One Mic!

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StudioRecorder

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Hi,

I'm thinking about getting a new mic for myself. I have no previous experience with mics, I only've used a Shure SM57.

I was thinking about spending $500 on it. I wan't to use it in my homestudio, singing (male, female) playing acoustic guitars and maybe just chuck it infront of a 4 piece Jazzkit. Is there anything good out there that suits my needs?!
 
Considering all you've said above, I'd grab a DaviSound DS-1950 for $400:
www.davisound.com

I haven't used one, but since I own a few of their other pieces of gear, I know the quality of DaviSound's work. I don't have ANY doubt that this will be just as top-notch!

I myself have a matched-pair on the way. I expect to see them by the end of this month.
 
Hi - I would suggest getting two mics, not one. With $500 you could get both a large diaphram and small diaphram condenser, and have much more versitility. Vocals favour large diaphram condenser mics, and acoustic guitars favour small diaphram mics. What acoustic guitars really favour is stereo recording with two condensers. Unless an acoustic is going to be buried in a dense mix, recording it with a stereo pair makes a dramatic difference in the depth of the recording, providing spatial cues to the listener that cannot be achieved with a single mic. I'll leave specific mic recommendations up for discussion, though a little more info on the charachter of the voices to be recorded will help.
Regards, RD
 
how about a neumann tlm 103. or you could get 2 at 4033's(2 are better than 1 on a kit)
i would look at those 2 mics on ebay.
good luck.
 
What kind of signal chain and multi-track recorder are you using?
Also what kind of mic pre and/or mixer?

Chris
 
You guys are probably right; 2 being better than 1... For a drum kit or solo acoustic guitar with vocal. Then I'd say another DS-1950 or (if not going for a pair) a Studio Projects C1 for $200 or I suppose maybe a Behringer ECM8000 or MXL 603.
 
Thanx for all the answers...

I'm using the Digi001 Factory HomeRecording solution and a 733 G4 PowerMac. I use a Joemeek VC1 preamp/compressor as a pre and DI box, that's about it. I went "soft" a year ago, I only use those plugins that came with the interface.

I actually live in Europe, and I'm a bit sceptic about eBay and other auction sites. And also, there isn't that much of a variety here than in the States. The brands that are common here are Rode, AKG and AudioTechnica.

U might wan't to keep that in mind, because I don't like bying stuff over the net.

Thanx again!!
 
Damn! I'm really loosing it today... Maybe I need to go back to bed... chessparov is right. It'd be better to have 1 mic with a decent pre than 2 mics with less than decent pres. Maybe a DS-1950 and a Studio Projects VTB1, or at least an ART Tube MP?

I've only tried the ART Tube MP for a week. I felt it wasn't any "improvement" over my Mackie VLZ PRO mixer pres, so I returned it. But sonusman swears by them to being decent, and I've heard plenty of his recordings to agree! It should be noted that he primarily uses an Audio Technica 4033, Electro-Voice RE-20, or AKG 414 U/BLS.
 
At the risk of some idiot accusing me of working for DaviSound or benefiting from them (it's happened in the past when advocating other not so known companies, which are now common names around here), the DS-1950 is starting to sound better and better for you.
 
What about the Rode NTK?
If I only had $500 to work with, that's what I'd do. I love my NTK on almost everything, though it is a little bright and sometimes you need something a little flatter. I'd say, for the sources you mentioned, and the brand limitations you have, that the NTK is your best choice. However, if you can get your hands on these, I'd get a pair of the Oktava MC012s and an MXL V67 if I had a $500 mic budget.
 
no no no

i would check out the studio projects T3 IM RUNNING IT THROUGH the vcq1cs and wow it sounds nice.also it has 9 settings on it.
 
Recording Engineer said:
At the risk of some idiot accusing me of working for DaviSound or benefiting from them (it's happened in the past when advocating other not so known companies, which are now common names around here), the DS-1950 is starting to sound better and better for you.

Spammer.

Plant.


:D
 
jitteringjim said:
Spammer.

Plant.


:D


HA HA!!! Not the idiot I would have expected, but... :D

By the way, what's the deal with the NTK? It seems I've been hearing about this one more often than usual lately... In fact, I recently had a client in the studio raving over the NTK; as a studio in Southern, CA he's been recording most of his stuff at has been using an NTK on his vocals! This guy was telling me it's something I should look into and buy for my studio. Of course, I found it rather odd that this guy was giving me advice on mics while he was looking at my reasobably large and selectively wide mic collection, but...

Now I don't doubt it's a worthy mic to have around the studio, but some of the things I've heard around my town lately have really put this mic high on the pedestal! I mean, does anyone think I can get something from the NTK that I can't get from what I already have (Neumann 103s, Studio Projects C3, Milab VIP-50, RTT VM100, 797 Audio CR998 to name a few)?

Guess I'm gonna have to check it out, see what I think of it... See if it's worth the $500... See if it has something that can't be had with mics not much over half it's price tag! It'd take something spectactular to get me to make it worth think about getting for my studio though!
 
RE, Speaking of the CR998, how would you describe its sound compared to other mics you have heard (smooth, warm, bright, airy, ect.)? Think vocals, mainly. What types of voices do you feel it records best? Worst? What mics do you feel would best compliment the CR998 in a 2 (vocal) mic cabinet--giving the best overalall flexibility? The C3 perhaps? Maybe a 4033? I'll be interested to see what you think of the Davisound.
 
With the gear you have, it's probably has nothing you can't get with a little tweaking. It's just another low cost, yet excellent sounding tube mic.

I'd really like to have a couple of channels of the Davissound stuff. It's a little outta my price range at the moment, though.
 
StudioRecorder said:
The brands that are common here are Rode, AKG and AudioTechnica.

In that case, I'd have a serious look at the Audio Technica 4047, or the 4040.

AT has a pretty good reputation, and if anything characterizes their mics to me, it's their versatility.
 
Hey R.E. :
Since you work for Davidsound and all ;) , got any clips using that DS-1950?
 
Recording Engineer - Given that you've already got a nice selection of mics, I don't think you need to run out tomorrow and get an NTK, but it is an excellent mic, and well worth a listen the next time you're near a pro audio store that carries one. It's a little creamy for some things, but on the right voice and song, it's like butter on lobster.
Cheers, RD
 
StudioRecorder, you'd be fine with Studio Projects stuff too.
I wouldn't be surprised if the owner would fly over to handle any service
issues! :) Seriously, they have terrific customer service.
The website is www.studioprojectsusa.com
They have international dealers listed there also.
The VTB-1 is an excellent mic pre BTW.

Chris

P.S. I'd be curious to compare the NTK with the Studio Projects TB-1
that runs for around $150(?) less in the US if I was looking for a
tube condenser.
 
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