Topic: Next Mics?

[charles]

I sold my rig several months ago and planned to get out of taping for a while.......but I've found myself gear shopping the past few weeks....ya know, just looking ........and I've decided to slowly get back in the game. I'm going to build up a rig over the next couple of months. I wanted to start with new mics, and I thought I would see if anyone has any recs for me. My previous pair were cm300 w/ cp1 and cp2 caps. I'd let to step up a bit from that pair.....but not too much. I think I paid around 300 all together for that pair.....I'm looking at spending 600-700 this time around. The kind of music I'll be taping will vary....but count on the majority being bluegrass or the like in fairly small venues. Anyone have any feelings on this? Any feedback greatly appreciated

[stirinthesauce]

Ahhhh, coming back!!! +t.  Still got the bug, ehh?   

[charles]

Yep.....I don't think it ever goes away. Once it's planted, it must be there forever. Gonna take it slow though....really want to think this rig out. Thinking about some LDs. Have no idea what kind yet.

[Sanjay]

Suggestions... hmm

Studio Projects LSD2 - A nice three patter stereo mic, shines on acoustic and bluegrass IMO and is great run upfront and in small venues.  I really liked mine when I had it.  Plus since you plan on being in small venues the hypers might not be needed

ADK TL's - nuff said

Peluso's - Try them out maybe, i've heard some nice tapes with them

The price range you gave in my opinion is a hard one, since most mics fall either under the $400 pair mark (used/new) or over the $800 mark.  A LD mic will certainly give you the most bang for your buck in terms of versitility. 

[charles]

Thanks. +T

[charles]

Ok....on the price range lets go 600-800. See if that makes this easier.

[eric.B]

josephson c42mp

[thegreatgumbino]

I say spend a little more and get Rustle's pair of 414's:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=53154.0

[alienbobz]

I would not go with the TLs if you are doing smaller venues. Had the TLs for awhile and never really liked them in the smaller venues. Had to be close to get a good tape. In my opinion I would try out the Peluso's. Only heard one tape with them but I did like them.

Edit: The Josephson's are also nice. Think olyrc might still have his.

[Evil Taper]

I'd second the Peluso CEMC6 mics.  They sound damn good for the modest price.

[nexus6]

can you say JOSEPHSON?

There are a pair of matched C42s being sold by olyrc in the yard sale for $650 delivered.  They are schweet, if you like the Neumann KM184 styled sound (high end emphasis).  Grab a pair of Shure A53Ms and you have a low profile shock mounted set up!

[jpschust]

850 gets you a pair of neumann km184s on here if they are still for sale.

[setboy]

850 gets you a pair of neumann km184s on here if they are still for sale.

this gets my vote

[charles]

Thanks to all for their input. +T to all. My investigation has brought up similar ideas, but I feel better about these things when I run them by you guys. Any opinions on say AT4040s or any of the AT mics? Many fall in my price range, but I don't know much about them. Also, are there any hypers that I could afford in my range. Honestly, if  I could afford to get whatever I wanted right now, I'd be running 483's. For the type of music I tape....and the type of venues...I've been most pleased with these.

[bluegrass_brad]

You could look for a used set of 393's or 391's.  Not quite 480's, but getting there.

[Patrick]

You could look for a used set of 393's or 391's.  Not quite 480's, but getting there.

Definitely great mics.

I thought he wanted some LD's though   

Charles, buy Jon's Cm300's back!  He just upgraded, and they're probably going to be for sale here soon.

[bluegrass_brad]

Honestly, if  I could afford to get whatever I wanted right now, I'd be running 483's. For the type of music I tape...

This is why I suggested the Bluelines.

[Sanjay]

Honestly, if  I could afford to get whatever I wanted right now, I'd be running 483's. For the type of music I tape...

This is why I suggested the Bluelines.

