Which mic?

[Dread28CW]

I just purchased a Yamaha AW16G and need to get a good instrument mic that is versatile. I will be recording acoustic guitar, mandolin, violin, piano and dobro. I bought a Sennheiser E845 vocal mic last year.......I wish I had researched beforehand because I don't really know how it's going to work in a home studio setting. Anyway, I'd appreciate any recommendations on which mics to purchase. Most of what I do is acoustic music, but I also play a Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall amp. I would like to spend no more than 400-500 €uros on the mic.

 

[cominginsecond]

In your price range, I would recommend a pair of the Oktava MC012s from the Sound Room.

 

[Mark7]

You're in Ireland, aren't you?

Some cheap Neumann's available over on your side of the Mare Celtica

http://search.ebay.co.uk/ws/search/...&sosortproperty=1&sacategory=15197&catref=C12.

 

[Dread28CW]

I'm located in France. I was checking this website out:
http://www.playback.fr/recherche.php?ordre=ASC&id_categorie=65&pageID=1

There is a huge selection of microphones there but no Oktava and the Neumanns are quite expensive. I checked Ebay.FR and the selecion there isn't too good. I don't think Ebay ever really caught on in France like it did in the U.S. and Great Britain. I was wondering if the Seenheiser I have will be good for recording vocals. I have heard that it is more suited for live work as opposed to recording. IF that's the case, then I may have to spend part of the 400 €uros on a vocal mic, but are there good instrument pics that could double as a good vocal mic? I had a Fostex four track recorder for a couple of years, but my knowledge is very limited, so any help is definitely appreciated.

 

[Mark7]

Well, your English is very good.

You could check out Thomann or Musician's Gear in Germany. They sell stuff all over the world. Even to France!

For an acoustic guitar you need to get either a condenser, or a dynamic or ribbon and a really good pre. For this kind of thing a small diaphragm condenser (such as the Neumann KM184) is usually preferred because of it's lack of off axis colouration; though people have used (and continue to use) large diaphragm condensers (like the Neumann U87 or TLM103) with satisfactory results.

In your price range the choices aren't quite as limited as they would have been ten years ago. So this could be a very long thread.

I, unfortunately, don't own any sdcs. Well, that's not completely accurate as I do have a pair of ECM8000s... but as very small diaphragm omni condensers they do tend to have a relatively high self noise (it's a consequence of making the capsule as small as possible plus some compromises in the electronics), which makes them okay for loud sources (drums, enthusiastically strummed steel strung acoustics, feverishly beaten tambourines, etc), but less than ideal for quiet ones.

 

[Dread28CW]

Hi Mark, Thanks for those links, I bookmarked them for future reference. I actually found a great deal on the Rode NT2000 on the French site I mentioned and it includes the shockmount and case for 325 €uros. I think this'll be a good first mic because it seems to be very versatile. I'm American by the way......I just live in France.

 

[noisedude]

That Sennheiser will have many uses in a studio setting ... I have five and love them. They're very usable on snare and guitar amp (I prefer the E835 for snare) and can be great for some voices, particularly female where the extra top end makes the difference for the higher voice.

If you're American ... well in that case your English sucks Where in France are you?

 

[Warhead]

If you're American ... well in that case your English sucks

My father in law travels the world selling textile equipment. He was in a bar, somewhere in Asia, and he overheard a fellow with a British accent speaking English.

My father in law jumps up and says "English! Finally, someone here speaks English!" to which the Brit replied:

"THAT'S not English."

Kind of embarrassing to my father in law. Of course, nobody else in the bar knew what they said to each other.

Noisedude, are we that far apart in the same language?
(ok I'm jokingly asking but kind of serious)

War

 

[noisedude]

Not at all. I guess there is an occassional feeling of resentment at the distortions put on our language, many of which are seemingly quite causeless ("goalkeeper" in football ("soccer") became "netminder" in MLS).

And the fact that on websites with flags to choose languages, we have to click your stars and stripes to get the English translation ... I dunno. It's all about identity and I guess the States got enough of ours already!

 

[CanopuS]

I'm half English half American and have a house in France, so I'm part of you all! The only thing I take from USA though is my inability to pronounce "orange" correctly

 

[Warhead]

How in the world are we saying "orange" wrong???

Noisedude, I can certainly see some points there.

War

 

[Warhead]

Oh, and to the original poster (sorry about hijacking your thread!)

the CAD M179 would be an excellent choice on any budget. Completely versatile pattern selection like the RODE (I've used both) but not overly bright like the RODE can be. The RODE sound seems to be just plain bright (exception being the NT5's which are worth considering as well).

The AT4033 would make a nice mic for those instruments as well. I hate it on most vocals but does good work on acoustic instruments.

War

 

[Dread28CW]

The UPS guy just delivered my AW16G and Rode NT2000 earlier today! hey... my English doesn't suck Being in France, there isn't a lot of good tv programs to watch in English so I watch a lot of BBC and I think my English is better than some of those characters on Eastenders,lol.

 

[noisedude]

Well if you want to talk about Eastenders ... now there's some terrible TV. And you're right, they can't talk properly at all.

Enjoy your stuff, keep coming back too!

Warren - I'm not criticising America ... it's difficult for Britain to adjust from being head of the Empire to being a mere pawn, that's all. The national conscience is one of feeling we should be amongst world leaders in all areas, but this is no longer the reality or even a possibility!!

 

[Big Kenny]

Not to hijack but.... Where does the cad fall with respect to mics like ...........at 3035 or 4033, groove tube 1b fet, baby bottle, or even a cad m37?

 

[noisedude]

I might have to report you for being off-topic

 

[Mark7]

Well if you want to talk about Eastenders ... now there's some terrible TV. And you're right, they can't talk properly at all.

Coming January 2005 To A TV Set Near You

 

[noisedude]

Hmm ... yes.

 

[Big Kenny]

What is the topic?

 

[Lance135]

I'm more of a "Red Dwarf" fan.

I'm interested in the NT2000. It's a unique design with the variable controls. It seems you could basically eq the mike before it hits the hard drive (or tape). Let us know how you like it.

Oh, and review the AW16G, too.