Help me pick out my second LD condensor

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Whoopysnorp

Whoopysnorp

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It's high time I buy a second large-diaphragm condensor mic. For several years now, my only one has been a CAD M-37, which I actually like quite a lot as an all-around 'point it at anything' type workhorse. And I do have access to my roommate's Rode NT1, but I'm not a huge fan of it (no surprise there).

I'm planning on buying my mic from zzounds.com, as a friend of mine works at one of their call centers and he can get me stuff for just a few bucks over cost (plus shipping of course). I was just browsing their mic selection and it looks like they have a fair number of things that are in my price range. I'm going by the retail price, here--I'm not sure exactly what kind of discount I can get on these so I'm pretty much just looking at stuff that has a retail price with which I'd be more or less OK. Here's my initial list:

Studio Projects C1 or C3
MXL V69
AT3035 or AT4040
Shure KSM27
Rode NT1000
AKG C3000B
CAD M9 or E100
M-Audio Luna or Solaris
SM Pro Audio MC03
SE Electronics SE2200A
Joemeek JM47

This is a lot of potential choices. Now, some of these are tube microphones. I'm not 100 percent sure I want this purchase to be a tube microphone, as I've never used one. Simply judging by the fact that this mic will be more expensive than my M37, it's likely to become my first-choice vocal recording mic, and maybe I don't want to be locked into a tube sound. Or maybe I do! Maybe somebody with tube condensor experience can advise me here.

The main purpose of this mic will probably be for vocals. I use my M37 for some other stuff too (like guitar cabs and floor toms), and obviously whatever mic I buy could have a million potential uses, but I think what I need most at the moment is something to give my vocal tracks a little edge and maybe help them sit better in the mix. I find that with the NT1 I have to apply a generous mid boost to get them to cut through, and with the M37 I need to bump the high end somewhat.

Thanks in advance to anybody who posts!
 
out of your list, I own or used 3 of those mics. The C1, AT3035, and the AKG C3000. My vote would be for the C1 out of those 3. I dont like the 3035 on vocals as much as the c1. I only use the 3035 if im recording a screamer. my experiance with the C3000 is a little more limited. Just used it on an accoustic guitar a couple of times. It was ok when blended with an SDC (i used a JM27). In my opinion, the AKG C2000 is more appealing than the C3000...and a little cheaper.
 
Duly noted...I forgot to mention that when I recorded at jordokid's house in Spain way back when, we did vocals with his C3 and I found it to be a pretty impressive mic. Is the C1 basically the same mic as the C3 but with only one of the patterns?
 
I'm with Thajeremy- C2000B, not 3000B. I've got a fair mic cabinet at this point, and the C2000B keeps getting used for a bunch of stuff.-Richie
 
Richard Monroe said:
I'm with Thajeremy- C2000B, not 3000B. I've got a fair mic cabinet at this point, and the C2000B keeps getting used for a bunch of stuff.-Richie
Click to expand...

I'd prefer to buy a large diaphragm mic at this point, though.

Right now I'm thinking either the C1, the NT1000, the M-Audio Solaris or Luna, or maybe the AT4040.
 
The one out of that list that I would want the most would be the SP C1. I've read many great things about that mic and the reviews are usually always good. I'm thinking about picking one up myself.
 
Looking at that list I would consider the C3 over C1 (c1 is a little bright, C3 has multi patterns which is nice).
The v69 is a good choice . I have 2 v67s which are the non tube version.I have a T-3 which is a tube mic that sounds good to wonderful on 90% of what I point it at, so I would not be afraid of a tube mic purchase.
I have several E100s. They are my absolute first choice on acoustic guitars and percussion, but not for vocals, they have a great meaty mid range. They are technically a mid-sized diaphram.
The M-Audio multi patterned (cant remember which of the 2) gets better ratings than the single patterned version, but I have not personally tried one.

That is about all I can comment on personally.
You can check out my list of mics at www.tmixstudio.com

Tom
 
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