Small Diaphragm Condensor choices

[goldtop]

I would like to buy two small diaphragm condensors for use in a small home studio setup recording to PC via a Soundcraft Spirit SX mixer. I have been considering the following:

AKG C1000S
Rode NT3
MXl 603S
Audio-Technica ATM33a

To be used for vocals, acoustic guitar, violin and drum overheads, as well as possibly for micing guitar amps (an interesting cocktail of stuff to record!), so they've got to be versatile.

Which one of these would do the job best? Or maybe another mic altogether? I am willing to consider large diaphragm at the same price range (£100-£120) and i am in the UK.

All advice welcome
Tom

 

[Scinx]

http://www.hr-faq.org
Also use the search function
Of your list Mxl603 guitar, may want to also look into Studio Proj. B1, MXL V67G

 

[Mark7]

There's also the ADK SC-1, which costs £50 and is available from http://www.turnkey.co.uk

It's practically the same mic as the MXL 603S, but cheaper.

 

[Richard Monroe]

At UK prices, looking for versatility, I would consider a pair of AKG C2000B (mid sized diaphragm) or one C2000B and a pair of MXL 603's. The 603's are very versatile, but I wouldn't use them for vocals (or any other SD mic). Pass on the C1000S, unless you are in need of a billy club.-Richie

 

[lo beam]

I'd second Mark 7's option - I got a pair of SC-1s from Turnkey for less than £100 & they've proved to be excellent mics.
ADK is run by end users in the service of end users & you'll not find better customer service ANYWHERE.
I also got an ADK A-51 Pro S " Vienna" LDC from TKey which is just wonderful. I mean, it's REALLY good - very sensitive, warm & creamy sounding on vocals & ac guit - and TKey sent it me by mistake when I ordered their standard A-51 ( The Vienna is about £150 more expensive!!) - they cock up all the time btw, so you could get lucky.
Other choices would have to include the much vaunted Oktava MK012 - it's as good as folk say it is and you could maybe consider ordering it from the US ( much, MUCH cheaper over there)
I hope you're successful in your hunt - I sympathise enormously with you struggling to get good mics in the UK - it took me ages to do my homework & find what I wanted.
This board is great though - tons of advice & help.

 

[Gidge]

if i was gonna get 1 mic to do vocals, acoustic guitar, violin, drum overheads, id go with scinx on the v67 and b1...........

 

[DJL]

Or better yet... the Shure KSM44 will do what he needs.

 

[tdukex]

Or better yet... the Shure KSM44 will do what he needs.

Well...of course, if he was looking at the $700 range instead of the $70 range. I think we'd all like to have a KSM44.

 

[Mark7]

Why don't you let him have yours DJL? I'm sure you can afford to buy another one.

 

[DJL]

Well he said he wanted a mic for "vocals, acoustic guitar, violin and drum overheads, as well as possibly for micing guitar amps (an interesting cocktail of stuff to record!), so they've got to be versatile"... and the first mic that came to mind that might kind of do the job and not cost too much is the Shure KSM44.

 

[bgavin]

Is there a SDC that does multi-pattern, in the $400 street price range?

I've been looking at AT4050, but they are LDC.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

The only two SDC multi-pattern mics I can think of offhand are the Neumann KM-86, and the CAD E-200.

 

[Mark7]

Well he said he wanted a mic for "vocals, acoustic guitar, violin and drum overheads, as well as possibly for micing guitar amps (an interesting cocktail of stuff to record!), so they've got to be versatile"... and the first mic that came to mind that might kind of do the job and not cost too much is the Shure KSM44.

All well and good, except for the fact that, whichever way you slice it the KSM44 is still £633. £513 higher than what he's looking to spend. Now, maybe he can save up the difference ina reasonable amount of time; maybe he can buy it on credit. I don't know. Maybe, like a lot of people recording at home, he has a limited budget and other commitments.

So, bearing that in mind, which of these mics
would you recommend?

AKG C1000S

AKG C2000B

Behringer B2

Superlux CMH8A

Behringer B1

Behringer B5

Audio-Technica AT3035

Audio-Technica ATM-33a

Audio-Technica MB4000C

Groove Tubes GT33

Groove Tubes MD1B FET

Oktava MK-012

Oktava MK-012 with 3 Capsules

Oktava MK-319

Rode NT1A

Rode NT3

Samson CO1

Samson CO3

Studio Projects B1

Studio Projects B3

Note: all can be found for £130 or less.

 

[DJL]

So, bearing that in mind, which of these mics
would you recommend?

Because of all the stuff he wants to use the mic for I recommend he saves up more money and checkout something like the Shure KSM44.

 

[Mark7]

HELLO. IT COSTS 633 FUCKING QUID (£). HE ONLY HAS £120, AT THE MOST. ARE YOU STUPID OR SOMETHING

 

[DJL]

MAYBE YOU CAN TALK HIM INTO THINKING A B1 IS BEST FOR ALL HIS NEEDS... AND WHEN IT DON'T CUT IT HE CAN BEAT THE FUCK OUT OF YOU AND I'LL SAY "YOU GOT WHAT YOU PAID FOR.

 

[goldtop]

ok, i didn't mean to start an argument! having read all of the above, i'm currently leaning towards getting a pair of ADK SC-1s and an AKG C2000B. Together, will they cover most if not all of what i want?

 

[Mark7]

HE'LL BE TOO WORN OUT FROM KICKING THE CRAP OUT OF YOU FIRST FOR BEING TOTALLY UNHELPFUL

 

[Mark7]

ok, i didn't mean to start an argument! having read all of the above, i'm currently leaning towards getting a pair of ADK SC-1s and an AKG C2000B. Together, will they cover most if not all of what i want?

That sounds reasonable

 

[DJL]

ok, i didn't mean to start an argument! having read all of the above, i'm currently leaning towards getting a pair of ADK SC-1s and an AKG C2000B. Together, will they cover most if not all of what i want?

I haven't used the ADK SC-1s so I can't comment... and if I remember correctly, I didn't really care for the AKG C2000B.