km183 good omnis?

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gianlu5080

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Hello,
I must record grand piano live (classic recitals), but also chamber music and perhaps orchestral.
What do you think about getting a pair of Neumann km183 (omnis) as main mics (and later add some SD cardioid)?
Other recommandations?
Thank you

P.S. : my actual budget is around 1300$
 
I've never tried recording classical music, but I can tell ya that the KM184 (cardoid) is an amazing instrument mic! Its my weapon of choice for woodwinds for many years now, even though I've tried lots of different mics. The KM series are also very small mics, which will be an advantage for live recordings coz you can hardly see them.

Get the two KM183 and you will be blown away. Just be careful not to pick up too much ambient noise from the audience with the omnis. I got my KM184 from "Studiocare" in the UK, coz no-one could match their prices. They offer 3-day express deilvery to the US for only 20 buxx (drop them an email: sales@studiocare.com).
 
Earthworks

I have used the Earthworks TC30K omnis on a Yamaha baby grand and the sound was immaculate.

It might max out your budget, but I think they're worth every cent.
 
I agree, Schoeps or Earthworks would be great, too, but in the end, all of these mics are awesome and would be perfectly suited for your application.
 
Giganova, for those types of applications a transparent mic pre like the Millennia HV-3 can make a big difference. Also, rather than the KM183's you should look into Earthworks mics: the TC30K or the QTC1.

The KM models are fairly colored and not as fast as mics usually used for that type of recording. They will not pick up the detail you'll get with something like Earthworks, Schoeps or DPA.

Dan Richards
The Listening Sessions
The Project Studio Handbook
 
Thanks for the info, Dan (even though gian is looking for mics, not me). I always had the impression that the KM series mics have a ruler-flat frequency response and that they are not colored. Aren't they advertised as "textbook flat"? Thanks for correcting me here. I didn't know either that they are not as fast as the Schoeps, DPA, or Earthworks. Are SDC faster than LDC in general?? (which I would imagine given the smaller capsule)

In any case; I am pretty happy with my KM184 and see no reason to sell them for other mics. Maybe I will add some of the mics you've mentioned above later. I recently recognized my need for better pres, though (right now I am using a Focusrite Green; mic wise I only have the Neumann KM184, Gefell M930, Sennheiser MD441, and an AT4047), and will order either a Vintech or Lagevin next week (maybe not your top choice, again, coz they are fairly colored pres, but my budget is less than $2k).
 
I agree that Earthworks would be a very good choice, and think that nothing can beat it at the price (yeah, DPA's 4007 are about $1600 each). Use them with Jecklin disk for OSS, and you might be astounded with realism of the sound. However, the quality of the instrument, and acoustics of the room are important. And as always, spend many, many hours for micing.

<Are SDC faster than LDC in general?? >

I don't really understand what do you mean by "faster", but SDs are more accurate, and the omnis are the most accurate mics, with no proximity effect. Think of them as a barometer. They measure sound pressure in the room.
Since the diameter of the Earthworks is small, they exhibit very uniform directional response, up to very high frequencies, where the size of the capsule is comparable to the wavelenght.
 
While we are throwing sdc omni suggestions at each other, I suggest a look at the AT4049. Cheaper than any of the mics mentioned, and still really good. (I havn't compared so I cannot say "as good".) And of course there is the possibility to add cardioid and super-cardioid capsules later.
 
Marik is correct about SDC mics being faster or more accurate... LDC mics change the response more than SDC mics... one reason is because the sound enters from different angles and etc more on LDC mics and that adds more coloration.
 
I don't exactly understand what DJL is saying there, but I guess what he means is that small diaphragm mics have a better off-axis response be cause the diaphragm is small compared to the wavelength of the sound wave over a bigger portion of the audible frequency range.
 
The Neumanns are good, but...

I have a pair of 184's and a Millennia and they work very well for the acoustic guitar, which is what I primarily record, however the response has a lift in the highs. I do not know about the omni's however. Do NOT write off the Schoeps. Research them diligently. They are specialized in small diaphragm condensers and have some gorgeous packages including many specialized for various spereo and surround applications. I am in the US and they are a little tougher to get out here, let alone to get a deal on them! They are, however, far from cheap, but from what I hear, they are difficult to improve on for your stated need.
 
The Neumanns are good, but...

I have a pair of 184's and a Millennia and they work very well for the acoustic guitar, which is what I primarily record, however the response has a lift in the highs. I do not know about the omni's however. Do NOT write off the Schoeps. Research them diligently. They are specialized in small diaphragm condensers and have some gorgeous packages including many specialized for various spereo and surround applications. I am in the US and they are a little tougher to get out here, let alone to get a deal on them! They are, however, far from cheap, but from what I hear, they are difficult to improve on for your stated need.
 
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