If you had to choose a studio condenser for Oscar Isaac for under $1,300...?

[joedubois]

Friends have often compared my voice/style to Oscar Isaac: Just enter "Oscar Isaac - Fare thee well Orignal soundtrack (Inside Llewyn Davis)" into the youtube search bar if you don't know who that is.

I'm looking to buy my first B-level studio large diaphragm condenser mic to compliment the recently purchased Focusrite Saffire Pro 40. I have been using a $100 Blue Yeti USB mic as my primary piece of recording hardware for a while (with, gasp, garageband), and finally have talked the wife into letting me take things more seriously. My budget cap is about $1,200-1,300, but if a $400-500 mic competes then I'd be happy to save that money and put it towards my next purchase (an instrument condenser for my acoustic guitar [a Martin JC-16ME aura acoustic-electric]). For now, I'm recording in an apartment bedroom. I realize that a large diaphragm condenser might not be IDEAL for my current environment due to the ambient noise that comes with apartment city living and the sensitivity of condenser mics, but I want to buy a mic with the future in mind (I also have a more quiet place I can take my hardware on occasion, in the meantime). I will use this mic ONLY for studio male vocals. I'll be using Logic Pro X as my DAW. My style is folk/blues, but more heavy on the folk, again, much like Oscar Isaac.

Given your experience, my style, and my budget - which of these mics would YOU buy if you were me and why? Any others not listed I should consider? Any you would avoid? Reasons?

Shure KSM44A
Shure KSM32
Rode K2
Rode NTK
Rode NT2000
Neumann TLM 102
Neumann TLM 103
AKG C414 XLII
Audio-Technica AT4050
Audio-Technica AT4047/SV

Thanks!!

 

[BroKen_H]

First thing that is going to come up is room noise. If you don't at least build some mobile bass traps (they're not that expensive), you won't get very far even with a Neuman or Telefunken high end. That said, for home recording, you're probably going to be well suited in the $300-400 range. NT1, NT1000, Beta 27, AT212B, etc. Lots of people around here using these. If you like the warmth of Blues, you can move up to the baby bottle (I just love the name).

 

[joedubois]

Thanks for the reply, BroKen_H. Completely agree with what you've said in regards to ambient noise. However, I'm hoping to have a more serious studio space the moment I finish grad school, and want to purchase a mic with that future studio in mind. I do think that Blue has a good thing going (at least some of the tracks I've heard from others, and the little experience I have using them, not counting my Yeti), so I appreciate the suggestion.

 

[BroKen_H]

Thanks for the reply, BroKen_H. Completely agree with what you've said in regards to ambient noise. However, I'm hoping to have a more serious studio space the moment I finish grad school, and want to purchase a mic with that future studio in mind. I do think that Blue has a good thing going (at least some of the tracks I've heard from others, and the little experience I have using them, not counting my Yeti), so I appreciate the suggestion.

I've heard lots done with different Blues. I think their vibe (I won't say "sound" because there's not one) is what you're looking for. Try grabbing a bottle rocket (intro level to the capsules. Then you can amass the different b1-b7 heads and when you're ready to drop the big bucks in the future, get the level to or the full blown bottle. Unless you're looking in the 10g+ bracket, I don't see how this could steer you wrong.

 

[Btyre2013]

I would use the TLM103, it's a great vocal mic, and works on most voices, it is warmer than a lot of mics and has a very pronounced proximity effect, but never sounds harsh in my opinion, I've also used it on just about everything, percussion, electric guitar amps, acoustic guitar, female and male vocals, it's also very low self noise and takes EQ very well, but if you set it up right you might need next to no EQ from my experience. The TLM102 just has a slightly smoother high end but in many ways might be too mellow, it'd be perfect for jazz though