Way to go with small-diaphragm condenser (follow-up to my previous post)

[AlexNormand]

Hey guys,

Alright this is a follow-up to my previous post. I'm torn as I don't know which mic to go for. I've been making lots of reasearch, got lots of mic ideas and now, I need to settle with one lol. I need a small diaphragm condenser that I will use for my acoustic guitar (both solo and for mixing) as well as an over-head mic for my drums. The poll is up so give me your opinion! Thanks guys.

-Alex

PS: if you choose other, please specify which one you would personnaly go for. Thanks.

 

[pohaku]

Assuming we aren't looking at real high buck mics like Schoeps or DPA, my preferences would be (in order):

Neumann KM84i (not KM184) (unfortunately only available used)
Beyer MC930 (pretty much a bargain @$721 for a matched pair)

with a tie for third depending on if you want a flatter or brighter mic:

Josephson C42 (brighter)
AT-4051 (flatter)

I own all but the Beyers and they are likely to be my next mic acquisition.

Finally, another consideration is the Groove Tubes AM-40/GT-44 tube mic. A medium D tube condenser that typically goes used for @$250. Really great on acoustic instruments. I love this mic.

The Microtech Gefell M300 is supposed to be quite nice also, but I've never used one and the price has gone up substantially.

Here's a couple older but still useful articles on SD condensers:

http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_smokin_condensers/
http://emusician.com/mics/emusic_tell_truth/

YMMV of course.

 

[guitar zero]

Michael Joly modded Russian Oktava MK-012 (Not the chinese ones). Get it used and cheap and let him tune it up for you. Fabulous for acoustic guitar. I have not used the others, so can't comment.

 

[thexflamesxburn]

i have an nt-3 pair. i love them. great overheads, great on acoustic, great for the price.

 

[bigtoe]

Finally, another consideration is the Groove Tubes AM-40/GT-44 tube mic. A medium D tube condenser that typically goes used for @$250. Really great on acoustic instruments. I love this mic.

amen. i don't know what it is about that mic and anything acoustic but it is so flattering...and cheap...complete steal. i'd buy one at a grand.

not my fave for overheads tho.

Mike

 

[pohaku]

amen. i don't know what it is about that mic and anything acoustic but it is so flattering...and cheap...complete steal. i'd buy one at a grand.

not my fave for overheads tho.

Mike

True. Need something faster for overheads. I use C42s or AT-4051s. Sometimes AT-4050s.

 

[dgatwood]

Michael Joly modded Russian Oktava MK-012 (Not the chinese ones). Get it used and cheap and let him tune it up for you. Fabulous for acoustic guitar. I have not used the others, so can't comment.

Even unmodded, they're a good choice for overheads, and a pair of Naiant mics or other omni mics would be good choices for acoustic.

 

[bigtoe]

True. Need something faster for overheads. I use C42s or AT-4051s. Sometimes AT-4050s.

man those 4051's were my favorite about 10 years ago...they still would be but i consistantly had them break up on cymbals. totally weird. awesome mics except for that...could never figure it out- may be it was just mine...

they have the perfect blend of natural small diaphragm and top-y small diaphragm.

see ya,

Mike

 

[darrin_h2000]

I read an article in July with a massive shootout and the AT4041 mics were rated up there with the Neumanns.

Im using AT3035s in the same function as I would SDC even though they are engineered more like side addressed LDC mics...the elements are 3/4" in diameter and I think is an improvement sonically over SDC mics...allthough Id probubly sell them if I bought another Shure KSM32.

 

[Shadow_7]

You might double check the polar pattern aspects for your needs. I had a pair of SM-81's, but they didn't suit me well since I wanted more environment type ambience, and those are highly directional. Outdoors and pointed towards the road, and a truck driving by isn't even in the stereo image until they're basically directly in front of the mics. And then it sounds like they drove by going 90mph when they were more likely going 20-ish. Pretty good on string type stuff, but I was able to clip at the mic on trombone. I'd think twice about using those on drums. They just don't have the SPL rating for that IMO. Acoustic guitar, probably pretty dreamy. Electric guitar amp, depends on the level I guess. Untimately the SM-81's added more issues than they resolved for me. If they were less directional and handled higher a SPL, I'd probably still have mine. But they didn't, and I don't. Probably pretty good stage mics though. I'm just tending to favor a non stage perspective for my recordings.

 

[sdelsolray]

At least for acoustic guitar, these are quite nice in the general under $1,000 pair range (in no particular order):

1) 3 Zigma CHI (modular system - SD and LD caps)

2) Oktava - Joly mod (modular system - SD and LD caps)

3) Peluso CECM6 (modular system - SD caps)

4) Beyer MC930

 

[rmaier]

I've had the GT44, the AT4041, and the Beyer MC930s as well as various budgets SDCs . I still have the Beyers. Get them.