Members average number of mics and a list...

[shaggy53]

That is everyone's problem, this is a very expensive habit!

It's OK - I call it my 'retirement fund'. When I'm old and stone deaf I'll sell off my mics and be rich for the first time since I started buying mics.
(Tip: modded China junk mics are not an investment.)

Shaggy

 

[buzzard bass]

I got a lot of mine on clearance, a great way to get stuff cheap, unless, of course, there were major improvements to the replacement.

 

[moresound]

It's OK - I call it my 'retirement fund'. When I'm old and stone deaf I'll sell off my mics and be rich for the first time since I started buying mics.
(Tip: modded China junk mics are not an investment.)

Shaggy

You mean my Mr. microphone and my slinky built in reverb microphone isn't going to be worth squat?

 

[Shadow_7]

It's OK - I call it my 'retirement fund'. When I'm old and stone deaf I'll sell off my mics and be rich for the first time since I started buying mics.
(Tip: modded China junk mics are not an investment.)

Shaggy

Lets hope the economy has picked up by then. I've had 3 rather decent mics up for grabs on the local craigslist at 1/2 or less MSRP, going on six plus months now. And aside from spam and an occasional low baller, zero takers. I'll probably have to take a 20% (or more / my used purchase price) hit on the lot. It's starting to feel like I can't even give some of them away. Audix i5, AT3035, ATM75, and stuff.

It's a shame really because they're all decent mics in their own right. (and used to be popular, or I wouldn't have bought them in the first place) I've had better success with the obscure items, like practice mutes and mouthpieces. It's a conspiracy I tell you. I even sold some 10+yo aebersolds with far less hassle. Which for anyone with a computer (to respond to a craigslist ad) is like selling cassette tapes at a bluray store. Which is apparently easier than selling used mics.

 

[PhilGood]

(Tip: modded China junk mics are not an investment.)

Shaggy

Mine are!

 

[Aldwyn]

I have 4 worth mentioning, but I tend to use the AT4040 80% of the time for just about everything... it's my "go-to" mic.

Depending on the application, I may combo with the AT4040 (like I tend to use 2 or more mics to mic an acoustic guitar).

Anyway, I have:

Audio Technica AT4040 large diaphragm condenser mic
MXL 992 Large Diaphragm Condenser Mic
Shure SM58 Beta
Shure SM57

 

[sarals]

Hi everyone,

I'm the new girl here, sitting (dutifully) in the back of the room. I've moved up a row on GS, though :~)

Okay, to the crux, my mic locker. I love bragging - not! :~D

Royer SF-12
Beyer MC-930 pair
AT 4050 pair
Naiant X-W "triplets" (thanks, Jon!)
Naiant MSH-1 pair
Superlux S241 pair (cardioid capsules only)
MXL 2003 (to mod)
MXL 1006B (for parts for mods)
Cascade Fatheads pair (Gen 1)
Audix SCX-25A
Shure KSM-9
Telefunken M80

I am currently working on a CD with an (aging) retired operatic tenor, recording obscure pieces. All of the recording up to now has been done with only the SF12 (as the main "pair"; he likes to walk around when he sings). I'm planning to acquire an as yet undetermined tube LDC (because I want one, and not expensive, but upgradable - Mr. Joly?), and to get him to hold still and sing into said stationary tube LDC. So, I'll be adding a tube LDC to my locker at some point.

Thank you, guys!

~~Sara

 

[Fishmed]

Hi everyone,

I'm the new girl here, sitting (dutifully) in the back of the room. I've moved up a row on GS, though :~)

Okay, to the crux, my mic locker. I love bragging - not! :~D

Royer SF-12
Beyer MC-930 pair
AT 4050 pair
Naiant X-W "triplets" (thanks, Jon!)
Naiant MSH-1 pair
Superlux S241 pair (cardioid capsules only)
MXL 2003 (to mod)
MXL 1006B (for parts for mods)
Cascade Fatheads pair (Gen 1)
Audix SCX-25A
Shure KSM-9
Telefunken M80

I am currently working on a CD with an (aging) retired operatic tenor, recording obscure pieces. All of the recording up to now has been done with only the SF12 (as the main "pair"; he likes to walk around when he sings). I'm planning to acquire an as yet undetermined tube LDC (because I want one, and not expensive, but upgradable - Mr. Joly?), and to get him to hold still and sing into said stationary tube LDC. So, I'll be adding a tube LDC to my locker at some point.

