Main Home Studio Condenser mic

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paul881
  • Start date Start date
Paul881

Paul881

Look Mom, I can play!
Hi guys, I am in the market for a new vocal mike, although I would also want to use it for acoustic instruments, mainly guitar. I would be grateful for some opinions on the following, all around the same price here in the UK:

NT2
C4000B
CAD M179
AK 4047Studio

or for a bit less:
AT4033


Work is mainly acoustic/pop/country/folk/stuff, not much "screaming" rock stuff.

Budget is important, but I am prepared to buy the most expensive mic I can and have identified the above as being in my price range and they all seem to be fairly well regarded.
 
AT 4047 and 4033 seems to be the best choice to me, they are used a lot and regarded very good.

Amund
 
I'm not sure how close the C4000B and the C3000B's are in terms of their reproduction, but I do know that I'm not very happy with my C3000B's.

I just got my second 4033 and it sounds awesome! It's very versatile and has a nice crisp "coloration" to it. In my opinion, the 4033 is the SM57 of condensor mics!

Just my opinion.

RF
 
Rushfan, tell me more, why are you so unhappy with the C3000B?
 
to me the C3000B sounded very dry on acoustic guitar and vocals... the mid range is very prominant on the mic ... an undesirable sound to me.
might be useful on horns

the 4033 ... seems like a good bet

id get a small condenser such as an mc012 for the guitar though.. more high end detail with it
 
Well....... to start, one od them always cuts out on me when I'm recording. That's probably just a fluke but it's a pain nonetheless. The sound is too "dirty".... if that makes any sense!? I used them mainly for overheads because they were the only matched pair that I had. They were way too bright and harsh for me. Many times I had to use EQ to "correct" the mic. Some of that may have been the room but the 4033 sounded good in the same room for high SPLs.
Now, I have (2) 4033's, (2) pairs of ECM8000's, (2) MXL603's, (2) SM91's and the (2) C3000B's. Out of all those, the 4033 has been the best for me. It to is bright but it's at least smooth in my opinion.

RF
 
check out that $89 mxlv67 at samash.....and a pair of mxl603's for acoustic and maybe even a pair of Behringer ECM8000's......all 5 mics probably wont hit you as hard as a 4033, you get many many more textures/options.....
 
Studio Projects C3, AT 4033, both lovely vocal mics, 4033 is more commonly used on guitar than C3. My choice would be C1 for vocals, and MXL603 or Oktava MC012 for guitar.-Richie
 
Interesting info guys, thanks. Another choice would be the Oktava MK319. But the 4033 seems to be heading the list so far.

I already use a pair of AT mb4000C's for acoustic guitars and they work fine. Good detail, even with vocals, but a bit bright.

The studio projects look interesting, I haven't seem them here in the UK. I'll check them out some more here. Thanks chessparov. Two of you, rushfan33 & JMarcomb don't rate the 3000b so that seems out. Gidge, I understand where you are coming from, that needs me to reconsider my options and my approach. Why use one paint brush when for less/same $$$ I can have 5 to paint many more variety of shapes. Hmmm...that does need thinking about:)
 
Thanks Paul.
The local studio owner whom I sold my AKG C3000B to says that microphone
tends to work better on female vocalists there.
It has a frequency "scoop" at 2.5KHz that can take energy out of a male
vocal.

Chris
 
I've had a 4033 for around 8 years and its seen plenty of duty on everything from vocals, guitars, mandolin, percussion, and drum overhead. Very versatile and very good sounding. If you're gonna get ONE mic, you are buying a very usable piece in the 4033.

However, Gidge's idea is also fantastic, especially if you plan to mic several things at once. Its always tough to choose, eh? If you want one really great LD condenser, the 4033 is an excellent choice.
 
Decisions, decisions:rolleyes: Thanks for the info guys, looks like I have narrowed my search down. Haven't I?:)
 
Gidge said:
check out that $89 mxlv67 at samash.....and a pair of mxl603's for acoustic and maybe even a pair of Behringer ECM8000's.......
Click to expand...

Paul, I have all those. PM me if you want me to put up some clips.
 
Thanks Chuck. I am not sure who distributes those in the UK. I have sent an email to Marshalls asking the question and I will get back to you if I get a response. With freight, packaging, import duty and Purchase Tax to pay, buying from overseas is an expensive game. I'll get back to you when I get a response. But they do look and sound an interesting proposition, I can understand why so many American post'ers recommend them.

Digital Village here in the UK is selling an Oktava 2500 valve mic on a special deal this week for the price of an AT 4033. Hmm...very tempting. I might get it on appro to try it out;)
 
I recently took a class on Sound Recording, and it included some time in the instructor's studio. A classmate brought his Behringer B1 ($99) and I brought my Rode NT1 ($199). We did an A/B/C test with these mics, and the studio's Neumann U87.

Even the instructor couldn't believe it. The Rode stood out as mid rangy and a little dry, but acceptable.

It was nearly impossible to determine the difference between the Behringer and the U87.

I was there. I heard it with my own ears, and went out and ordered the B1 as soon as I got home.
 
just a thought

Turboman,
I find your statement a little hard to believe. Im not an expert on michrophones or anything but im guessing that if the B-1 was really that great, i would see a heck of alot more post saying the same thing on this forum. You sure you don't work for Behringer? J/k . If you like it, thats all that matters.
 
I am going to do some more digging but.....the Marshall range is distributed in the UK by Yamaha UK. Their price for an MXLV67 is £279, thats about $420 and approx $500 for the MXLV69:eek:

At $89, the Sam Ash price is a steal for the '67. I will add it to my shopping list, next US business trip:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top