I want a Large Condenser "with everything on it" :)

[Gear_Junky]

Well, there's so many "affordable" large cond. mics around - you can get a Nady CSM900 for $99.99, NT1 for $169.99, there's the Marshall and Joe Meek and others. Well, most of these and even the next step mics, like NT-2 lack things like various patterns, some lack -10db pad, bass rolloff, etc. How about some decent, least expensive mics that have all of the following: GOOD SOUND, -10db, bass rolloff, cardioid/omni/figure-8 patterns. It is also preferable that a mic come with an elastic band "spider" shockmount and a hard case. I don't want to set limits here, like "under a $1000", but let's just start with least expensive and work from there. I guess I'm still looking for nt-2 or better sound quality.

So, there's my "ultimate" mic. It's always nice to be specific Thanks in advance to everybody.

 

[sonusman]

Okay...

Try the AT 4050......about $500 bucks, has multi patterns, and bass roll off, 10db pad, and a shock mount included in the price.....nice sounding too....

Ed

 

[James HE]

The NT-2 does have mutipatterns.

...and would you like fries with that?

-jhe

[Edited by James HE on 09-21-2000 at 23:26]

 

[Prism]

The Audio-Technica AT3525 has a -10dB pad which really makes a noticeable difference, and an 80Hz hi-pass filter. It's not officially a large diaphragm mic (although several rumors have stated otherwise) but DANG it has a great sound.

Isaiah

 

[Ora]

AKG C4000B:
- cardioid, hypercardioid, omni
- bass roll-off (100Hz)
- -10db pad
- pop filter built-in
- separate windscreen (foam), works well
- shockmount included
- comes in a cardboard box :-(

I bought two about 1 year ago. Cost was approx $500 each.
I have used them for voice, toms, kicks, drum overheads, ac.guitars, guitar cabinets etc. Works very well.
Ora

 

[kristian]

this was the last thread i tried to post to yesterday before the shite hit the can.. hehehe. anyway. there are a ton of mics out there. If you arent looking for multipatern the KSM32 is beast. I stand behind the c414 as an excellent mic. Also, i was ina band a couple years ago witha singer who smoked too much, his voice was falling by the wayside. His voice through a U87 sounding like i dont know what to explain it as it was amazing. hmm.. they arent multipattern but you can get some headphones and tape them to your acoustic hehehe.

 

[Gear_Junky]

From all the reviews I read, NT-2 really does seem like a nice mic, but does it really have multiple patterns? I never saw it mentioned anywhere. I really want a mic with omni and figure-8 besides the regular cardioid. Does it also have bass rolloff and -10db pad?

Nobody ever mentions the CAD Equitek E-350. That's a classy-looking mic, has all the features, but I never hear anybody talk about it. How does it sound?

 

[JC Lives]

I agree with Ora. I also have the AKG C4000B. It is an awesome mic. I have used it for guitar, vocals, and my hammered dulcimer. I am very pleased with it. My only problem is that I paid 599. Ora, where did you get it for 500.

 

[dobro]

Dear Gear: C'mon, surf!

http://www.rode.com.au/

JC: I recently saw the best hammered dulcimer player in the world (well, I'd put my money on him, anyway). There's a gypsy/East European French outfit called Les Yeux Noirs (The/Your Black Eyes), with this slightly bored guy playing hammered dulcimer (with 2 fiddles, bass, drums, electric guitar, accordian and cello (yes, I said cello). He's pretty overweight and looks like the only thing that sparks his plugs is food, and the gig's a necessary evil, and although everything's slightly beneath his attention, he's got a job of music to do. Check these guys out if you ever cross paths with them. No disappointments - guaranteed. He can even handle django-style jazz on his instrument. What a satisfaction. His only weakness seemed to be a cavalier attitude toward the single! mic on his instrument.

If I played something as big as a table, I'd want at least two mics on the item.

 

[JC Lives]

dobro
Thanks for the info. I would love to have two mics to use but alas, I have not been able to afford another. Where did you see these guys and do you know if they have a cd out. The style of music that I play on my dulcimer is my own. I do not play the typical hammered dulcimer music. I have recorded using a variety of styles and sound and am very interested in hearing different ways the instrument can be used.

 

[KaBudokan]

The NT2 has cardioid and omni patterns, but no figure 8. It has a bass rolloff and a -10db pad, but they're on the same switch (!?!?!) so you can only use one or the other.

I have an NT2 and am really happy with it.

