Some Mics I have and some to purchase, good ideas?

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monkeymanx

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Alright, so I've spent some time reading reviews and user opinions on certain mics and their applications. Here is what I am looking at getting and looking for opinions. This is a moderate budget to record my band live instead of using direct and midi drums.

My interfaces are 2 Presonus Firepods. I had good luck with 1 so I am buying another one. I really havn't tried any other interfaces in the price range, but the Firepods had good reviews.

I have about 6 SM57s already on hand. I was going to use 1 for the snare top, 1 for each tom. 1 for each guitar cab.

I'm buying a AKG D112 for the kick drum, I've tried the Beta 52a and didn't like it when compared to the D112. I figure this is a good choice for the kick drum.

Now for overheads, I was thinking about those Samson C02s. They seem to get good press over at the harmony-central forums. I'm really not sure what other options are good for under $400 or so for a pair. There seems to be alot of pencil mics that give harsh results for overheads. How are the Shure SM81s? The C02s are dirt cheap on ebay for a pair.

Now for a room mic for the drums, I'm really not sure what to use. It is going to be a smaller room for the drums. Maybe some kind of large condenser?

I've been using my 87c for vocals live and recording into my Line 6 UX2 but was thinking of getting a large condenser. It seems like the Studio Projects B1 gets alot of praise around the harmony-central forums too but am not sure if it would be better than the 87c. I had a KSM27 at one point and noticed it picked up the high end of my voice better than the 87c. How would a B1 compare with a KSM27?

Bass would probably get DI... I'm still not sure though.

Anyway, any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
what type of music? that will guide you on some mic choices.

here's some rules of thumb

toms: tsm411*, md421*, d112 (floor), atm25, d2, d4

kick: d6*(metal, rock), d112, atm25

snare: 57, i5*

* regular use

I'm not a big fan of the D112 for heavier rock... I prefer the D6

I'm not a fan of 57's on toms either
 
you have 57's and the 112, so samson would be like 'WTF are you thinking'..

Røde NT5's $399 a pair
SP C4- $299? pair
SM81's- $700? pair.

of course, theres used stuff too. Oktava MK012's, MXL 603/4's.. dont bother with the samson.

i dont use a room mic, i didnt like it. if your room isnt treated well, it won't sound very good.
 
I've read good things about the samsons... Those MXLs you mentioned are cheapos...

I like the D112 for rock and metal... I've gotten good results from it.

I usually like 57s on the snare and toms. I'm not sure what I'm going to put on the floor tom, maybe a 57.

I was also looking at those C4s which arn't to bad pricewise... I used to have SM81s for my overheads which seemed to work out good, but they are a bit more expensive. The 81s can be had used for probably under 500 dollars for the pair.

Whats the i5?

O yea, mainly rock and metal.
 
if you're doing mainly rock/metal, then familiarize yourself with a Audix D6 (Kick) and Audix i5 (snare).

the D6 is much better suited for metal than a D112. a metal kick tone right out of the mic

the 57 is the snare main stay, but the i5 is also very good.

check out the TSM411 for toms. a very reasonably priced mic with very good performance.
 
Not an SM81 fan for overheads. I got 2 C451EB-CK1s off the bay a while back for around $500. I like those a lot better than the 81s.
The i5 is a good substitute for a 57 if you want something a little different.Ive recently used a Beta 57 on snare with good results.
Of all the kick mics Ive tried, I seem to prefer either the Beyer M88, EV RE20 or the AKG D12 (not the D112) up in the drum and a LDC ( I have a few but the 414, in hyper pattern, sounded the best so far, to me) out a few feet. But its all depending on what type of sound your going for.
On toms Ill use either 57s or 421s.Lately its been 57s on rack and 421 on floor. Ive use the Senn MD 504s before. Not better or worse than a 57, again just different.
 
What I recommend, like Tragic, I say check out the Oktavia 012's for overheads (they're my next purchase), and I'm a fan of the Beta 52a for a kick mic. Toms, I use 57's, but if you want a cheap mic I am hearing good things about the Chinese es57 (personally, I haven't tried them, they're dirt cheap and I plan on getting a couple for a test run of them), or the 421 (another on the to-buy list for me). Vocals, I like the SP C-1 for the price, just under $200.
 
I've read things about people liking the SP B1 more than the C1 for vocals overall as a mic and it is cheaper.

What are C451EB-CK1s? I havn't heard of those.

Yea, I was looking at those Oktava's... They are pretty cheap on eBay used. Also was looking at picking up at least one 421(maybe 2).

I've had the 52a before and wasn't a fan of it. I liked the D112 alot more. I never tried the D6 though.

I think I may end up getting an AT4040 for vocals...
 
monkeymanx said:
What are C451EB-CK1s? I havn't heard of those.
Click to expand...
AKG microphone bodies with interchangeable capsules and pads and a bass roll off. The CK1 is the small diaphragm cardioid capsule. They re-issued them with a permanent capsule,pad and are transformer-less. The newer ones are about $550 a pop.
 
monkeymanx said:
I've read things about people liking the SP B1 more than the C1 for vocals overall as a mic and it is cheaper.

What are C451EB-CK1s? I havn't heard of those.

Yea, I was looking at those Oktava's... They are pretty cheap on eBay used. Also was looking at picking up at least one 421(maybe 2).

I've had the 52a before and wasn't a fan of it. I liked the D112 alot more. I never tried the D6 though.

I think I may end up getting an AT4040 for vocals...
Click to expand...


FYI watch out for the cheap Oktava's, make sure they are the Russian models..
 
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