What to look for

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pete Kopplin
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Pete Kopplin

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I'm just curious what to look for in a mic. I know that sound is the ultimate judge, and I trust most of the replies on this site (NT1, any AT40--, Octava (SR only)). But being somewhat of a newbie, what do I look for when I go to the local music store to pic a mic? I would like to be able to weed out some by just looking at the specs. Are there any clues to help decide?
p.s.-I bought a NT1 after seeing all of the great reviews, and it rocks!! It was my first 'real' mic purchase.

Thanks all,
Pete
 
How can we know?

With the influx of cheap recording gear flooding the market, little of it enjoys the test of time. Little of it also enjoys the benefit of thourough use and audio documentation by professional engineers. We get big claims, and spec sheets that are misleading, and of course, lousy demo's to judge by.

I am lucky to have many sources to try mics out from. I can try one in my own environment before I purchase. Not all have this benefit.

I go with proven winners. The mics that have stood the test of time, and have good audio documentation to support their use.

The list of winners is not all that terribly big. And they are not always the most expensive mics out there either.

Don't trust spec sheets. Don't neccesarily trust common consensus unless it is professional consensus. Don't necessarly trust your ears in a unfamiliar environment.

Good luck.

Ed
 
Thanks Ed
I guess I'm a little confused...for example
I read a post that said the Nady SCM 900 was the exact same mic as the Marshall MXL 2001P, and a few others as well. I was interested in the Marshall from the features highlighted in the magazine, but after reading responses here I decided for a NT1 instead. Now it is about a month later and I find that they are the same mic, but with about a $60 price swing. I am just wondering how one finds that they are similar if not identical on a performance scale.

Thanks for the help,
Pete
 
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