wrong with having an RE20 or a good old fashioned American made Shure SM7. Cant go wrong with either one of those. I've heard a ton of great things about the Heil PR30 and PR40, but I dont know where they are made. Wont stop me from trying one........ and there aint nuthin wrong with that KSM44 either! Very nice mic!
