Suggest a mic from this list . . .

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cactuseskimo

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I'm looking for a LD Condenser to record my vocals (I'm inbetween a tenor and baritone, and sound something like Jimmy eat World). Looking for something $300.00 or under off ebay. Here's my list I've come up with. Give me your suggestions. The only one I've heard is the C1, and I found the top end a little plasticky. Feel free to suggest something else that meets my criteria.

MXL 67 ($80.00)
MXL V69M ($299.00) -tube mic
MXL V6 ($299.00) -tube mic
MXL V76T ($199.00) -tube mic

AT 3035 ($120.00)

CAD M177 ($169.00)
CAD M179 (199.00)
CAD E300 ($300.00 occasionally)

Studio Projects C1 ($199.00)

Samson CO1 ($50-60.00)
 
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If you're only recording vocals, I'd say get the v69. Some respected folks give it good marks on vocals.
 
tryptophan said:
studio projects c1. scratch the others off your list.
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There's a reason why you have negative rep. Not that there's anything wrong with the C1 but that you consider it so obviously better than the rest of those mics. Those are all fine mics, with the possible exception of the Samson.
 
If you are close to a Guitar Center. Pick up a Oktava 319 or the Oktava tube mic for $99.00.
 
...if vocals are your goal, multi-patterns aren't necessary...a good cardioid mic will do the job...personally I like the V69, but it's important to hear YOUR voice through the mics you're considering in order to make a good choice...I can say that the MXL V6 is better on acoustic guitar than it is on vocals...both the V67 and V76 do a good job as vocal mics...the V67 and V69 both share a bit of a "dark" tone, while the V76 is more neutral sounding...the C1 is probably the "brightest" of the bunch, but still a very capable mic...the CADs get high marks on this website, though I can't comment as I've not used those models...definately skip the Samson...
...I hope I've helped you narrow down the choices...
 
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Use your ear and trust it.

There are a million mics out there, and a million different viewpoints. Mostly I think its whatever mic we first successfully used or were exposed to establish the guidelines for what we expect out of mics and studios. In my case that was a Neumann U87. Have loved it ever since. When my old Neumann finally bit the dust, and $1500.00 was not available, I solved the problem with a Behringer for 149.00 from zzounds. I can get the same crisp vocal sound.....I love it. Im sure that there are some folks that can hear a pin drop at 50 yards and they could hear the difference. Bono uses an SM-58 in the studio, and he amazed me with it. Seems to me that whenever I start focusing on equipment prices and model numbers I stop listening with my ears. lol......besides that, remember that an excellent performance makes EVERYONE not care about the quality to a great degree. What I mean is that you cant make up for a poor performance no matter how high end your gear is. Thats my two cents. :-)
 
Where did you find a U87 for only $1500? I might want to pick one up for that price.
 
haha i never noticed every post by that guy was about a studio projects mic
 
kidvybes said:
...if vocals are your goal, multi-patterns aren't necessary...a good cardioid mic will do the job...
Click to expand...

A good cardioid will almost always do the job, and multi patterns aren't necessary...but it can be a great option to record vocals in different patterns for different reasons. One is, the proximity effect is reduced when recording in OMNI pattern and the mic can be worked much closer without as much boominess. Also, it depends on how much room you want to hear. Sometimes it's great to hear the room, other times once you start compressing vocals during mixdown you're pretty much sucking the sound of the room to the surface so it better be good!

I use OMNI a fair amount for close vocal work, and since it's better in many circumstances I guess it could be considered necessary on occassion.

I'm going to toss my hat at the M179 not only because it has multiple patterns, but because it is one of the greatest sounding mics in my studio on more versatile sources than just about anything you can put next to it. I've even started to use them on toms and they absolutely KILL. There's no reason why you couldn't point a CAD M179 at anything and not expect at least a good sound, let alone a great one. It's a condensor without all the peakiness, somehow it's been tuned just right. The pad and roll off are damn useful as well, and the hypercardioid setting is about the tightest I've ever heard.

True workhorse mic. M179 owners...put one on a tom and compare it to your favorite mic. Dial in hypercardioid, pad engaged...tell me what you think.

War
 
Thanks to everyone who has posted some suggestions up above. It REALLY has been helpful. I will continue some research, and perhaps post a review for the benefit of other people once I get a mic. Thanks!
 
kinda late to the thread...but, how does the V69 sound on acoustic gtr can you get that warm-yet-still-cutting neil young/elliott smith sound? or is it really muddy?
thanks
 
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