Musicsherlock has a pair of 393's for sale, Aberg83 has the CK91 Caps, together for less than $800 I am sure you could grab them both.  I have seen Aberg's caps and I know they're pristine, and I have purchased gear from Musicsherlock and it was in absolute mint condition as he described it.  These are nice mics as well.

[charles]

You could look for a used set of 393's or 391's.  Not quite 480's, but getting there.

Definitely great mics.

I thought he wanted some LD's though   

Charles, buy Jon's Cm300's back!  He just upgraded, and they're probably going to be for sale here soon.

I sold those mics to Jon. Great pair, but I'm ready to move on.

[charles]

Still no opinions on at4040's or 4041's?

[stirinthesauce]

You could look for a used set of 393's or 391's.  Not quite 480's, but getting there.

Definitely great mics.

I thought he wanted some LD's though  

Charles, buy Jon's Cm300's back!  He just upgraded, and they're probably going to be for sale here soon.

Those won't be hitting the yard sale, already holding them for a former Nak owner.  Just waiting for my mics and ua-5 to come in the mail. 
Lot's of good suggestions here, Charles.  Can't wait to see what ya buy!

[charles]

Still no opinions on at4040's or 4041's?

with a price range of $600-800 :

imo the adk tl's are the mics to get if you want ld's.

are you set on ld's?

no...

[bluelawn]

januszak has a pair of 4041's & i think for the price are possibly the most underrated mic on this page-
lots of examples on the archive-
check my 2005-10-31 ymsb show...

seth

[charles]

januszak has a pair of 4041's & i think for the price are possibly the most underrated mic on this page-
lots of examples on the archive-
check my 2005-10-31 ymsb show...

seth

Yeah....I've heard those shows and I do like the sound of those mics. I think I met Keith in Atlanta last winter.


What about MC012's?

[spoogles]

i have a set of mc012's and like the omni and hyper caps, the cards don't really do that much for me. the mics tend to be thick on the mid range and  have a sloppy low end but you can do the bass roll off mod on them to tighten that up.  they are definately decent mics and you can get a msp for pretty cheap on yard sale or ebay. there are some new matched stereo sets with the large dia capsules that are black.

[wbrisette]

Any opinions on say AT4040s or any of the AT mics? Many fall in my price range, but I don't know much about them.

I own a set of AT4040 LD mics. These are sweet mics for vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, or many other acoustic instruments close up. However, these mics have some odd frequency curves to them and I definitely wouldn't want to use these other than as close-up mics. One of the local bluegrass bands had my set for close to 6 months. Heck if they hadn't of destroyed one of them, they probably would still have them.

Total cost for a pair was $500 or so.

Wayne

[VA_TAPER]

One more vote for the josephsons!!!!

[Nick's Picks]

the josephsones are real nice..but for the cash, i'd go Peluso in a heartbeat.

[charles]

Just out of curiosity, are there hypers for the c-4's yet.....or are there any in the works?

[charles]

It looks as though, right now, my choice is AT 4050's.......b/c I really like the sound and having the multi pattern LD. I know the TL's are multi pattern (w/ better pattern choices), but I really like the AT sound more than the ADK's. The 393's IMO are not an option. I just don't like the sound...they sound muddy to me. I would try out the Pelusos, but my friend Jon just bought a pair, and I'd rather try out something different ( you can't switch out when you've got the same mics.) As for the Josephsons....I don't know. I would still consider them a possibility. Hmmm. What else. I think that's it. So, what do you guys think....poor choice? Let me know. I want to make the right decision here. Am I missing something?

[bluegrass_brad]

The AT LD mics are primarily designed for near field recording and have a boost in the high mids and then it starts to roll off the highs after about 10k or so.  These perform great right up at the source, but not necessarily so for PA recording.

[Nick's Picks]

what about an older pair of 414buls?
now thats a good LD multi pattern for taping PAs

[charles]

The AT LD mics are primarily designed for near field recording and have a boost in the high mids and then it starts to roll off the highs after about 10k or so.  These perform great right up at the source, but not necessarily so for PA recording.

