Versatile Condenser Mic

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ujn666

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Hi all,

My friend and I are using Reason and an audio interface to record various instumental loop based music. We've been using a cheap store-bought dynamic mic but we definitely need to up our game a bit as we sample more instruments and musicians.

The main instruments we need to record would be piano(upright), acoustic guitar, vocals, cello and eventually some brass too..

I got recommended the AKG C1000 condenser mic for being very versatile in its home recording use, but would anyone have any suggestions on low-mid range priced mic that could do a decent job of recording said instruments?

Or is it wishful thinking to ask for a mic which can handle all of the above? Our price range is around £100 ~($150)

Any help would be appreciated. Cheers
 
The MXL 990 is a good deal for about $70-80. It's one of my favorite microphones and it works well on vocals and acoustic guitars, and pretty much everything else I've tried it on. It even comes with a second mic (the MXL 991), depending on which package you get, if you're interested in that.
The SM57 is a dynamic mic but it works great on most instruments; goes for about $100.
I don't own a ton of microphones, but these two seem to to a pretty good job with almost anything.
 
The MXL 990 is a good deal for about $70-80. It's one of my favorite microphones and it works well on vocals and acoustic guitars, and pretty much everything else I've tried it on. It even comes with a second mic (the MXL 991), depending on which package you get, if you're interested in that.
The SM57 is a dynamic mic but it works great on most instruments; goes for about $100.
I don't own a ton of microphones, but these two seem to to a pretty good job with almost anything.
 
I have a couple of Art M1 mics I got while starting out and working to a budget, I still use them a lot because I can't fault them and the single expensive mic I got to upgrade does not do anything way better to justify the extra cost. I guess that if I were recording in perfect conditions and had pro quality gear it would be possible to hear a discernible difference. I paid £80 or so each for the mics and anticipate I'll sticking with them for a lot of my recording. Certainly worth checking out.

Tim
 
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I'm a huge fan of AKG C2000B for just that purpose (lots of stuff-swiss army knife mic). Upright piano, spinet or console, really calls for 2 mics, and a pair of C2000B's does an excellent job, It's just fine for pretty much everything you mentioned. Now discontinued, check ebay, they're out there for $100-$150, in many cases, new in the box. Buy one, and start saving for another. Whoever told you to get a C1000S, I wouldn't use that person as my personal guru. There's one main problem with singing into that mic- they might make you listen to it afterwards! Go find a C2000B, it will not let you down.
 
Avoid the C1000, I owned 4 of them at one time. Worst sounding mic I've ever heard.
 
Instead of the MXL 990-991 you might want to go for the MXL CR24 (Black chrome 2003a & 603) set---currently available at $150 or less. The LDC is a major improvement over the 990 and there's little that this set won't tackle. You can even find and add an omni capsule for the SDC.

As for one, ridiculously versatile LDC condenser mic under $150, there's always the CAD M179.
 
Richard Monroe said:
Whoever told you to get a C1000S, I wouldn't use that person as my personal guru. There's one main problem with singing into that mic- they might make you listen to it afterwards! Go find a C2000B, it will not let you down.
Click to expand...

You're being very unfair to the C1000S Richard. I've yet to see a studio that didn't need a doorstop.

However, if you want a microphone, the C1000S is one of the worst I've ever heard.

The C2000 Richard recommends would be a fine choice; the MXL990 is also okay though with a bit less clarity in the upper ranges. However, just to inject a bit of realism here, NO mic is going to be good for you entire list. The best you can ask for is "adequate until I can afford a bigger choice of mic".
 
+1 MXL 990

This thing is built like a shure, mine has tipped its stand over quite a few times... Its all bent to hell, but it still sounds good.

NOTE= DO NOT PUT THIS MIC ON A TRIPOD AND FULLY EXTEND THE ARM

It'll fall over.
 
I'll also mention the MXL 990. Has to be one of the best bang/buck mics out there. I imagine you could pull pretty much anything off the MXL pile and be happy. I know the 990 handles horns well.



Another good one is a CAD e-100.

A couple of different flavors of the 990 on acoustic guitar. There plenty of other examples. If you've ever heard the YouTube version of "USA For Haiti" the guy that does the Michael Jackson part uses a 990.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV05c-zmNSI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wno3ZFddGjw
 
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My mk219s get thrown up for a lot of stuff.
I'm not a big condenser buff, but I do get a lot of use out of these on acoustic instruments and voices.
 
Just for grins here's a quick demo of some stuff I've done with an MXL 990. The male solo vocals, male harmonies and trumpet stuff was all done with a 990, added to other mixes/backing tracks.
 

Attachments

Line Audio - Swedish Made High Quality Audio Products - Available at NoHype Audio

There are some very impressive sound samples at Gearslutz in the remote/live recording section.

These are a wide cardioid microphone. Quite small, a bit bigger than an XLR connector.

I think the best source is Nohype audio, as listed above, but they are out of stock right now, it seems. If you do buy one (or two), do also buy the isolating shock mounts as the mics need de-coupling from the stand and floor.
 
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