Nady Condenser Mics: Feedback?

[TopShelf]

Just putting my home studio together on a budget like most folks and saw the Home Recording (Apr02) review of the Nady SCM1000 dual cond mic - sounded like great bang/buck...

Any feedback out there on the Nady line - was also considering their tube mic TCM 1050 I think......

 

[battleminnow]

Probably not a great buy. What is your budget? Don't trust that magazine, it is an advertisers paradise.

Pete

 

[TopShelf]

My Mic Budget

Hi Battleminnow
Glad to see some feedback.
I have about 300 to spend on a good vocal condenser - would like something that could do one, and a group - could just a cardioid pattern pick up a small chorus of say 3 gals singing - I thought perhaps a fig 8 would be needed?

For drums, I have a D112, SM 57, and a C1000B, but think I need some overheads - agin wiliing to spend a couple hundred each for soomething good.
Could the drum overheads also double as a vocal mic?

Rgds

 

[Track Rat]

Audio Technica 4033

 

[battleminnow]

You have a few of the bases covered. I like Track Rat's suggestion. The 4033 is next on my mic list. Here's what I run:

2 MXL V67's (one G and one M, same mic)
these are great for vox, ok for guitar, and I hear they are good for amps/cabs. I imagine you could use them as OH's as well

2 Behr. ECM8000
Good for OH's, but the omni pattern takes a little getting used to for a newbie. Lots of placement practice.
**I would rather have a pair of MXL 603s**

58 and 57, various dynamics, and an at pro25 for kick.

BTW, what do you use for a preamp? It might be worth it to go for a V67 and a better preamp than a 4033 right now. If I were you, I would be looking for the 4033 first (unless your pre's are not Mackie quality or better) and the V67 second, with maybe an audio buddy, or splurge for a small Mackie mixer.

Good luck
Pete

 

[Aren]

I had bad experience with a Nady mic (CM-90), as well as their customer's support. The quality control on these things is pretty awfull. There are lot's of better options these days (Studio Projects and MXL to name 2. Audio Technica is supposed to be great, but I never tried it myself).

Oren

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

I have 2 Nady SCM 900's and they certainly work, but there are definately better mics out there- especially if you need them to be somewhat versatile. I like mine well enough for acoustic guitar, but not too much for vocals. Its a cheap mic- better than radio shack, but not as good as the C1's or the GT 5sm that I have.

I would definately NOT recommend them as an only mic. I have others that do the same thing and use the Nady's when I want the sound they give.

A cardiod pattern mic should pick up three singers as long as they are all in front of it or slightly to the side. The C1 has a wide pattern and does well for vocals so I might recommend it. I have no experience with the AT mics, though, so they might work well, too.

The MXL 603's are great for instruments but not so good for voice, by the way.

Have fun!
Chris

 

[TopShelf]

Thanks much for the good inputs guys:
Another queistion or 2 -
On voice:
Anyone want to take a crack at comparing the AT4033SE($299 new) against the Shure KSM44 (about 350 used?). Are the Shure LD's a step up, or is the AT really THE big bang/buck? All my Shure experience has been positive, but never worked with their LD

As to OH's - eying a pair of used C3000's as well as checking out the 8000's you suggested - I guess the omni pattern scares me off....any other OH suggestions?

I am presently running all this into a Korg D1600 - also need to buy a tube preamp - any suggestions here?
Tnx again

 

[Aren]

I have no idea about the mics, because I never heared any of them. However, I'm curious about you "need" for a tube pre-amp?
Those cheap pre-amps with a tube stuck in them are hardly your best value for money. The ART tube MP, for instance, while being usable, and really nice for certain things like electric guitars and bass, is not very clean, and doesn't compliment many voices. An M-Audio Audio Buddy, is a nice solid-state dual channel for less then 100$.
If you have 2000$ to spend on a tube pre, then it's a totally different story, and I'm defenitly not the right person to ask for recomendations....

Oren

 

[battleminnow]

I run a M-Audio Audio buddy into a D1600 with great results. It does well on my V67's and my ECM 8000's. I personally like the C3000B for OH, but that happens to be all I like it on. It is OK on guitar. I would go with a pair of MXL 603s small diaphragm mics for OH's. $70 each at pretty much anywhere. Also, these mics are supposed to be great on acoustic guitar.
As far as the tube pre goes... I thought it would be necessary with the D1600, but I have found that the Audio buddy does great for preamplification. The tube is just going to color stuff, and I think that you probably don't want that right now for voice stuff. Do you have any other outboard gear, such as compressors, or good monitors? If I had money and was in your shoes (depending on how much $$ I had) I think I would pick up a 4033 or a C1 for vox, and a pair of 603s from MXL. Also, I would look into the Audio buddy at $80-100 for two channels of preamplification, or step up to the DMP3 for $199 (I don't have this, but it seems to be very popular around here)

Pete

 

[TopShelf]

Pete - thanks again for good input - a stab at a decent reply:

Right now, I have budget for monitors and compressors and some sort of pre amp, but have not bought yet:
Will take your advice on the audio buddy/DMP3 and the vox - real toss up on that one - C1 seems to be very popular, but AT has very good rep also - will need to cover both gruff male and sweet female style vocals...even looked at the C-3.....