Thanks for the info Brad. I did not know that. +T

what about an older pair of 414buls?
now thats a good LD multi pattern for taping PAs

I love the sound of 414's......but how much would I expect to throw down on a pair of used 414's?

[thegreatgumbino]

From page one

I say spend a little more and get Rustle's pair of 414's:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=53154.0

I think he wanted $1,050 for the pair?

[Nick's Picks]

thats an ok price.
but I think I bought my pair new from the oades for not much more.  maybe $1275 or so.
so...shop around.  eBay is a good source for these.  dont worry about buying individuals. they are matched close enough to tape with easily.

[charles]

Allright. Thanks to everyone for their input. Very helpfull.

In the end, I've decided on a matched pair of ADK TL's. For the price, they seem to be the best choice. I like the sound, and I love the 4 polar patterns.

Now on to deciding the pre, a/d conv. , etc.



+T again to all!

[keepongoin]

a warm mod or p-mod ua5 would probably sound great.

[charles]

a warm mod or p-mod ua5 would probably sound great.

That's what I'm leaning toward right now. Would love the V3, but it's out of my range. As for a recording device, I have no idea which way I'm going.

[charles]

Andy...just out of curiosity, have you ever run your TL's Blumlein? If so, how were the results?

[Brian Skalinder]

Would love the V3, but it's out of my range.

W or W+ UA5 would sound mighty fine, if you like the V3.  And at less than half the cost!  Even the T or T+, though I think the W's closer to the V3's sound.

[charles]

Thanks for the advice Brian.

[Tim]

I would not go with the TLs if you are doing smaller venues. Had the TLs for awhile and never really liked them in the smaller venues. Had to be close to get a good tape.

I'm confused - if you found that the TL's sounded better up close why didn't you like them in small venues?

[keepongoin]

Andy...just out of curiosity, have you ever run your TL's Blumlein? If so, how were the results?

i have indeed: http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=15717

really happy with the sound, but i love the spaced omnis even more.

i taped a patterson hood show from the stage-lip blumlein 2004-06-03 - maybe i can dig that one up from my archive of shows and share it.


in terms of recorders - are you concerned with going 24-bit, or will you be happy to stick with 16-bit?  I am thinking about selling one or both of my JB3s.

[charles]

Andy...just out of curiosity, have you ever run your TL's Blumlein? If so, how were the results?

i have indeed: http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=15717

really happy with the sound, but i love the spaced omnis even more.

i taped a patterson hood show from the stage-lip blumlein 2004-06-03 - maybe i can dig that one up from my archive of shows and share it.


in terms of recorders - are you concerned with going 24-bit, or will you be happy to stick with 16-bit?  I am thinking about selling one or both of my JB3s.

Actually, I'm very interested in a JB3. I've got another thread going in regards to recording devices....DAT, Laptop, etc. But I have been thinking about it, and with my financial resources, a JB3 makes the most sense. As much as I'd like to complicate things with some new exciting recording device.....it's probably a bad idea. Let me know if you're selling a JB3.

[alienbobz]

I would not go with the TLs if you are doing smaller venues. Had the TLs for awhile and never really liked them in the smaller venues. Had to be close to get a good tape.

I'm confused - if you found that the TL's sounded better up close why didn't you like them in small venues?

The problem I had with a lot of these smaller venues was the PA. Even when I was close, the tape didn't turn out that well in these rooms. What I found was that the PA and the band had to be "loud" for the sound to be great. I know there are a few shows that I taped were I was about 10' from the speakers and the recording turned out not that good (mostly do to the fact that these were solo singer/songwriter bands). The TL's do rock blumlein though. Had one recording really good hyper tape, and a few good on-stage (blumlein, cards) tapes. My other good tapes were at the venues with a bigger PA.

[stirinthesauce]

Congrats and +t Charles on getting back into the hobby with some fine new mics.  And another +t in 12 for getting me into the hobby   Can't wait to do some taping with you in the not so distant future!