Topic: Must have microphones for recording studios? & More.

[Kindguy]

For those with recording studio experience. What are some must have mics? For the whole shebang. Drums, horns, vocal, piano, electric & string instruments, harmonica, acoustic.... everything else you can think of.

Money is somewhat no object, but want bang for the buck suggestions that are versatile. Not just recommendations of the most expensive mics made just because money's no object.

I'm involved in putting together a team to set up a recording/mastering studio in Montgomery. I have several great people locally on my side who know much more than i do. Guys like Dsatz, very knowledgeable.

I plan on posting pics for the raw shell/space here & documenting the whole building process.

Back to the topic for now, I'm looking for must have mic suggestions. If you feel inclined to elaborate why I'd appreciate it.

Thanks
Jeff

[intpseeker]

Nice thread. I'm looking forward to watching the progress of your studio, and I'd like to read the responses to your question about versatile mics.

[digifish_music]

A pair of Neumann U87's. If that's a bit steep then a pair of TLM 103...because then your studio has a couple of famous 'Neumanns' and you can get on with not having to justify all the other much cheaper and often better mics laying about

If you fill the studio with mainly Audio Technica, Rode and Sure (dynamic) mics, I think you will be in the price/performance sweet-spot.

Consider ...

2 x Audio Technica AT4040
2 x Audio Technica AT4050
2 x Audio Technica AT4041
2 x Audio Technica AT4022
2 x AKG C 214
4 x Rode NT1-A
2 x Rode NT2-A
4 x Rode NT3
1 x Rode NTG
1 x Rode NT4
4 x Rode NT5 or 55
1 x Rode NTK
4 x Shure SM58
4 x Shure SM57
1 x Shure Beta 52A

digifish

[Neilyboy]

Woah, I am excited to see how this progress' looking forward to the pic's! I love my 4041's..
  I think you should fill the studio with panasonic wm-61a caps! lots of bang for your buck... or should I say buck eighty-six lol..
I have no studio knowledge but am anxious to see what you come up with buddy!

Neil

[eric.B]

I would recommend purchasing every single microphone made by man..  and perhaps a few made by aliens to mic those tricky saucer sections..

[Matt Quinn]

Tagging thread!

[allan]

Here's what my studio has at at the moment:

ADK TL (2)
ADK GC-1
ADK A-51s (2)
Sennheiser MD421
Sennheiser MD504 (3)
Sennheiser e609
Shure SM57 (2)
Beyerdynamic Soundstar XN1 (2)
Milab CM22 (2)
MB C600
AKG D707e (2)
Audix i5
Audix D6
Audix OM2
Audix F12
AT 935QMRx (4)
Uher M534 (2)
Nakamichi CM300 + CP4 shotgun cap (2)
Tascam PE-125 + CP2 card cap
AKG C1000s (2)
CAD 7000

[kirk97132]

A set of Korby mics

[Kindguy]

Going to the space tomorrow or Friday to decide if any more framing needs to be done. I'll snap some pics then.

Thanks for the responses so far!

Jeff

[Kindguy]

good stuff mshilarious.

As far as mastering I was thinking about huge thick black curtains that come up/down when in mastering/tracking recording mode. Closing off the space for mastering. The mastering aspect is second to recording. Was really just a thought I'm throwing around.

[stevetoney]

No help here, but my method of stocking a studio with all of the mics being discussed here would involve multiple lottery tickets, lots of praying, and if lady luck were to smile down, snowballs in hell.

[setboy]

I would recommend purchasing every single microphone made by man..  and perhaps a few made by aliens to mic those tricky saucer sections..

this what i would do!

Edit: you could also go and do something a little different and get some of those busman mics in there

[TNJazz]

Jeff,

In order to really do this right, I think you need to share what kind of music you'll primarily be working with.

That being said, a few staples I would consider as "must haves":

kick - Shure Beta 52 or beyerdynamic TG-X50
snare - beyerdynamic M201 or Sennheiser E609 (try it!)
hat - SM81
toms - Senn MD421
overheads - condensers of your choice
vocals:  Neumann U87 (not AI) or perhaps a Pearlman
bass - beyerdynamic M380 or Shure Beta 52 (yes, excellent double duty mic!)
horns - beyerdynamic M69, Senn MD421
guitars - beyerdynamic M69, Senn 409
a few condensers here and there for general use
and of course a case full of 57's and 58's

So many options available though!

[goodcooker]

I hung around the studio when some friends were making their last CD. Rock music. This is what they had on just the drums.

Room AKG414s in M/S
Overhead Earthworks Omnis
snare Beyer 201 top and some Crown mic on bottom
hi hat SM57
toms MD421 on each one four total
kick Beta52 inside and a Lawson tube LD on the outside

The owner/engineer had a huge locker of mics and a real interesting studio originally built by Westlake.
Here's a link to his page with a list of his mics and stuff. He needs to update it since a lot of the things I saw in his outboard racks are not listed there....like the Chandler Germanium Pre....yummy

http://www.basslinestudio.com/about.asp

I also agree about the comment on the Shure SM7. It's a broadcast mic but it works really well on male vocals with a thick pre and a Distressor behind it. The guys had auditioned a bunch of mics for the vocal tracks including the vintage Neumanns and went with the SM7.

[Kindguy]

Sorry no updates so far. We had a death in the family. Working 60+ hours a week. Going to a few shows & working on this project has taken all my time.

Right now were doing some framing changes to the vocal booth & framing a drum booth.

More to come.

Jeff

[rePat]

Tagging, great info here.