M Audio Pulsar vs Shure PG81

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iceyflame

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Both small diaphragm pencil condensor mics to be used as overheads for a drumkit, may also be used on acoustic guitar, piano, and perhaps vocals. (But not as much)

BUT before I am recommended the SM81 or any high end condensor, I am 14 years old and my aim is simply to do some project recording for my band. My gear so far is an SM57, a Behringer XM8500 mic, a Yamaha MG10/2 mixer, and I am satisfied with all of it, so you can see that I am not exactly aiming for pristine commercial recordings.

So. Which do you think would be better for my applications?

M audio Pulsar or
Shure PG81

I will be buying a pair of whichever mic I end up choosing (for stereo).

In your reply could you please state if you have used it/own it or if you are just basing your opinion on what you've read.

Thanks,
Chris
 
I have the PG81s, which came in one of the Shure drum mic kits. I have also used the SM81s extensively working for a live sound company. I can tell you that SM81s are excellent overheads and acoustic guitar mics for live and studio use, and I wish I had an extra $700 kicking around so I could buy a pair.

However, the PG81s are totally worth it for the money. They sound pretty darn close to the SM81, although the SM has a "tighter" and "sweeter" response. Not exactly sure how to put that into words, but "tighter" and "sweeter" seems to describe it pretty well. The PG81 does manage to deliver the approximate SM81 sound though, which I have not heard any other mic from any other company do.

But... if you're going to buy the PG81s seperately (i.e. not with the Shure drum mic kit), you'll be paying about $130 bucks apiece/$260 for a pair. For the same price, you could get a pair of Audio Technica 3035s, which are not small diaphragm condensors, but large diaphragm condensors. While they don't sound like SM81s, they make awesome overheads, good acoustic guitar mics, and great vocal mics. They sound way more expensive than they are, and they're a mic you're likely to keep around for years and years.

If I were you, and I had $260 bucks, I would buy the AT 3035s. But, if your budget is really tight, and you're really looking at small diaphragm condensors, I can suggest the CAD GXL1200, $120 a pair. These mics are standard Chinese made condensors that a bunch of companies sell under different model numbers. I have the CAD version that I actually got for free as a promotional giveaway, and they work suprisingly well. If you really want overheads and you have very little dough, give these a try.
 
markitzero said:
But... if you're going to buy the PG81s seperately (i.e. not with the Shure drum mic kit), you'll be paying about $130 bucks apiece/$260 for a pair. For the same price, you could get a pair of Audio Technica 3035s, which are not small diaphragm condensors, but large diaphragm condensors.
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Do you have a vendor that sells AT3035s for $130? That is quite a deal.
 
I bought them new on ebay for that price about 6 months ago. I still see them for that price from time to time. In fact, look right now.
 
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Thanks guys. I'll take that into account, what about the M Audio Pulsar?
 
The Pulsars look very similar to the CAD GXL1200s... maybe not exactly the same, but probably come from the same design.
 
I just called my Shure dealer and I can get the PG81 Package (with the mic cable) for $107 each if I buy two. So that looks promising.
 
iceyflame said:
I just called my Shure dealer and I can get the PG81 Package (with the mic cable) for $107 each if I buy two. So that looks promising.
Click to expand...

I don't know at-3035 for $120 to $130 each? I looked, it's there. That's a smoking deal. I have a 3035 and it is great in a variety of uses. I think you would be better off going that way.

I'm going to try and snag another so I have a pair.

F.S.
 
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