Mic Debate.

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shoggoth80

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Yeah, I'm having one of those. Thinking I might want to upgrade away from that Samson. It sounds alright, but it's not the best. I am sure that I can get an ok enough sound out of it for a while, so this is not a hurried debate. I can also get a nice enough sound out of my Ev as well. Big soft spot for Ev, and Rode mics in particular.

Anyway, I have been reading a lot about the Studio Projects brand mics. They apparently outperform their price points, by a decent margin. I am interested in experimenting with multiple pick up patterns...and I think it is the B3 from SP that does this? Any word on how it fares on male vocals, of the more baritone flavor?

I am trying to think of good solid performers that are $250 and less, give or take a few bucks. Basically, this would primarily be a vocal tracking mic, but might do extra duty as a guitar or bass cab mic, though I would likely slap a dynamic in front of the cab. Trying to round off for a few more options. There is a CAD e300 that seems cool. Supposed to have a nice smooth lower end. I also have heard nothing but good about the MXL V67 model. Is that the same as the V67G? Not a fan of the gold grill, but a good mic is a good mic... can't hold where it was made against it too much (c'mon...I got a Samson...).

Other runners are something from RODE. Perhaps the NT1-A. I don't suppose the NT2 Classic is still around? At least I think that was the model. All reviews said that excelled at vocal work. No way am I going to throw down the $500 to get an NTK, despite really liking that one. I miss that one...wish I never sold it. Sweetest sounding mic I ever owned. Trying to get something that sounds nice, is versatile, and doesn't break the bank. I know there are offerings from AKG and AT in this category as well. I'd most likely be running any of them through my tube pre for some extra oomph.

I think along with this condenser upgrade, I will probably grab myself some 57s. Not sure if I should go with the GLS ES-57 series, or the Shure SM57...both sound good (based on shootout MP3s found on some threads). One is noticeably less expensive though. We're not putting together a comprehensive studio... but I would like to have some extra tools in the kit, ya know? Or, I could just opt for a buy one, get one free on the Ev Co4? I've thrown that one in front of cabs, over snares, and even sung into it before, and couldn't complain. Part of wanting to get a 57, or a relative copy is to also give it a spin as vocals. I've seen a number of vids where the 57 was doing time as a vocal mic.

Just trying to think of a few more tools that could help the recording situation out. That way, when we want to experiment, we can. Was thinking maybe a mic up close on the cab, and one further back for more ambiance? Out of curiosity, is there any merit to that with vocals? I know about double tracking, and that IS fun. What about singing into a dynamic, with a condenser a little farther out, and then blending those in the mix?

Ok, sorry, I derailed my own thread. :D
 
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Well in the free ad forum there is a Kel HM 7U for sale at $225. Just might do the trick for you, check it out. But believe me it won't be there long ... I might even pick it up and I don't even need it!


If not take a look at the MXL 2oo3a microphone.
Or a used Rode K2.








:cool:
 
MS,

if you pick it up and don't need it and for some reason your feeling the Christmas spirit running through your bones then by all means send it to me.....lol
 
re: double tracking with the second mic farther away... beware phase problems! although you may be better at fixing those than I am ;)
 
The MXL 2003a is wired with a Mogami cable... that is the odd ball 7 pin cable isn't it? Seems like a high end feature for what is called a budget brand most of the time?
What about the BLUE Spark? I've been itching to give BLUE a try for a while. I imagine with a rep like that, they're doing something right? I have heard through random sources that the Encore series dynamics are very lively.

I know their cables are supposed to be fantastic mic cables. Been thinking about getting some new cables just because of the two I have, one is old, and has lived more or less unprotected in the garage for the past couple years. That might have something to do with some noise I hear when I crank the gain and the level up, and record with no sound being pushed to the mic.

I like the idea of getting a tube/valve state mic... though in the current budget range (and even this is like a month out), a tube from a budget supplier might be possible, or an ok used one. Just fleshing out ideas. I think MXL had a couple tube options. I am very intrigued by the offering from Blue though. Anyone have experience with the Spark?
 
Ok, so more issues on hand. The MXL 2003a seems to be causing a bit of a stir on the boards here. Seems it's the nazz in that price bracket.
Other MXL models that have my attention are the V88, which I heard some demo videos on, and it sounded very nice. Hard to find on MF, but they are around on other sites, and all over eBay. Then there is the MXL9000, which is a tube mic. These are all $200 or less in price. Just wondering if I snap at the MXL9000, if it is going to be a crap shoot or not? Lol. With the 2003a ranted about, and what I heard of the V88, either of those would be alright I think. Can't find much on the 9000 model though.
 
shoggoth80 said:
The MXL 2003a is wired with a Mogami cable... that is the odd ball 7 pin cable isn't it? Seems like a high end feature for what is called a budget brand most of the time?
What about the BLUE Spark? I've been itching to give BLUE a try for a while. I imagine with a rep like that, they're doing something right? I have heard through random sources that the Encore series dynamics are very lively.

I know their cables are supposed to be fantastic mic cables. Been thinking about getting some new cables just because of the two I have, one is old, and has lived more or less unprotected in the garage for the past couple years. That might have something to do with some noise I hear when I crank the gain and the level up, and record with no sound being pushed to the mic.

