Mic suggestions to fill holes in my collection?

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gimhstudio

gimhstudio

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Hi, I am a new member. I run a small studio out of my basement doing both my own and paid projects for bands (rock, folk, indie, metal, etc...) I am looking for suggestions as to which mics would best fill holes in my collection. My current mic collection is listed below.

Dynamic:
Shure SM7B
Shure SM58 x2
Shure SM57 x2
ElectroVoice N/D868
ElectroVoice N/D257
Peavey 45i

Condenser:
Audio Technica AT-2020
Audio Technica AT-3035 x2
MXL 4000
MXL 603S
MXL 991

Note: I know a $2000 condenser would really help, but is out of my budget at this point, looking more in the $50-$400 range. Have been considering a ribbon mic, higher end condensers (than I have) and or better drum mics etc... Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks -
 
Hey Gim...Welcome to the zoo! :D.....where are you located in the world?

Here are a few that I really like in the studio;
EV re-20
MXL V67g or if you can find a V77
A Michael Joly modified Rode NT1a
A pair of Shure ksm 141s
Shure beta 52
A pair of cascade fatheads
Behringer ecm8000 omni microphone


You may want to expand your flavors of microphone preamps as well!







:cool:
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I am located in the La Crosse, WI area. A few questions:
Does my Shure SM7B sort of cover the EV re-20 area?

Is my MXL4000(more expensive) worse than the MXLV67g?

What are you using the Behringer ecm8000 omni microphone for?

Checked out the Michael Joly mods.. do you know if those prices are just for the Mod or for a new modded microphone?

Thanks
 
gimhstudio said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I am located in the La Crosse, WI area. A few questions:
Does my Shure SM7B sort of cover the EV re-20 area?

Is my MXL4000(more expensive) worse than the MXLV67g?

What are you using the Behringer ecm8000 omni microphone for?

Checked out the Michael Joly mods.. do you know if those prices are just for the Mod or for a new modded microphone?

Thanks
Click to expand...

OK just making sure that your not in a country that one can only get a few different microphones and that's it.

I thought the same thing about my 7b... but I just recently got a re-20 and I have to tell you I just simply love the EV over the Shure.

The 4000 and the v67g are two different animals but for $89. you should pick one up....or look for a used V77 a Great MXL microphone but not made any more.

The behringer 8000 can be used anywhere that an omni mic would come in handy but very useful on stand up bass.. $29.- but you have the 4000 with omni that could do the same thing.

Yes those prices are just for the mods ....but you can find the NT1a used all day long for about $100. then ship it right off to Michael.

What about your mic preamp selection?






:cool:
 
I just have the Firepod (older version, supposedly the pre's are better than the newer version). Have had a couple of low end tube pre's namely the Sound Projects VTB1 that did nothing to improve sound, in my opinion. Considering getting this Tablebeast mod for tube pre

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290387651108#ht_9119wt_930

as I have a couple of the Roberts 997 modules I can send in to reduce the price, but a little leary on doing this. I keep hearing that pretty much any pre under $1000 is not really going to improve my recordings in any noticeable way.

Thoughts?
 
These are always good for filling holes...
 

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gimhstudio said:
I just have the Firepod (older version, supposedly the pre's are better than the newer version). Have had a couple of low end tube pre's namely the Sound Projects VTB1 that did nothing to improve sound, in my opinion. Considering getting this Tablebeast mod for tube pre

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290387651108#ht_9119wt_930

as I have a couple of the Roberts 997 modules I can send in to reduce the price, but a little leary on doing this. I keep hearing that pretty much any pre under $1000 is not really going to improve my recordings in any noticeable way.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

That pre looks cool but.... I don't see any XLR input!
You may want to check out some thing like the GA pre73 for that iron in and iron out sound for a tube pre is more noted as a very clean sound.






:cool:
 
He does a mod with a transformered XLR input as well with phase switch etc.., that may be my next purchase before any new mics once I have the $.
Thanks - Matt
 
gimhstudio said:
He does a mod with a transformered XLR input as well with phase switch etc.., that may be my next purchase before any new mics once I have the $.
Thanks - Matt
Click to expand...

Well then Matt that would make it pretty cool ! How much total $ for it.






:cool:
 
Yo Gimh. Welcome to the board! You are tough, because you have *lots* of holes, and the budget is limited for now. For what you are doing (bands), you should have a dedicated low frequency mic- say AKG D112 or Audix D6. A Sennheiser MD421 would be real handy. Or- you could shoot the wad on a mid-priced condenser. The AT4040 or the B.L.U.E. Bluebird mentioned above are not bad choices. Any of the mics above would improve your cabinet. Personally, in your position, I'd look around for 2 used AKG C2000B's. Good overheads, great on cabs, toms, many vocalists, acoustic, conga, Djembe., Sax, piano, almost anything except kick. They are a real "Leatherman" mic- a multipurpose tool that resists bleed and feedback (yes, they are very useful as live instrument mics also). They make a great stereo pair for scratch recordings or more critical stereo applications. One would help, but two would help a lot more. It's not the first mic I put up for anything. It's the second (or third) mic I put up for everything. Best of luck-Richie
 
Thanks for all the suggestions, definitely generating a long list of things I want to buy. It will take time but I'll get there.
 
You can usually find AT4040's used for $200 or less. I'm not sure why people want to sell them, but I think they're a bargain in the used market.

You may be able to get an Oktava MK319 cheap - try before buy if you can, because the quality control is bad. You can send those to Oktavamod, too, and they come back really nice.

For drums, I'm with Richard that you need some sort of bass focused mic - D112 is what comes to mind for me.

Look used for everything if you can.
 
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