Tired of being a condenser mic whore!

  • Thread starter Thread starter PhilGood
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PhilGood

PhilGood

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I haven't asked a question here in a while, so here's my predicament: I have enough condensers!! I have bought, modded and built DIY tube mics for a while now and I think I'm done. I have some really nice sounding mics and a nice variety!

I am wanting opinions. Would I be better off getting a good dynamic or should I get a nice ribbon mic? I have some 57's and 58's and a few Audio Technica dynamics. Would a Sennheiser 421 or an SM7 be more useful than a ribbon, or less? I am thinking about a (shudder) Nady RSM-2 or RSM-1. They're a nice price and can handle the SPL's, but would they be versatile enough?

Mostly I want something great for guitar cabs and some vocals that won't work with the condensers I have. I have drums covered! I love my drum sound and have no intension of using the new mic on drums. I just would like one mic that works with clean guitar, distortion and not sound harsh or muddy.

My budget is $200-350.

I sound like a newb, don't I?
 
The SM7 would be a great addition to your collection. If you can find one a Stedman N90 is a really cool mic to have in your cabinet and would work well for what you described. I like mine over the SM7 & EV RE20. Every once in a while you can find a Stedman N90 on sleaze bay for less than $200. If your budget peaks at $350 you should be able to get a RSM-2 and the N90. Good luck. :)
 
I second the 421 senn.

Here is a sample i did for another thread.

 
SM7 is definitely your move. It excels at voices that don't "fit" using condensers or some songs for that matter. And they really do a clean cab well. RE 20 would also work as would the afformentioned Beyer 88
 
The above suggestions for a Senn 421 or an RE20 (I like mine a lot) are good ones.... I have to suggest to you a Sennheiser 441.

And although I LOVE my Groove Tubes tube mics, since I picked up mine (used for about $225) it has absolutely become my favorite and most used mic.

The 441 is without a doubt my desert island mic. Bright (not hyped) clear, detailed, up front, awsome sounding mic.

I use for everything ... love it on cabs .... good on many vocals (not all of course) great on drums .....just sound good with everything.


My 2 cents

-mike
 
PhilGood said:
Mostly I want something great for guitar cabs and some vocals that won't work with the condensers I have. I have drums covered! I love my drum sound and have no intension of using the new mic on drums. I just would like one mic that works with clean guitar, distortion and not sound harsh or muddy.

My budget is $200-350.

I sound like a newb, don't I?
Click to expand...

Phil...don't overlook the new Heil Sound Proline PR-40 dynamic (from the same guy that gave us the Heil Talk Box)...it's garnering great reviews all over the net (especially in comparison to the RE20 and SM7)...I just received mine and it sounds terrific...no more worrying about the neighbors dog barking, or the AC kicking on...dead quiet...with a big smooth sound...makes me think of "Barry White" vocals...gotta be great on cabs and horns...and the price is only $269 delivered...do a little Google search and read the reviews..."the best of both a dynamic and condenser in one mic" is what's being said...if I do some tracks in the next week or so, I'll post them...in the meantime, check it out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Heil-Sound-Proline-PR-40-Dynamic-Cardioid-Microphone_W0QQitemZ7399810037

Harvey's got one coming, so he should be posting his opinion soon...
(and check out the cool wooden storage box...very classy ;) )
 

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Interesting! Not one person so far has said to get the ribbon, and the 421 is in the lead. Although I like the looks of the Heil, the reputations of the SM7, 421, 441 and RE20 are locked in history. I'd have to have a sample of the Heil.

Anyone else?
 
Not one person so far has said to get the ribbon...

Get the ribbon.

I recently acquired a beyerdynamic M-130 and I hope that this afternoon I'll have the opportunity to use it with a cardioid condensor for some S-M recording. I still need a really high gain pre, but I can make do with what I have.
 
If you ask me which is a better mic in that pricerange: the SM7/MD421 vs. Nady Ribbon, I've got to go with the SM7/MD421. Still, if you have drums covered, but want something different for vox and amps, a ribbon is a cool thing to have around.
 
PhilGood said:
I'd have to have a sample of the Heil.
Click to expand...

...actually there's many sample sound files up on the net that were recorded with the PR-40...unfortunately, most are just homegrown spoken-word "podcast" files (the PR-40 is already a big hit with the podcasters) but they will give you some idea of the mic's "sound"...keeping in mind that the RE20 has been the standard for years in the broadcast arena, the re-focused interest in the Heil mic is noteable...here's an example I found:
http://dmcex.com/shows/23


...keep in mind, the guy was using a Behringer mixer as a mic-pre...nuff said ;)
 
man, that's a hard choice indeed, flip a coin.
either would be a new flavor.

ummm, no help here. :p


(the heil is coming from the sound room and to me that's a good sign. after all they do QC and match the oktavas for you, and reliably, which no one else to my knowledge does.)
 
PhilGood said:
Interesting! Not one person so far has said to get the ribbon,
Click to expand...

Dont get a ribbon get 2 of them. :D :D
APEX APEX210 for $160
APEX APEX205 for $89


Or get an EV RE20.
 
PhilGood said:
Interesting! Not one person so far has said to get the ribbon, and the 421 is in the lead. Although I like the looks of the Heil, the reputations of the SM7, 421, 441 and RE20 are locked in history. I'd have to have a sample of the Heil.

Anyone else?
Click to expand...

Hey, I won't tell you--get ribbon... Well, I won't suggest you to get dynamic, either.

What I will tell you--just borrow or rent a ribbon along with SM7 (or some other choices on the list) and... you know the drill.

You will get an answer right away.
 
The reason that I would not say get the ribbon is that you say you have a very good collection of condensors. Your budget would get you a very well respected dynamic (the sm7, 421, and RE20 are all good choices) but only an entry level ribbon. (Don't take that as a dig on the Nady, I am glad that there now really is something called an 'entry level ribbon'.)
 
The MD421 is a great mic but quite hot sounding. The MD441 is much smoother, almost ribbon like compared to the 421.

Another really great mic is the Beyer M201.
 
PhilGood said:
Would I be better off getting a good dynamic or should I get a nice ribbon mic? I have some 57's and 58's and a few Audio Technica dynamics. Would a Sennheiser 421 or an SM7 be more useful than a ribbon, or less? I am thinking about a (shudder) Nady RSM-2 or RSM-1. They're a nice price and can handle the SPL's, but would they be versatile enough?
Click to expand...
I don't think anyone has mentioned the Sennheiser MD431, and I think that might be exactly what you're looking for. It uses the same capsule as the 441, but it is in a stage vocal mic format. Full Compass is selling them in your price range ($319). It's a wonderful vocal mic, but it also excels on amps and horns and other instruments.
 
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