Tube Vocal Mics $500-$700 Range

[DarkFriend]

I've got both an MXL 2003 and an AT3030. After demoing the tube M-Audio Sputnik, I see what I've been missing out on. A lot of the threads here are about sub-$500 mics. Anyone care to comment on:

- Tube vs non-tube for condenser vocal mics
- Any recommendations in the $500-$700 range

Thanks for your input!

 

[mrbowes]

That's a very small price range. The Audio Technica 4060 fits in their and gets good reviews.

I suggest you either raise your budget to about $1000-1500 (so many options open up at this price point) or consider getting a used MXL V77 or V69, which should run you $2-300, and then save up for the more expensive Peluso, Pearlman, Neumann offering.

 

[pohaku]

That's a very small price range. The Audio Technica 4060 fits in their and gets good reviews.

I suggest you either raise your budget to about $1000-1500 (so many options open up at this price point) or consider getting a used MXL V77 or V69, which should run you $2-300, and then save up for the more expensive Peluso, Pearlman, Neumann offering.

+1 Good advice. There's sort of a gap between the sub $500 mics -- MXL, SE etc and the better LD tube mics. The AT-4060 and some of the GT mics are the only ones that come to mind quickly in that low-middle range.

The AT is a very good mic and well worth considering. Of the current GT mics, I'd consider the GT67 and GT40, but I'd also look and see what I could find used in the prior models (e.g., GT-44, AM-40 which I believe are essentially the same mics with slightly different casings). You should be able to get a used prior model much cheaper than the current versions.

Of the current GT models, I like the GT40 (prior models AM40, GT44). I have a couple of these (prior models) and they are great acoustic instrument mics. Actually I like the first series of GT mics the best, before they went to the sub-miniature mil spec tubes - MD1, MD2, MD3 and the "a" versions of those mics. They all had full size replaceable 12ax series preamp tubes. Those can fall into your price range and are well worth considering if you can locate one. The MD1b resissue is NOT the same (or even close) to the MD1 or MD1A as it uses a subminiature tube. I bought one once when MF was blowing them out, thinking that it might match my MD1A. Sent it back.

Given all that, though, I'd strongly consider Mr. Bowes' advice on the matter. You could pick up a used GT, MXL, etc. mic and save and wait to get a really good one. My 2 cents.

 

[DarkFriend]

Thanks for the comments. Any thoughts on tube versus non-tube? After borrowing the Sputnik, I'm thinking tube might be the way to go.

 

[pohaku]

Per usual, it depends on the voice - and to a lesser extent, the rest of your recording chain. There are some very good FET mics out there that, sometimes, work better than tube mics. For my LD tube mics I have a GT MD1A, MD3 and a Neumann Gefell M582h. For my better LD FET mics I have an older U87, Gefell M71 and a Gefell MT711s (as well as a couple AT4050s and Beyer MC834s). There are times when, for example, the M582h, as nice as it is, is just too thick and one of the Gefells works better. Oddly enough, my mic that has gotten the most calls for vocal duties is none of these. My Shure SM7 keep getting picked in shoot outs for that purpose. Go figure.

Just another arrow in the quiver.

 

[Big Kenny]

I've got a GT Md1B and use it with regularity ( no not there) Though it's a little dark I think it's one of there best. The Studio Projects T3 is another wonderful mic

 

[BeniRose]

Not trying to take over, just trying to further the discussion. Anyone heard anything about the Mojave MA-200? I've only heard good things and it's "under a grand". It's not tube though. I've heard the cheapest tube mic you can get where you actually hear the effects of having a tube mic is the Rode NTK, can anyone confirm this? Anything less and it's just as if you're plugging a solid state condenser into a cheapo ART Tube Pre or something. I'm also looking for a new Vocal mic, but my budget isn't quite 700 bucks.

 

[thehymns]

The Mojave MA200 is a great microphone. You could possibly find a used on for $700 and I know you'll love it. I think it performs best on vocals and acoustic guitar. It has a very rich, crisp sound that sits well in the mix.

