Must-own mics

  • Thread starter Thread starter mattkw80
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Sorry, I got carried away with myself.

For the three mics, I think I'd pick a Shure KSM-44, and Electro-Voice RE-20, and a Peluso CEM-6. I think that would be pretty close to $1200, and should cover an awful lot of territory.

Brad
 
Another way to go -

Two 4033's and a SM7 - You could cover just about everything with that as well.
 
An AT-4050, an EV RE-20 and an AT-4051a. I know you can buy all of those used for well under $1200.
 
Save $200 more so you can afford a Pearlman TM-1.

You'll thank me later.
 
mattkw80 said:
If you could only have x3 mics in your studio.... what x3 and what application for each ?
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generic 1989 answer:

57 - vocals, amps, acoustics, piano, percussion, drums

421 - vocals, amps, acoustics, piano, percussion, drums

414 - vocals, amps, acoustics, piano, percussion, drums

these will cover a lot of ground. when i first started it was 57's on guitars and kick and snare, 421 on bass, 414's on overheads/room, vocals and any acoustic instrument work.

sometimes i'd switch the 421 to kick and use a 57 on bass. sometimes i'd use a 414 on amps...etc...

a great rock mic kit is:

2 57's: amps/drums
2 635a's: amps/vocals/acoustics
421: bass/ amps/ kick
d112: or whatever kick mic of the month is out there...kick/ bass/ amps
2 octava 012's or 603's or pro37R's: overheads/rooms/ acoustics

this gives you A LOT of options for a little bit o' bread.

pax

Mike
 
I would go with the LDC and SDC pair as well. I'm poor, though, so my desert Island picks would be what I've currently got.

Studio Projects C1
MXL 603s mathed pair

There ya go - $300 total, if you buy used.
 
Blue Bluebird, Blue Baby Bottle, AKG C1000

If I had no other choice but 3 mics. :)


Bluebird - BGV's, Gtr Neck, Amps, Cymbals, Percussion, VIolin
Baby Bottle - Vox, Gtr, Upright Bass, Kick, Toms, Snare, Percussion.
AKG - Gtr, Cymbals, Amps
 
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Most versatile mic ever must be the Sennheiser MD421 MK1.

I could record almost everything with it.

Three mics? An MD421 and two AKG C451's (old ones) or Neumann KM84's
 
With a total budget of $1200, I couldn't do it with just three mics, but this is what I'd do:

Pair of MC012s - ~$250
SM7 - ~$200 used
Audix D6 - $150 used
Blue Dragonfly - ~$600 used (if you can find one)

MC012s - OH, acoustic picked instruments, strings.
SM7 - amps, vocals, brass
Audix D6 - kick, bass cab
Dragonfly - vocals, acoustic guitar, amps, other acoustic instruments

The SM7 and Dragonfly could be nice contrasting flavors on vocals.
 
Audio technica AT4050
Shure SM7... works swell for SM57 and low end kick drum/bass cab duty too.
Audix i5 (I like it just a tad better than a 57)
 
I'd definately go with the AT 4050, an EV RE20, and a good ol' SM 57. All of them are very versitale mics. If I had any spare change I'd throw in a Senn 421 if I could. I know these picks aren't the sexiest of mics but they have all taken my recordings up a notch. I know I got the first three for way under $1200.
 
mshilarious said:
You don't need bass traps outdoors. And once you kill and eat all the indigenous monkeys, you shouldn't need soundproofing either
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This brought a much-needed smile to my face today. Thanx!
 
cominginsecond said:
With a total budget of $1200, I couldn't do it with just three mics, but this is what I'd do:

Pair of MC012s - ~$250
SM7 - ~$200 used
Audix D6 - $150 used
Blue Dragonfly - ~$600 used (if you can find one)

MC012s - OH, acoustic picked instruments, strings.
SM7 - amps, vocals, brass
Audix D6 - kick, bass cab
Dragonfly - vocals, acoustic guitar, amps, other acoustic instruments

The SM7 and Dragonfly could be nice contrasting flavors on vocals.
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That's not bad list. The Dragonfly with the SM7 (or even an RE20) covers a lot of vocal ground (as I think Chessrock originally observed). I got the Dragonfly and an RE20 on loan in the mic locker.
 
Tough question Matt, because 3 mics is just wrong. You need at least 4. A good, versatile large diaphragm condenser, hopefully multipattern, 2 small diaphragm condensers, and a good dynamic. For $1200, I'd get an RE20 or Shure SM7, a pair of MXL 604's or Oktava MC012's, and an AKG C414 (any type will do, but B-ULS is cheaper), or a Shure KSM44. The multipattern mic you probably buy used, and probably the dynamic as well.
If I'm going to be stuck on a desert Island with my 3 mics, I'll take a pair of Schoeps, and a B.L.U.E. bottle with all the capsules. I'm good to go, but not for $1200.-Richie
 
You can do four good mics for $1200 if you buy used. AT-4050 ($350-400), pair of AT-4051a or AT-4053a ($500), and either an RE-20 or SM-7 ($200-250). I've bought all of these used for less than the target amount. You could do a lot with these mics and have it sound great.
 
I'd probably hit up:

A pair of KSM 44s ($400 each used)
A MD441 ($400 used)

KSM 44 - vox, acoustic, piano, OH
MD441- snare, Electric Guit, any other precussion, occasional vox
 
Okay fine, Richard can have 4 mics.
(Somehow he knew we was going to be stranded on the island, as if it was planned). :>


Richard Monroe said:
Tough question Matt, because 3 mics is just wrong. You need at least 4. A good, versatile large diaphragm condenser, hopefully multipattern, 2 small diaphragm condensers, and a good dynamic. For $1200, I'd get an RE20 or Shure SM7, a pair of MXL 604's or Oktava MC012's, and an AKG C414 (any type will do, but B-ULS is cheaper), or a Shure KSM44. The multipattern mic you probably buy used, and probably the dynamic as well.
If I'm going to be stuck on a desert Island with my 3 mics, I'll take a pair of Schoeps, and a B.L.U.E. bottle with all the capsules. I'm good to go, but not for $1200.-Richie
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