I like the idea of getting a tube/valve state mic... though in the current budget range (and even this is like a month out), a tube from a budget supplier might be possible, or an ok used one. Just fleshing out ideas. I think MXL had a couple tube options. I am very intrigued by the offering from Blue though. Anyone have experience with the Spark?
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Yeah 7 pin from the mic to the power supply/pattern selection then XLR to your preamp .... It's a tube mic!
edit.....One can turn in to an idiot without sleep. ~~~~ please disregard last microphone statement and turn your attention to the next post. :D







:cool:
 
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Can't say that I have heard of Sontronics... of course that doesn't mean they are bad by any means. I notice that some of the Groove Tubes mics fall into this budget range, and one that I have read as a great all arounder for a little more. Any opinions on the GT mics?
 
shoggoth80 said:
Can't say that I have heard of Sontronics... of course that doesn't mean they are bad by any means. I notice that some of the Groove Tubes mics fall into this budget range, and one that I have read as a great all arounder for a little more. Any opinions on the GT mics?
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PM Miroslav he has a stable full of them and will put you in the right direction on which ones to purchase.







:cool:
 
As long as you turn down the guitar cab for tracking an AT3035 might do you.

If you're going to use two mics on the same track you want the mic elements roughly the same distance from the source. Assuming that you're going to mix them and not just take the best of two. Otherwise you'll have to time shift the other track and may still end up with phase issues depending on the room.

48kHz = 48000 samples per second. Or 1/48000 seconds per sample. Sound travels roughly 1,100 feet per second depending on air pressure, temperature, humidity, et cetera... So a difference of 1 foot is a timing difference of 1/1100 seconds. Or roughly 44/48000 seconds. Not too much of an issue with lower frequencies, but the zing of a cymbal or the pluck of a string could suffer phase effects like comb filtering. Only if you mix two tracks. Bear in mind that two tracks are automatically mixed (stereo audio) when reproduced. Unless you're using headphones.
 
shoggoth80 said:
Can't say that I have heard of Sontronics... of course that doesn't mean they are bad by any means.
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Sontronics are an English brand that are designed in the UK and manufactured in China.

They seem to produce excellent results for the money.

When I sopke to the company earlier this year the guy said that many Chinese mics seem to have a brittle top end and he went to great lengths to not have this brittleness and to have a smooth top end; which results seem to show he has suceeded.

My own mics are vastly more expensive than this; but if I needed an inexpensive mic. to supplement my kit I would certainly consider Sontronics.
 
It seems mildly challenging to find a distributor in the US. Most of them are farther east. Lol.
I am really interested in the Groove Tube mics, so I sent a PM to Miroslav, as recommended by Moresound. Nothing wrong with adding an upgrade to the cabinet, and the versatility that comes with it. That, and I do like to do things a little differently. I had an NTK, and an NT3 hanging out back in the day, and knew no one else with a RODE, though I did not have access to places like this. Groove Tubes supposedly makes great mics, that aren't widely advertised. If I end up going this route, I'd probably order from Sweetwater. Thoughts on this firm? Their site looks solid, good prices, shipping etc. I'll probably also grab a GT 12AX7 at the same time, and see how that works with my pre.
 
So, after much more searching, I would say that there are a couple mics in the running... which one ends up being purchased is really a matter of what the budget looks like in a couple months.
First, if I am well off, the GT57 looks like a good choice
BUUUUT the MD1B condenser looks like a very solid option too. No variable patterns, but that is not a deal breaker.
MXL V88, I have heard this demo'd online, and it sounds great, and can be had for around $120-150 with looking, vs. the $200 tag.
MXL2003a. I have heard this demo'd as well, but on an acoustic, and it sounded nice. If MXL DID listen to some of the modders when they revamped this model, it stands a chance of being a very good value for the money.
Still leaning most heavily towards a GT model though. However, I took a bunch of information, a bunch of alternatives, and at least managed to cut it down to four heavy contenders. It's a start.
 
OK, here is another possibility, and a pretty strong one at that.
The MXL V67g is supposed to be another model that outperforms its price point.
It can also be modified, read a little about something called a Royer mod, I think it involves using a tube circuit.
The V67g is very affordable, and supposed to sound good out of the box... and supposed to be pretty fat with the mod.
Is it plausible to get the mic now, and get it modded later? Also, do you think it will outperform other mics on the above list post-modification?
 
Say Shogg, check out this guy if your going to purchase tubes proaudiotubes@aol.com He has a vast assortment and will help advise you to what to get ..... plus he checks each one for you.
 
You can do the "Royer mod" to a V67G and it works quite well. I did a couple the way David described in his article and since then I've learned enough to say what the weaknesses are and what can be improved on. There's quite a few things. Namely David picked the wrong transformer and used easy to find, off the shelf parts (to his credit, actually, considering how good his version is). But there are things he didn't address and things that are overlooked by most modders. Can't really list them here. There are other improvements that can be made to make that mod stellar, but I learned the techniques from some big gurus and can't reveal the info to the general public. I literally took an oath in one case.
 
PhilGood said:
You can do the "Royer mod" to a V67G and it works quite well. I did a couple the way David described in his article and since then I've learned enough to say what the weaknesses are and what can be improved on. There's quite a few things. Namely David picked the wrong transformer and used easy to find, off the shelf parts (to his credit, actually, considering how good his version is). But there are things he didn't address and things that are overlooked by most modders. Can't really list them here. There are other improvements that can be made to make that mod stellar, but I learned the techniques from some big gurus and can't reveal the info to the general public. I literally took an oath in one case.
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Come on!!! not even a clue? You just can leave me hanging here Phil.
 
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