Thank you, guys!

~~Sara

VERY nice locker, and welcome to the forum.

 

[sarals]

VERY nice locker, and welcome to the forum.

Thank you!

 

[John Willett]

Updated list with new mics. and forgotten ones added:-

Sennheiser
2 x MKH 20 - omni
2 x MKH 30 - fig.8
2 x MKH 40 - cardioid
2 x MKH 8020 - omni
2 x MKH 8040 - cardioid
1 x MZD 8000 (AES42 digital microphone adaptor)
1 x MKH 8000 series stand with extension tube and remote cables
2 x MKH 800 - switchable
2 x MKH 816F - long gun, flat response (don't ask)
1 x MKE 66 - stereo pre-polarised condenser
1 x MD 421 - dynamic cardioid
1 x MD 431 - dynamic super-cardioid vocal
1 x MD 441 - dynamic super-cardioid

Neumann
1 x TLM 103 - cardioid LDC
2 x GFM 132 - hemispherical boundary mic.
1 x KMR 82i - short gun
2 x KM-D - AES42 digital mic. body
2 x KK 183-D - diffuse-field omni head for KM-D
2 x KK 131-D - near-field omni head for KM-D
1 x DMI-2 (digital microphone controller)
2 x DMI-2P (portable DC-powered digital microphone controller)

Calrec
2 x 2050 - cardioid with detachable heads

Beyer
2 x M 67N - dynamic cardioid (my first decent mics, bought in the early 1970's)

AKG
1 x C451 + CK1 + VR1 - condenser cardioid with extension tube
1 x D 12 - dynamic cardioid
1 x D 190 - dynamic cardioid

Soundfield
1 x SPS200

MBHO
1 x Jecklin Disk
1 x Schneider Disk

Grace
1 x SpaceBar 30/66 kit

And I'm sure I've still got more I've forgotten.

 

[chrisghost]

Ehr... this is another one of those "get-a-hard-on-over-your-own-gear" threads, isn't it?

I could type a list now, but who'll read it, and why?

You're probably to eager to get going on your own list anyway, right?

If anyone even read this far say "macaroni"

 

[sarals]

Macaroni!

John, wow. I am envious!

~~Sara

 

[John Willett]

Macaroni!

John, wow. I am envious!

~~Sara

Collected over a period of about 40 years and always buying the best I could afford at the time, so I never had to get rid of a mic. to get a better one.

Mostly financed by paying jobs - so the money I earned from recording (especially in the early years) was ploughed back into improving the kit.

Buying wisely means that the s/h value of most of my mics is more than I actually paid for them.

 

[sarals]

Collected over a period of about 40 years and always buying the best I could afford at the time, so I never had to get rid of a mic. to get a better one.

Mostly financed by paying jobs - so the money I earned from recording (especially in the early years) was ploughed back into improving the kit.

Buying wisely means that the s/h value of most of my mics is more than I actually paid for them.

John, your collection is what I would expect to see from someone who made a living using their tools, and buying wisely. It turns out you made a great investment, too. That's the best of both worlds, indeed!

 

[John Willett]

John, your collection is what I would expect to see from someone who made a living using their tools, and buying wisely. It turns out you made a great investment, too. That's the best of both worlds, indeed!

Actually, for many years, I wasn't making a living from recording.

It was a spare-time semi-pro business that financed itself from paying jobs - the full-time job paid the mortgage. Starting off as a hobby, making it pay by recording other people and gradually building up from there. But always, from the very beginning, always going for the best I could afford and buying wisely.

Now I am full time on my own.

Every time I bought the cheaper option, I always regretted it and it always turned out to be more expensive getting rid of the cheap option and getting what I should have got in the first place at a later date. I learned the lesson the hard way pretty quickly not to buy cheap - though there are some things that are exceptional value for money and give superb quality at an affordable price when you know what they are and where to look.

 

[sarals]

Actually, for many years, I wasn't making a living from recording.

It was a spare-time semi-pro business that financed itself from paying jobs - the full-time job paid the mortgage. Starting off as a hobby, making it pay by recording other people and gradually building up from there. But always, from the very beginning, always going for the best I could afford and buying wisely.

