tube vs. solid state

[mikeguy]

Hey folks, I'm new here so excuse my lack of knowledge. I'm primarily recording acoustic instruments. ( guitar, mandolin, violin etc.) I have a Rode NT1-A and want to add a second microphone. I'm curious about a tube condenser as a second microphone. I'm running a Mac G4 through an M-box. Any thoughts? Thanks, Mike

 

[tdukex]

If you are recording instruments in stereo, I would consider selling the Nt-1 and buying a matched (or unmatched but the same make and model) pair of small condensers.

Of course, you can mix and match mics and come up with some good combos, but your margin of error (mics not recording well together) also increases.

 

[Robert D]

Generally, I tend to use small diaphram condensors on those instruments, which tend to be FET designs. There was some talk about an SP SDC tube mic, but I don't know if it happened. There are some medium diaphram tube mics, and it's not that LDCs can't be or aren't used on these instruments. I've gotten some nice sounding mono acoustic tracks out of my Rode NTK tube mic, but again, I tend to prefer the more detailed sound of SDCs on acoustic instruments.

 

[PhilGood]

I just took an MCA SP1 (has the same capsule as an MXL 603s in the body of a V63) and installed the Royer tube circuit. Haven't done the full test yet, and am still breaking it in, but MAN what an improvement over a standard 603!!