I also like the original Groove Tubes MD1a, but they are pretty hard to come by.

 

[ido1957]

A Vote for Rode NTK

Rode NTK is a very nice tube mic. I bought mine for $750 Canadian, but they can be had in the USA for less than $500 US. Check out any of the songs on my Soundclick page below. The vocals were all recorded through an NTK, through Alesis Studio 24 to ADAT Tape then USB to Sound Forge Studio.

My Songs are here

 

[thehymns]

Also, I have a RODE NTK for a short time, the only thing I liked it on was as a mono drum overhead, but I thought it was very brittle and harsh on vocals and too much high end for acoustics. The high end worked for cymbals, but I wasn't impressed enough to buy another to use as drum overheads because they usable on anything else.

 

[Robert D]

So why don't you get the Sputnik? It's in that range, and you already know you like it. I've heard it's a really nice mic.
On the NTK, yes it's on the bright side, but I've not found it to be brittle.....it's a smooth high.

 

[PhilGood]

Not trying to take over, just trying to further the discussion. Anyone heard anything about the Mojave MA-200? I've only heard good things and it's "under a grand". It's not tube though. I've heard the cheapest tube mic you can get where you actually hear the effects of having a tube mic is the Rode NTK, can anyone confirm this? Anything less and it's just as if you're plugging a solid state condenser into a cheapo ART Tube Pre or something. I'm also looking for a new Vocal mic, but my budget isn't quite 700 bucks.

Huh? Did you just say the MA-200 is NOT a tube mic?

It is indeed a tube mic! Sounds wonderful too!

 

[BeniRose]

Whoops, my mistake. For some reason i was thinking it wasn't but i knew that!

 

[BeniRose]

How does the NTK compare to the NT1a? I'm assuming it's going to sound better overall considering it's tube and a lot more expensive, but when I record vocals with my NT1a, I can never get them to sit in the mix properly. They're almost too over pronounced and kind of stick out like a sore thumb. I can generally solve this with some compression, but I'm wondering if I'll have similar problems with the NTK or if it's a lot smoother and more apt to fit in the mix properly.

Damn it, I did hijack this thread, didn't I?! I'm sorry DarkFriend!! Hopefully some of the questions I'm asking are also on your mind!

 

[BeniRose]

Gah, when I said NTK, I meant the K2. Damn Rode and their Ns and Ks. Not really sure how these two mics compare to eachother. The NTK is more in DarkFriend's budget, but I hear the K2 is quite a bit better in terms of actually sounding like a tube mic.

 

[drossfile]

So why don't you get the Sputnik? It's in that range, and you already know you like it.

i was going to post this too, but it just seems too obvious...am i missing something?

 

[kidvybes]

The Studio Projects T3 is another wonderful mic

...a used T3 ($250-300) is a great starting point for your first tube condenser mic...smoother sounding than many others in it's price range (just ask Harvey Gerst)...throw in a vintage NOS 6072 tube and you've got a "best-bang-for-the-buck" vocal mic (IMHO)...

 

[cnix]

...a used T3 ($250-300) is a great starting point for your first tube condenser mic...smoother sounding than many others in it's price range (just ask Harvey Gerst)...throw in a vintage NOS 6072 tube and you've got a "best-bang-for-the-buck" vocal mic (IMHO)...

This is exactly what I did with great results for my vocal. I have since tried to upgrade my main vocal mic, but the T-3 keeps winning out in A/B comparisons. I have tried some of the hot mic's that some "experts" say will put me in a different sonic league, but the T-3 is still here and the others are not. If the Sputnik works for you, consider used. I have seen them go for around $400 on several occasions, search and find yourself one.

Charlie

 

[BeniRose]

Do you guys buy used mics from otherplaces than eBay and CraigsList? I always only see mics for 100 bucks less than retail tops on eBay, and CL is hard to come by anything decent.

 

[cnix]

Sent you a PM.