Now I am full time on my own.

Every time I bought the cheaper option, I always regretted it and it always turned out to be more expensive getting rid of the cheap option and getting what I should have got in the first place at a later date. I learned the lesson the hard way pretty quickly not to buy cheap - though there are some things that are exceptional value for money and give superb quality at an affordable price when you know what they are and where to look.

Sage advice, John. My quest for affordable "bang for the buck" gear is why I lurked on GS for ages and is why I'm here, on HR, now. That said, I've made my share of mistakes. You can see a few of them in my "locker list"!

Thank you!

 

[Fishmed]

Sage advice, John. My quest for affordable "bang for the buck" gear is why I lurked on GS for ages and is why I'm here, on HR, now. That said, I've made my share of mistakes. You can see a few of them in my "locker list"!

Thank you!

Sadly I was just the opposite; I started here and then found GS. Not knocking HR for what it is, I just did not REALLY comprehend the benefits of high-end gear until I started spending some time there. I wish I had either forum when I started back in the early 90’s; I could have saved myself a ton of money… GREAT advice John!

 

[aaronmcoleman]

Making a living recording is one thing. The best will pay for itself (hopefully). But for most of us doing this as a hobby I just don't think it's worth it. There is so much middle of the road gear that is great now. Maybe 10+ years ago this was not true, but now there is a a ton of stuff that can allow bedroom engineers to make outstanding recordings. High end gear is better, and low end will just waste money and aggravation, but I think most of us would do better sticking to the middle. For example, I use:

GAP pre-73
RNP
Presonus Tube Pre
Saffire Pro 40

RNC

NTK
NT5
Fat Head Ribbon
SM57s
MK 319

Not a super shabby list, but not "high end", but I don't think a home recording hobbiest needs to break the bank on much better stuff. If it's your career definitely, if you have the spare cash go for it, but if you have a project studio, you can get VERY good results from stuff that all costs under $500, and a whole collection that costs less than some of the "pro" pres. And this middle of the road gear is becoming more and more prevalent so there is more good stuff and garbage. That is why I like this forum, others sort through so much of the crap and let me know about the gems.

Just my observation and experience. Good stuff is great, but not necessary (there a summary for those who like to skip to the end).

 

[sarals]

I went in an opposite direction from many, I think. I started off on the recording side by purchasing very high quality gear (in 1999), and when the client base never materialized, I sold much of it off. Most of the people I work for don't care what kind of gear I have, as long as the recording sounds good to them. I kept some of the "good stuff", but I sold off a lot of it. Recently, I decided to rebuild my mic locker, but doing it prudently this time around. I was aware of what was out there, and I was also aware of the "small quantity" manufacturers - those savvy people with low overhead, who turned out high quality, very cost effective products. That's where I've been doing most of my shopping over the last couple of years. I also don't mind picking up my soldering iron and assembling (Seventh Circle Audio). Hey, I do nails and laundry, too! There have been some mistakes, mostly with the Chinese sourced mics, but overall I'm quite satisfied with what I have.

I agree with the assertion that there weren't many good sounding low end pieces ten years ago. There is a broad field to chose from now!

Thanks, guys!

 

[John Willett]

Making a living recording is one thing. The best will pay for itself (hopefully). But for most of us doing this as a hobby I just don't think it's worth it.

I actually know people who record as a hobby that have better gear - mics especially - than many professionals.

They do it because they love it and it's a passion - so they don't compromise.

Just because it's a hobby does not mean buy cheap.

But, obviously, buy within your means - but buy carefully and research fully to avoid wasting money, so every penny gets to be wisely spent.

Understanding the tools helps - when I was younger I spent ages reading up on microphones, understanding frequency responses and specifications and how to read and interpret polar-patterns so I could understand microphones properly. Finding out what standard measurements should be, so I could guess that a manufacturer was trying to hide something if he did not show polar-patterns at the standard frequencies (for example).

No, you don't need to get the most expensive - but, microphones especially, are a mature technology and a good mic. will last 20, 30, 40, 50 years or more (for example Sennheiser still make the MD21 microphone - it's still current and was first put on the market in 1953). So, with microphones, it's always best to spend wisely as a good mic. will last a lifetime.