Thinking powered Macke monitors with their new sub

On the D1600 - did you find that the 16b/8 track mode gave as good as results as 24b/4track mode?
Thanks Again
Bill

 

[TopShelf]

Pete:
Oh yea - help me understand why I need the mic preamps as opposed to just plugging into the D1600 - are the condenser mic signals just too low for direct plug in, or what?
Bill

 

[Track Rat]

Does the 1600 generate phantom power? If not, you'll need a pre that can. The signal from a functioning condensor mic is more than enough.

 

[TopShelf]

Hi TR:
Yes - the D1600 has 4 inputs with 48V phantom power, so I was not sure why I was needing some preamps, other than they could also double as fancy direct boxes? Need some advice here.

Oh yea - you are the 4033 guy - well, I'm really torn on the C1 vs 4033, maybe it comes down to the nice wooden box the 4033SE comes in - - just kidding.....it's tough when you can't rally go out and audition them, but it seems either pick will work for me, eh?

Boy, I am really pushing this thread, but also have compressor questions - looking at DBX and RNC - anybody have some feedback here?
Thanks
Bill

 

[battleminnow]

OK, here goes...

Yes, the mic pre's on the D1600 are OK, and before I got my Audio Buddy, those are what I used. But, when I got the Audio Buddy, mic levels became so much easier. You do have phantom power on the D1600, but I have found that the pre's just aren't easy to work with. You have to use the top decibals of the gain to get any signal on good condensers, and even then they are severely touchy. It is so much easier to amplify the signal and not have to worry about distotion or topping off the gain knob.

C1- I hear it is great for males, but not so great with females. I am sure Alan Hyatt could shed a little more light on this, or maybe someone who uses the C1 a lot.

My personal bias for going for the 4033 first for me is that I play drums, guitar (ac and elec), bass, piano and other random things, and the 4033 is proven to do well as an all around mic. Not taking away from the C1 (I want one almost as much as I want a Taylor acoustic) it just doesn't make sense right now for me to add that to my mic cabinet.

As far as compressors and monitors- RNC from FMR audio gets rave reviews from everyone who has used it. I have NEVER seen a bad comment about it. I use a DBX 266xl and I am very pleased with it, but If I would have known about the RNC when I bought my DBX, I would have spent $20 more for it.
I am in the major minority around here in not caring for the Mackie monitors. I am sure someone will come along shortly and let me know why they are so great, but I just don't prefer them. This is why monitors are so subjective... you must listen first.

As far as the 24/4 16/8 question, I could hear the difference. I haven't heard the difference in the two when burned to CD, but at least through the D1600, there is an apparent bump in clarity as well as an overall unobstructed tone from 24/4. I use a lot of tracks, and 16/8 is what I usually use, and I think it is fantastic, but the 24/4 does give a little more of a "pristine" quality to it. BTW, I usually use www.korgboards.com for good D1600 advice, if you haven't already. They don't seem to want to add a korg forum here, and a lot of people from this site show up over there as well. It is a great resource.

Pete

 

[battleminnow]

HaHa, during my type-fest you asked about the DBX vs RNC thing and hopefully in my last post I answered it. Hands down, RNC (as much as I love my DBX)

Pete

 

[TopShelf]

Pete:
What can I say - thanks again for all the good advice - beware now that I know you are a D1600 guy also, I may impinge on your email addr from time to time - us newbies have to get input from somewhere!

I just started looking at the korg threads and that will be daily reading, I am sure.

I'll go check out some monitors at the local Guitar Center here in San Jose, and some other places around here and try out a few alternatives to the Mackies.

Soundsl like Audio Buddy is the ticket - I need some DI's anyhow - and it sounds like it will work for guitar and bass DI box also....

So I have to fess up - I opened my big mouth to my own band about doing our CD with my studio - and of course I am learning in real time, and have done like 0 tracks to date with this unit - so - the good news is I have mucho years as live sound guy - owned and built PA stuff for a living many moons ago...and being a seasoned bass player with a few recording sessions under my belt as an artist, not an enginteer - so now I have to dig deep and make this happen....so for me it is really understanding the latest and greatest equipment out there and getting it all working....at least I have been told I give great mix.....but there is a bunch of stuff different......duh

we also have a few months to lay down all the tracks, fix or rerecord my screw ups and get a finished product out the door to a record company that wants more of our vocalist/guitarist/songwriter - to avoid sullying his good name with my own novice recoding experience, I shall not reveal it until we have the 11 songs done and dusted.

Oh, yea - headphones, hp amp, etc etc - I really have to warm up the credit card and get this studio finished - what else am I forgetting??? I did order an extra 40GB drive - Korg is now putting 40GB in the bay.....probably going to need the room for all the virtuals I will need.....;-(

Any sage advice on the actual D1600 recording you can throw my way - please do not hesitate, or we can take this off thread to avoid boring the masses.

Tnx again...
Philly Bill at the trying to live up to my bold studio name - TopShelf Studios....(...like it's really plural....)

 

[battleminnow]

Happy to help! I am sure the favor will be returned. Enjoy your gear and feel free to email me whenever.

Pete

 

[Track Rat]

TopShelf, in answer to your question about compressors, I have a few here in the rack. I have a DBX 266 and a pair of RNCs. The RNCs are VERY nice (just like the name says). I use the DBX all the time and still like it but the RNC is a better unit.

 

[jimistone]

"I run a M-Audio Audio buddy into a D1600 with great results. "

hey battleminnow,
i have a d1600 too. how do you hook the audio buddy into the d1600...into a chanel with the 1'4 plug?