recommend a small diaphragm condenser

  • Thread starter Thread starter sathyan
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sathyan

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My only decent microphone right now is a Studio Projects B1. I'd like to buy another cheap (under $150) microphone to give a bit more variety to my choices.

There are two things I'm not happy with my ability to do using the B1:
1. close miking - too easy to overdrive
2. plucked strings - transients too noticeable


Styles of music I record:
classical (chamber music)
Indian
country/bluegrass
pop-ized versions of the above

Instruments to be recorded:
acoustic guitar
fiddle/violin/viola (bowed and plucked)
mandolin
dobro
slide acoustic guitar

those are the important ones, others are:
percussion (shaker, tambourine, cymbal)
mridingam
sitar
piano

Preamp is on mixer (Yamaha MG10/2)
 
Someone just recc'd the B5 to me on the mics forum. Oktava MK012/MC012 seems to be a universal choice but I can't get them in the UK! Avoid the AKG C1000S, too brittle tone and generally not very good.
 
i recomend a shure pg81 it has a nice shimmering sound to it. and its cheap 115$ and it comes with a xlr cable pouch and a clip
peace
 
shure sm-81 Its glorious. I love it. I found one of ebay for 150 used.
 
Harvey has endorsed the MXL 603s. That's a good enough opinion for me, I'll be ordering a pair next week. A matched pair with shockmounts and hard case sells new for $199
 
The MXL 603s are great mics. So are the MC012s. But they are going to sound somewhat similar to the B1 and will also easily overload if miced too close.

How about a good ole $80 SM57.
 
You should seriously consider a Shure SM57. Great variety compared to the B1 and also great ability to close mic. Every studio should have at least one. You cannot go wrong.

If you need the small diameter thing, you could go with an Oktava, but I really think you will be happier with the SM57!
 
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