Which Mic?

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TECHTRONIK

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Can't decide which mic to buy, I was planning on getting the akg 3000b but then i've been reading a bunch of articles that said the studio projects c1 is one of the best mics out right now. If anybody has experience with either your input would be appreciated.
 
Might want to consider the Rode NT1000 too. I was going to buy the AKGc3000b and decided to get the rode instead. It seems like I got more for my money with the rode. The reviewers like it too, whatever that is worth.
From what I understand the rode is more neutral and clean than the studio projects mic, but I am sure others know better than I what the differences are.

Gunther
 
Mics in general

Hey T!

As a gross oversimplification Large diaphram mics come basically colored / hyped (in some frequency region such as vocals) or basically neutral. The C1 and Akg are both taylored (in my opinion) for vocals . This doesn't mean that the won't sound great on acoustic guitar/Tuba/ or whatever. It may be just the sound you are looking for.
There are some mics out there such as the Studio Project "B series" that are made to be more neutral and would make a great all around mic but may not have the "oomph" for one particular application. It really boils down to how many bases you are trying to cover with one mic.
The mics you are considering all come highly rated.

tmix
 
Yo Techtron:

I also have heard many good things about the AKG 4000 which isn't advertised very much, not featured much in many catalogs, and isn't toooooo expensive.

And, what Tmix has said is certainly true.

Sometimes, when I read posts on this site, I think that the poster may be a company rep pushing his/her product -- these posters don't appear very often. But, it all makes interesting reading.

Best bet, try to demo a mic somehow, somewhere. Or, "rent" it from a dealer for a couple of months.

Green Hornet :D :cool: :p
 
I own both the C3000 (Not the "B") and the C1. Many people talk about how the 3000 is a POS, brittle - harsh, etc. I have gotten some great tracks with it, through both a Dbx286 pre and a S.P. VTB-1 pre. Plus, it's built like a little tank. The only gripe I have is buying it several months before they lowered the price drastically!:mad:
Then I got the C1. I love it. It's hotter than the AKG, and has a freq spike that really cuts through a mix. It's the first mic I've ever had that required no EQ during tracking, which was nice, because my recorder's EQ section was noisy as hell. If I were to choose between the two, I would get the C1. The C3000B (reportedly not as good as the original) goes for what - $350? For $350, you could get a C1 and a VTB1 pre.
I hope that helped.

BTW, don't even ASK me about my new T3! It's my PRECIOUSSSSSSSSSSSSS, and I'm KEEPING IT!!!!:D


Bob
 
Tech, I own 20 mics, and that's a lot less than many people on this board. Mics are like tools, they do different jobs. Some tools do one thing really well, and some tools aren't that great at any one thing, but they do a lot of things fairly well, like a leatherman.
If you don't get to have a bunch of mics, get one to start that will do a bunch of things. I don't think either the 3000B or the C-1 is the right choice to start. Regarding the 3000B, I simply dislike it. I don't think it's a very good mic for anything. By all reports, the original 3000, which I have never heard, is a much better mic. I also would not recommend C-1, primarily because it is cardioid only, and it does have a noticeable mid-range peak as stated above.
I would recommend a mic that's fairly neutral, with switchable polar patterns and if possible, a pad and bass rolloff. I personally believe the best buy in a versatile multipattern mic is Studio Projects B-3. For more money, the Rode NT-2 and AKG C4000B are both attractive. For a first condenser, I'd just do the B-3. All this for $159 at Macmidimusic.com, and it even sounds good!-Richie
 
MICS

Wow, thanks guys the difference in everybodies opinions really helps me out, i'm definitley gonna go with a multi-pattern mic but that still leaves me with the choice of which one, i want to stay in the <$400 price range. If i can find a place that will let me demo a few that would be a real big help. I'm definitley gonna have to check out the b-3
 
But then again there is the tb-3, can't beat a tube mic. Especially one for a decent price.
 
funny

richie it's funny for you to refer to mics as a leatherman, and not like the c1, and the c1 bieng reviewed as bieng a swiss army knife of microphones(in it's price range). not that i disagree. i have not tested any of the mics above. it was just something that hit me as soon as i read your post.
 
Well, the C-1, although by all accounts, a fair vocal mic that is quite usable on guitar, is cardioid only, and I wouldn't call it transparent either. It's a mic that will give you one good sound. If you like that sound, consider C-3, a mic I use often. It is tailored as a vocal mic also, but is multi-pattern. We're not talking about the best vocal mic or the best guitar mic, but a best first condenser mic. I think you start with one that is transparent, versatile, and inexpensive. A mic like B-3 will give you a good learning tool that will still spend some time up even after you own much more expensive mics.
I think C-3 is also a good choice, but comes with a little flattering color that only flatters some things, like C-1. You see, the B series flatters nothing, just the facts, ma'am. I think that's the right place to start. Then you slowly add mics designed to flatter exactly what you got.-Richie
 
alright

that is what i'm doing now. i have the at4055, and i've been using it for about 7months. i like the sound, but now i think i'm ready to experiment with a different flavor. a warmer flaver is what i'm looking for. i hear great things about the ntk. i'm in the market for a used one.

thanks for the good post rich.
 
Well I've used C-3 on guitar, and it's pretty good. I confess I didn't have as good results with NTK, but the Rode is a beautiful vocal mic, especially for a spare arrangement where you don't have to cut through a dense mix.-Richie
 
cool

yeah, that's exactly what i need it for my vocals. i only do live vocal recordings, everything else is sampled or comes from a synth. so you are saying the ntk was showed better results then your c3 on your vocals, as far as warmth?
 
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