M
Mic Choice for Acoustic Guitar (and some vocals) for under £700/$1000
antichef
pornk rock
For the acoustic, you're probably going to want 2 mics so that you can do stereo recording - I know that sucks for the budget.
I keep going back to two Oktava MC-012 mics for acoustic, especially when I want it to stand out. I probably wouldn't record vocals with those (or any SDC), because I think they'd pick up yucky mouth noises like little smackings and stuff - nice for guitar, bad for mouth.
I also have two older C414s - the B-ULS variety. I they go for around $400-$500 used. They're great for acoustic guitar. For vocals, they're *brutally* honest - someone has to have a really good voice. I'd say 80% of the vocalists who've tried mine have immediately moved on to the next mic. They're good or really good for just about any non-vocal source I've ever tried, though.
I keep going back to two Oktava MC-012 mics for acoustic, especially when I want it to stand out. I probably wouldn't record vocals with those (or any SDC), because I think they'd pick up yucky mouth noises like little smackings and stuff - nice for guitar, bad for mouth.
I also have two older C414s - the B-ULS variety. I they go for around $400-$500 used. They're great for acoustic guitar. For vocals, they're *brutally* honest - someone has to have a really good voice. I'd say 80% of the vocalists who've tried mine have immediately moved on to the next mic. They're good or really good for just about any non-vocal source I've ever tried, though.
S
SevenHells
New member
I got an email from the StudioCare guy stating that they were 'unable to process your order as for some reason this item has been listed without a price.'
The Price should have been £150 + VAT
Anyway, in other news, I have been offered a KM184 for £300 off a guy I know. Says I can test it out before buying so I'm gonna give it a whirl
The Price should have been £150 + VAT
Anyway, in other news, I have been offered a KM184 for £300 off a guy I know. Says I can test it out before buying so I'm gonna give it a whirl
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
£300 What's that in real money?
Justsomeguy
Quiet is the new Loud
$469.89 by todays rates
£150 for a pair of oktavas is a bargain, especially with all the caps
£150 for a pair of oktavas is a bargain, especially with all the caps
S
SevenHells
New member
$469.89 by todays rates
£150 for a pair of oktavas is a bargain, especially with all the caps
I thought they were just the caps
The website isn't exactly clear on this. I may email him for more details.
Justsomeguy
Quiet is the new Loud
I thought they were just the caps
I just had a look again and i think it's the whole shebang; caps and preamp unit, as it's only one not a pair and £150 + vat seems about right used (i did misread it as a pair and at £150 that'd be an absolute bargain!!!!!)
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
I have two friends that record and ask to borrow microphones all of the time. And the microphones that they both ask to borrow the most?
You guessed it the Oktava MC-012 pair that were modified by Michael Joly at Oktavamod.
You guessed it the Oktava MC-012 pair that were modified by Michael Joly at Oktavamod.
Justsomeguy
Quiet is the new Loud
We have a pair at work just with cardioid caps... they disappear every school holiday..... to my house!
we had a pair of sE1a's at work that always worked fine. one day i was digging through some old uni files to give the students some source material just to mix and the first track i came across i thought "blimey, the overheads some phenomenal, what mics did we use again!?" the answer; oktava MK012's. i then dug through loads more of my uni projects and most of the overheads and acoustic guitars sounded great and they were all the oktava's. i thought "hmm, i'll see how much a pair is for work, we do need some more SDC's". turn's out, £250 for a matched pair! the first thing i did when i got to work was order a pair. when they showed up i thought "ah man, i hope i haven't just built these up in my head and they'll actually sound crap" but chucked them up as overheads and there it was again, this full, clear, crisp, slightly edgy overhead sound that i'd loved from the uni recordings. the students and i spent the session A/B'ing them with the sE1a's and a pair of audio technica's (can never remember the name; cardioid only, not changeable caps) as overheads and as spaced pair and X-Y pair on acoustic guitar and the sE's suddenly sounded really scooped and brittle in the high end and the AT's sounded very balanced and natural but lacked that shimmer that the oktavas had.
needless to say, i'm a fan
we had a pair of sE1a's at work that always worked fine. one day i was digging through some old uni files to give the students some source material just to mix and the first track i came across i thought "blimey, the overheads some phenomenal, what mics did we use again!?" the answer; oktava MK012's. i then dug through loads more of my uni projects and most of the overheads and acoustic guitars sounded great and they were all the oktava's. i thought "hmm, i'll see how much a pair is for work, we do need some more SDC's". turn's out, £250 for a matched pair! the first thing i did when i got to work was order a pair. when they showed up i thought "ah man, i hope i haven't just built these up in my head and they'll actually sound crap" but chucked them up as overheads and there it was again, this full, clear, crisp, slightly edgy overhead sound that i'd loved from the uni recordings. the students and i spent the session A/B'ing them with the sE1a's and a pair of audio technica's (can never remember the name; cardioid only, not changeable caps) as overheads and as spaced pair and X-Y pair on acoustic guitar and the sE's suddenly sounded really scooped and brittle in the high end and the AT's sounded very balanced and natural but lacked that shimmer that the oktavas had.
needless to say, i'm a fan
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
The only thing that I like better are the Shure KSM 141 and 137.
