Your favorite microphone to use

[Papanate]

I think that's a common response from most; we "expected more for the money" when compared to cheaper mics.

I think the studio magic sound began with a good mic, EQ, 1176, 2A etc...the mic then becomes a smaller part of the whole.

To me with modern DAWs and plugins Mics aren't as crucial as they once were - neither are compressors or reverbs or anything for that matter - I can use my least expensive mic - MXL V67g - and most of the time Ipeople can't hear the difference when I use my most valuable mic which is a Neumann U47 - the differences such as they are are minimized in modern recording situations IMO - in an exposed situation such as a Singer and a Guitar I hear the differences - but they don't matter - it's just colloration - and if the performance is great - the mic matters even less. - but that's not to say I can't hear a difference - just that whatever difference exist actually might be better - again depending on the performer and the arrangement.