 

[dobro]

JC - saw them at WOMAD in Singapore last month. Smokin! Here's one of a few CDs Amazon carries:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000J8CM/qid=969683199/sr=1-3/103-1536693-8962219


KaBudokan - do you have an NT-1 as well, and how does it compare soundwise to the NT-2? I'd classify my NT-1 as Great Gear, but I've only had the chance to compare it to Alesis mics (NT-1's better than Alesis mics double the price of the Rode), so I'm not sure. Maybe there should be three categories of gear between crap and pro, like regebro suggested - okay, good and great. If the NT-1 is good, is the NT-2 great? Yeah, that's what I'm asking.

 

[Ora]

JC Lives, we live quite apart...its a long way from Akron, OH USA to Helsinki, Finland.

So, the price I quoted was from a local music shop converted to US$ at the approx. current exchange rate.
Not much help to you I'm afraid!
Regards
Ora

 

[sonusman]

My last comment on this subject....

You would be crazy NOT to get a AT 4050. This is a very highly regarded mic in the industry. At the $500-600 price range, it is a steal for the killer sound it provides.

I kick myself in the ass daily for selling mine! Need more proof?

It was used on this vocal track with a ART Pro Tube MP right into an ADAT. Sorry about the mix though, it was done in about 20 mins on a digital console (yuk!!!)

Ed

 

[KaBudokan]

Hey Dobro - No, I don't have an NT1. Unfortunately, for the moment, the NT2 is my only "serious" mic. I have an SM58 and a couple junkers laying around. I did compare the two though.

I listened to a bunch of mics around the $200 - 300 range. The AT3525, the Equitek E-200 (I think that's the model name - it's the 200 level, whichever letter goes with it. ), one of the Octavia's at that level (219?). I was very happy with the NT1 out of all of those. I was going to go ahead and get it, when I talked to a couple people I know from an email list for SF's Acid program. Two of them had the NT2 and raved about it. I made the mistake of listening to one. I decided to save for the NT2. The NT2 is warmer and smoother than the NT1. The omni mode is really nice, and I actually use the omni mode for most of my recording. It's a little less "in your face" than the cardioid mode. I am really happy with it overall.

I know we've talked a couple of times about the Meek stuff I like, and now about this. I point people to this tune sometimes when talking about equipment. Basically because it's simple (just guitar and vocals) so you can kind of hear the equipment. I recorded it with the NT2 going into the Meek VC3, into my SB Live card. Both the guitar and vocals were recorded in omni mode. The guitar is doubled and shifted a few milliseconds in the right channel. Both the guitar and vocals have a reverb from the Samplitools Impulses for Acoustic Mirror, though I forget which one offhand. No other eq or compression is on this.

Hi-Fi Play - Gladiolas

Download Gladiolas MP3

Hopefully those work. I didn't bother linking the lo-fi mp3, because that won't let you hear crap.

Anyway... I love getting excuses for shameless plugs. Now, who's gonna be the first to tell me to take it to the mixing clinic?

 

[KaBudokan]

And Sonusman, I am just listening to "Until it Happens to You." Those vocals do sound very nice. A new mic is kind of far down on my list of new toys, but those AT's are definitely going to be high on the list of must hears when I do compare them. Really... those vocals sound sweet.

 

[Sonixx]

my vote goes to the AT-4050...

here's my LD Condenser mic collection:
NT1 (2)
AT4033
AT4050
C3000

here's why:
i like them all, and they all sound slightly different. i view the mic as a tool; the more tools, the better. the 4050 with it's multi-patterns makes it the most versatile of the lot. in my experience the 4050-4033-C3000 all sound very similar with the 4050 being a bit smoother and with the multi-patterns, it gets my vote. the NT1 is a bit brighter with no padding, the 4033 has padding but no multi-patterns and the C3000 has padding and minimal multi-patterns.

if you're ever going to record acoustic guitar and want room ambience, the figure-of-8 in the 4050 really makes a difference using the MS recording technique. i really like the MS technique on acoustic guitar.

-kp-

[Edited by Sonixx on 09-23-2000 at 17:47]

 

[flier]

Yeah Sonusman, that really is a great vocal sound. I definitely want a 4050 now. That is about my price range for a good mic and this will do just fine I think!

The acoustic guitar sounds really nice too. What kind of treatment did that get? Mic, preamp, etc.?

--Lee

 

[sonusman]

The acoustics...

That would be a AT 4033 through a ART Pro MP too.

Ed

 

[Recording Engineer]

Gear_Junky

What price range(s) you talking about? There's a reason why "budget" gear gets "stripped-down". Otherwise, you'd just be paying for lots a features to use with crap.

The 4050 "sounds" like a good starting reference point though.