Pair of Rode NT5's or SM81 and AKGC3000?

[trippstrat]

I am wanting to mic an acoustic guitar and a nylon guitar. I've used some RODE NT5's that I borrowed one time and I really liked the way they sounded on a classical guitar. I already have an AKG C3000 and was wondering if I should just buy a Shure SM81 to go with the AKG or use the Rodes. Does anyone have any experience with these mics? I would appreciate your comments. Thanks.

 

[Michael Jones]

SM81's are great on a lot of instruments.
Get yourself a pair of them! You wont be sorry.

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

I got 2 SM81's and they are outstanding on acoustic guitar, overheads, piano and more....

 

[omtayslick]

Yup. SM-81.

 

[tdukex]

...how about a matched pair of MXL 603s...


http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=76423

 

[BasPer]

Interesting! Those SM81's (which I have never used) are bashed pretty hard elsewhere...

 

[littledog]

Interesting! Those SM81's (which I have never used) are bashed pretty hard elsewhere...

I'm curious where "elsewhere" is...

While others may have mics they prefer, like KM84's or Earthworks, I've never heard anyone actually "bash" an SM81, and I've hung out on a bulletin board or two.

 

[stonepiano]

I 2nd littledog.

Don't we see those 81's as drum overheads in nearly all concert footage?

 

[BasPer]

I'm curious where "elsewhere" is...

Ok, so bash was perhaps a bit strong! (Extremely strong now that I read it again) But words like harsh seem so come up fairly often in conjuction with the SM81, for example on rec.audio.pro. (Of course those guys are often comparing to somewhat pricy stuff.)

On the other hand the only SD condenser I currently own is the Line Audio CM2, which is indeed somewhat harsh too (and have a rather nasty off-axis response), but that harshness is sometimes a good thing. Whatever, I didn't mean to convince anyone aginst the SM81 (and you should listen very little to what folks on the internet say about mics, even less so to folks on the internet whithout experience of the mics) I was just a bit surprised to see three consecutive posts of praise without any proviso containing the word harsh in them.

Don't we see those 81's as drum overheads in nearly all concert footage?

Speaking of overheads I was at a Jazz concert the other night and they used ECM8000 for drum overheads. I wonder if they had, had it not been for the one and only mr Gerst...

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

Well, the last word I would use to describe the SM81's are harsh I think. Their sound is very true to the source, in lack of a better description. To my ears.

 

[omtayslick]

Clarity is the word I would use, rather than harshness.

 

[int]

Audio Technica 4041 was my choice over SM 81s. The 4041s fit better with the styles of music I do and my gear, not to mention my own production style. It was pretty much a toss up though. If the 4041s weren't a little cheaper I definately would have gone with the Shures.

I haven't tried the Rhodes or the 3000 though.

 

[littledog]

Ok, so bash was perhaps a bit strong! (Extremely strong now that I read it again) But words like harsh seem so come up fairly often in conjuction with the SM81, for example on rec.audio.pro. (Of course those guys are often comparing to somewhat pricy stuff.)

Hey, if I was comparing them to Schoeps or B&K/DPA I might not gush about them either. But they are perfectly useable mics in their price category, and need no "provisos". So no need to be surprised at the positive comments.

It's possible to find someone somewhere on the internet bashing any piece of gear you can name. No sense driving yourself crazy looking for that elusive unanimity.

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

It's possible to find someone somewhere on the internet bashing any piece of gear you can name. No sense driving yourself crazy looking for that elusive unanimity.

True.

 

[BasPer]

Very true.

 

[snapper]

The shure sm-81's are a very neutral, flat responce mic. Some may not like them because they are NOT hyped like others. I like them on an acoustic guitar pointing off axis(ortf). Lots of records done on acoustic guitar with this mic. Also will work good for overheads, and as someone else mentioned, for live use on many instruments. Km-184's - a little more hype in the high end than an sm-81 and much more sensitive. The km-184 will work better in some applications and worse in others. It all depends on what your going for. The octava mc-012 would be a good inexpensive(?) all around sm. diaphragm condenser as well. If you can afford the Neumanns I'd say get them. If you cant than I would look at what pre-amps I have available. If I can use a good ,clean preamp with lots o gain I'd go for the sm-81's on a classical guitar. If I'm lacking in the preamp department I'd go for the Octava because I wouldnt have to drive the preamp as hard. In the end all of these will work well. But the biggest factor in achieving the sound your looking for will be player, MIC POSITION, and room.

 

[kid klash]

I'm another happy SM-81 owner. I've successfully used them as overheads, on acoustic guitar, on hats, on acoustic grands, and lots of other sources. They're about as smooth and flat as you can get too... they're real workhorses that you'll never regret owning.

 

[Henri Devill]

I like the SM81...I really like them on acoustic guitar,hand percussion..

Don