S
SevenHells
New member
Would a AKG C414 EB (teflon - not brass) and an Oktova m300 (for a combined price of £625 / $970) work well together?
Bearing in mind that I'd have to pay 20%, 50 delivery + customs charges if I were to get the same mics from the US (where this stuff is cheaper)
I read good stuff about the EB but are they more a luxury/collector mic than a main mic?
Bearing in mind that I'd have to pay 20%, 50 delivery + customs charges if I were to get the same mics from the US (where this stuff is cheaper)
I read good stuff about the EB but are they more a luxury/collector mic than a main mic?
Justsomeguy
Quiet is the new Loud
i'm afraid i've not used/heard either of the mic's you mentioned there so can't comment.
however, i had a quick look on thomann and the Avantone CV12 and a matched pair of Oktava MK012's with the -10db pad and cardioid caps comes to £625 with free postage and no import/extra vat etc
just my thoughts
however, i had a quick look on thomann and the Avantone CV12 and a matched pair of Oktava MK012's with the -10db pad and cardioid caps comes to £625 with free postage and no import/extra vat etc
just my thoughts
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
i'm afraid i've not used/heard either of the mic's you mentioned there so can't comment.
however, i had a quick look on thomann and the Avantone CV12 and a matched pair of Oktava MK012's with the -10db pad and cardioid caps comes to £625 with free postage and no import/extra vat etc
just my thoughts
Ya can't beat that!
S
SevenHells
New member
i'm afraid i've not used/heard either of the mic's you mentioned there so can't comment.
however, i had a quick look on thomann and the Avantone CV12 and a matched pair of Oktava MK012's with the -10db pad and cardioid caps comes to £625 with free postage and no import/extra vat etc
just my thoughts
Hey, sorry, I meant MK012, not m300 (got it mixed up with Gefell m300)
Justsomeguy
Quiet is the new Loud
ah, fair enough. tbh i did google M300 and only saw the gefell one but figured it may've been one of the more obscure oktava's
if it's a pair of oktava's or one with all three caps with the C414 i'd say go for it man
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
Yeah but .........
That's a piece.
That's a piece.
Justsomeguy
Quiet is the new Loud
i've not tried any of the beyer condensers but like the ribbons i've heard so, again, i can't comment on the MC834.
i do really like the KM184's and they're on my "mics to buy if i had a bigger budget" list along with some earthworks, a U87, a royer R121, blue mouse etc etc. with that in mind it's a tough call. if you can is there any way to get the C414 and the KM184 within your budget as that'd be a great combo imo
i do really like the KM184's and they're on my "mics to buy if i had a bigger budget" list along with some earthworks, a U87, a royer R121, blue mouse etc etc. with that in mind it's a tough call. if you can is there any way to get the C414 and the KM184 within your budget as that'd be a great combo imo
Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
Well, just to confuse everything, I'd take the £600 and go a totally different route.
My favourite method for recording acoustic guitar is with a stereo pair of SDC mics. My favourites are AKG451EB but you can't get these any more and the second hand price can be a bit silly. A close second that I've found is the SE1A which you can get in a stereo pair for about £250.
I'd then take the remaining £350 and buy an LDC that suits the voice in question. I have my personal favourites but every voice is different.
Ones I'd consider would be the RODE NTK valve (tube) mic or maybe the new SE2200A multipattern mic. I have several of the original SE2200A cardioid only mics which I frequently use in preference to some more expensive stuff I have--and had a chance to try the multipattern version a couple of months back. It instantly went on my "must buy soon" list.
One other thing for you to consider. As you're in the UK, Sonic Distribution have a seven day free trial deal so you could contact them and give some of their mics a try to see how they work with your gear, guitar and voice.
But, anyhow, I think my plan would be to buy the right mics for guitar and voice rather than try to find compromises that can do double duty.
My favourite method for recording acoustic guitar is with a stereo pair of SDC mics. My favourites are AKG451EB but you can't get these any more and the second hand price can be a bit silly. A close second that I've found is the SE1A which you can get in a stereo pair for about £250.
I'd then take the remaining £350 and buy an LDC that suits the voice in question. I have my personal favourites but every voice is different.
Ones I'd consider would be the RODE NTK valve (tube) mic or maybe the new SE2200A multipattern mic. I have several of the original SE2200A cardioid only mics which I frequently use in preference to some more expensive stuff I have--and had a chance to try the multipattern version a couple of months back. It instantly went on my "must buy soon" list.
One other thing for you to consider. As you're in the UK, Sonic Distribution have a seven day free trial deal so you could contact them and give some of their mics a try to see how they work with your gear, guitar and voice.
But, anyhow, I think my plan would be to buy the right mics for guitar and voice rather than try to find compromises that can do double duty.
Track Rat
Just Your Average Sized Member
As long as we're talking mics for acoustic, my fav is the AT4033 by far. The KM-184s are OK but a little thinner than the 4033's. I only have the Earthworks SR-71s which are out of production but I don't care for them on acoustic guitars (but they rule as drum overheads).