What condenser?

[BurnBarfield]

Hello, I have been looking at condensers lately. I was looking to get a pair, not necessarily matched, for $200. I don't care if they are used or not. My setup will be a Shure SM-57, AT ATMPRO25, and a pair of condensers. I will use that setup for everything in my recordings. I am on a budget so I need the condensers for $200. I don't know what to get. I was looking at Oktava MK-012, Marshall MXL-603, Studio Projects B-1, and Behringer B-5. What would work best for OH mainly, but with acoustic, and maybe electric guitar and vocals?

 

[Big Kenny]

mk012
at that price, there is none better

 

[DJL]

What would work best for OH mainly, but with acoustic, and maybe electric guitar and vocals?

Maybe an AT4033... it's a pretty good "general purpose" mic.
Or...
Oktava MC-012's for overheads.
Marshall MXL603S's for acoustic guitars.
Sennheiser MD421 for guitar amps.
And audtition vocal mics untill you find the one that works best for your voice and particular project.

mk012
at that price, there is none better

No kidding... so you really like the Oktava MC-012 as your vocal mic?
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EDIT/ADDED:
I think I remember reading another thread where someone was saying they liked the MC-012 on vocals... was that you Kenny or someone else?

Oh, and back to the original question "What would work best for OH mainly, but with acoustic, and maybe electric guitar and vocals?
". Sense the main fuction of the mics will be O.H.'s... the Oktavas MC-012's would indeed be a good choice as BK recommeded. I prefer the MC-012 on O.H. over the MXL603S... but I prefer the MXL603S over the MC-012 on A-Gtr.

 

[sprayfe]

No kidding... so you really like the Oktava MC-012 as your vocal mic?

No kidding... the dudes got 200 bucks to spend. I don't think he could really go wrong with a pair of Oktavas. You'll love them, and who knows, throw a pop screen up and sing, maybe it will sound amazing.

Peace,
Rafe

 

[DJL]

No kidding... the dudes got 200 bucks to spend. I don't think he could really go wrong with a pair of Oktavas. You'll love them, and who knows, throw a pop screen up and sing, maybe it will sound amazing.

Peace,
Rafe

I own a few Oktavas MC-012's and I like them.
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EDIT/ADDED:
Have you used your Oktavas MC-012's on a lot of different vocals/singers or just your own voice?

 

[Big Kenny]

not for vocal at all.......but for overheads-great, acoustic-wonderful, electric guitar-theres better, but ok, vocals-probably my last choice
He said mainly OH

 

[DJL]

not for vocal at all.......but for overheads-great, acoustic-wonderful, electric guitar-theres better, but ok, vocals-probably my last choice
He said mainly OH

I used the Oktava MC-012's as overhead vocal mics at a church once and they got the job done.

 

[BurnBarfield]

Thanks a lot, I plan on going to GC this week-weekend, and I am going to pick some up. Thanks a lot everyone.

 

[chessparov]

You need to go through ALL the Oktava's typically to find two that are close enough in sound. Also check their return policy if one/both are defective.
IF you find a good one(s), they are good on vocals BTW.
I found ONE that was exceptional so it can be done.

When a professional AE, like Scott Dorsey (who repairs them), goes through them they find quite a few with poor soldering, sub-standard parts etc.
Don't believe me, just ask him sometime, or the folks at www.oktava.com

An easier life IMHO is to simply get a pair of SP B1's.
They have a dot color matching system to find two that use similar mic pre
gain easier. The QC on them is higher-yes I've had both!

Chris

 

[BurnBarfield]

Well how are the SP B-1's on overheads?

 

[DJL]

An easier life IMHO is to simply get a pair of SP B1's.
They have a dot color matching system to find two that use similar mic pre
gain easier. Chris

NOTE: Getting two SP mics with the same "colored dots" on the package does not mean the mics are matched... it only means the mics with the same colored dots will have a closer output signal strength.... as Chris stated.

Well how are the SP B-1's on overheads?

There ok... but IMO the Oktava MC-012's smoke the B1's as drum overheads, on acoustic guitar, and even vocals.

 

[BurnBarfield]

Anymore opinions on the B-1's as OH?

 

[randyfromde]

I think I remember reading another thread where someone was saying they liked the MC-012 on vocals... was that you Kenny or someone else?

That was me actually (among others?). In my modest setup (MXLV67, AT At3035, Shure PG57, and 2 MK012's), I just tend to go from recording acoustic guitar on the MK012, moving the mic stand up and recording vocals. As much as I've tried with the other mics I've got, I get the best sound that way. About 12" back, forehead level pointing down at my chin, pop filter, singing straight forward.

 

[DJL]

That was me actually (among others?). In my modest setup (MXLV67, AT At3035, Shure PG57, and 2 MK012's), I just tend to go from recording acoustic guitar on the MK012, moving the mic stand up and recording vocals. As much as I've tried with the other mics I've got, I get the best sound that way. About 12' back, forehead level pointing down at my chin, pop filter, singing straight forward.

Oops, thanks... I couldn't remember who it was.

 

[OneRoomStudios]

That was me actually (among others?). In my modest setup (MXLV67, AT At3035, Shure PG57, and 2 MK012's), I just tend to go from recording acoustic guitar on the MK012, moving the mic stand up and recording vocals. As much as I've tried with the other mics I've got, I get the best sound that way. About 12' back, forehead level pointing down at my chin, pop filter, singing straight forward.

Just wanted to double check..did you really mean 12' (feet) or 12" (inches)? If it is feet...that's quite the setup, wouldn't room sound come in to play pretty drastically?

 

[DJL]

Just wanted to double check..did you really mean 12' (feet) or 12" (inches)? If it is feet...that's quite the setup, wouldn't room sound come in to play pretty drastically?

I'm sure he meant inches.

 

[randyfromde]

Yes, 12" inches.