Shure SM-87A, AKG 3000B or AT 3035, which one should I buy?

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Etheron

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Ok I'm in the process of setting up my home recording studio and i have reserved around 300 USD for a decnte entry level condenser mic, intended for recording mainly vocals and some nylon string guitars. in this price range, there are three suitable ones the Shure SM87A (supercardioid, small diaphragm,handheld), the AKG 3000B and Audio Technica AT 3035. I know the difference between cardioid and supercardioid, and considering that im recording a room not very sound isolated i am inclining towards the Shure SM87A which should pick up less unwanted noise. However, if at the long run i end up having a better run, I am wondering whcih one would be best, the AKG 3000B or the AT 3035. the AKG has mixed reviews, most of them not that good, the AT 3035 has excellent reviews, specially for vocals. So I'm basically torn between the Shure SM87A and the AT 3035. Any of you guys have nay of these mic? suggestions, I cannot buy both, and goona record my guitars with line in as i rather invest form the beggining on a good condeser mic that would be good for voice and guitars instead of a few dynamic ones (SM58 or 57) for only the guitar. PLEASE HELP!
 
Try them out and see which one you like best.
 
I've never seen a good review of the C3000b - they are pretty consistently panned. The AT, on the other hand, gets pretty good reviews. I've never used an SM87, but the Beta87 is a pretty decent mic. Why are you limiting yourself to this particular selection of three mics?
 
Do I hear an echo ? ? ?

Gilliland - your post dumbfounds me! You've simply repeated what Etheron has already stated!

Etheron - you say "the Shure SM87A . . . should pick up less unwanted noise". As well as the noise consideration, it will minimise acoustic colorations of your home studio (assuming that it is not perfect! ;)) I don't trust reviews and would not offer advice on a choice unless based an actual experience.

Are you able to hire likely mics for evaluation? As the man says - - -
mentalattica said:
Try them out and see which one you like best.
 
PinkNoise said:
Gilliland - your post dumbfounds me! You've simply repeated what Etheron has already stated!
Really? Maybe it's a reading comprehension issue. Seems to me that I contradicted him rather directly on the C3000b - he said that reviews were mixed, and I assured him that they weren't. And more importantly, I asked him a very relevant question.
 
Even Richie, who has a soft spot for AKG's, doesn't like the 3000. I think you would be better served looking at an AT4040, CAD M179 or an ADK Vienna or Hamburg. Maybe even a Heil Pro.
 
I think I7m goona go with the AT. And to answer gillian's question, is that i have had bad experiences with neumann, rode and studio projects before, basically cuz i live in japan and not easy to get suppor on those. If I'm gonna get a knew one, i want one with full warranty and support, and Audio Technica, sure and AKG are widely avaialbe and full support on warranty her ein Japan.
 
I think I7m goona go with the AT. And to answer gillian's question, is that i have had bad experiences with neumann, rode and studio projects before, basically cuz i live in japan and not easy to get suppor on those. If I'm gonna get a knew one, i want one with full warranty and support, and Audio Technica, sure and AKG are widely avaialbe and full support on warranty her ein Japan.
 
Im looking at buying a behringer b-5 condensor microphone, it has two capsules one for close up micing of say, and acoustic guitar or vocals, and then another capsule for picking up ambient noises, say you could place it in an area of a room that seems to pick up the noise of a live performance or something of the sort very well and record from there. just a thought, im sure some people would contradict me, and seeing as you have a higher price range you probably are better off investing in a higher end microphone.
 
Interesting thread this one... I'm in love with AKG 3000B, I'm about to buy one after using one almost exclusively for recording guitar (admittedly electric) and drums at my college's studio for about 3 months. Don't *always* trust reviews.
 
Elton,

Before you continue trying to give anonymous negative rep points, just answer one question:

What other condenser mics did you compare to the C3000 that makes you love it so much?

And where are these reviews that you've seen on that mic that we should trust or not trust?
 
It's widely acknowledged on here that the AKG3000 gets crap reviews - I havn't read any myself because I started using the mic at college just because it was there to use. I've used a C414 for the same applications as I use the C3000, and it's obviously better - but the C3000 is a fraction of the price. I've also experimented with pretty much every other mic the studio had at the time - SM57, SM7, Sennheiser 421, Groove Tubes SDC (not sure of model), Neumann U47... some really nice mics with some really hefty price tags - and the C3000B more than holds it own (in my opinion of course)
 
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