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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: Aman on February 01, 2006, 10:25:32 PM

Title: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: Aman on February 01, 2006, 10:25:32 PM
Hi fellas,

These are some impressive forums! I've learned much from only the few minutes I've been reading here. I hope to become an active member! :)

I have a question about taping my band's shows. We have access to an MR-8 (I know, I know) that we can record to, and we have access to one or two mic stands. I am just wondering what the best way is to go about recording our shows in stereo to this digital 8-track. We'd like to keep the mics and all the other equipment on the stage if it all possible, and we'd also like for the cost of these mics to be under $200 if at all possible. We simply cannot afford any better on our current budget.

I am not really looking for an audiophile-level solution here. We just need something that will record decent sound that will assure us that we will be able to hear our performances. We recorded with two very cheap mics (I think they were vocal mics!) once and we ended up hearing the most distorted and compressed sound! It was truly unlistenable.

Are there any solutions to our specific situation? I know that this is crude and very entry-level, but it's the best we can do for now. Thanks in advance for any help in answering my question! It is greatly apprecaited!!

-Andrew
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: thegreatgumbino on February 01, 2006, 10:46:36 PM
Hey Andrew.  If you can pony up another 30 bucks you can grab these used Studio Projects C4's in the Yard Sale.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=57382.0 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=57382.0) 

Great mics for the price!  If you do some searching around on this site you'll find that they have phenomenal sound for a low cost entry level mic.  FYI, I'm not affiliated with the seller.
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: stigs on February 01, 2006, 10:54:00 PM
i second the c4's  ;D
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: admkrk on February 02, 2006, 12:28:39 AM
not to dis the c4s, but i have a set of nt5s i was going to put on ebay. they don't get much respect around here, but they do sound nice. i can post an mp3 from a couple weeks ago if you want a listen.
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: jimi56 on February 02, 2006, 08:44:46 AM
If neither of those work out, i picked up a set of Sampson C02s for 80$ from Sweetwater.com.  They have been working surprisingly well.  If you want to hear those check out...

http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=33318 (http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=33318)

Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: shaggy on February 02, 2006, 09:46:44 AM
http://www.superlux.us/smalldiaphragm.html

SMK-H8K are the Chinese Schoeps CMC64 knockoffs....145 a pair!
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: SparkE! on February 02, 2006, 05:36:00 PM
http://www.superlux.us/smalldiaphragm.html

SMK-H8K are the Chinese Schoeps CMC64 knockoffs....145 a pair!

I've got a pair of these and I like them a lot.  They don't have quite the bass response as my omnis, but that's to be expected from cardiod mics.  They come with a case and an ORTF bar with shock mounts and wind screens.  For the price, they are very hard to beat.
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: momule on February 02, 2006, 06:03:53 PM
I can vouch for the Samson Co2's aswell.  Like others have posted they can be a bit thin in the lowend.  But for less than $100 they will bring a listenable tape home. 

The Samson CO2's and SMK-H8K are the same mic's just rebranded.

Here is a small sample from a blues show I taped Sat evening wiht the C02's >Dmod UA-5>Jb3

Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: momule on February 02, 2006, 06:08:17 PM
Oh and +T Jimi56 for taping some Derek.

 
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: smokydays on February 02, 2006, 06:12:43 PM
Nice Nick, I didnt know you had picked up some C02's.  They sound really good!
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: shaggy on February 02, 2006, 06:17:28 PM
The Samson CO2's and SMK-H8K are the same mic's just rebranded.

Is this true, they look like the same mics.  For $80 a pair, that is sick!  How well were they matched?
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: momule on February 02, 2006, 07:04:41 PM
Nice Nick, I didnt know you had picked up some C02's.  They sound really good!

I have had um for a couple years now.  Like I said they can a bit thin in the bottom end sometimes But I think they are hard to beat for the price.



Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: momule on February 02, 2006, 07:10:39 PM
The Samson CO2's and SMK-H8K are the same mic's just rebranded.

Is this true, they look like the same mics.  For $80 a pair, that is sick!  How well were they matched?

I have held both and they are the same Body. They may have some different guts But I doubt it by the sound and freq respose listed. They dont come with the HM-32 shockmount but they do come with the HM-30 and you can snag the Hm32's for like $6 a piece. The pair I have is matched MUCH better Than a buddys Ck61 caps that he jsut got last summer.



 

Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: SparkE! on February 02, 2006, 11:54:03 PM
Here's what the insides of the SMK-H8K mics look like:

(http://www.redhawkaig.com/Superlux_SMK-H8K_00small.jpg)
(http://www.redhawkaig.com/Superlux_SMK-H8K_01small.jpg)

Is that what the insides of the CO2 mics look like?
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: shaggy on February 03, 2006, 05:45:36 AM
Well, Schoeps knockoffs they ain't....

Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: chucky on February 03, 2006, 05:55:50 AM
Well, Schoeps knockoffs they ain't....

Damn, Doesn't appear that way huh?
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: blowluver on February 03, 2006, 11:39:32 AM
Go for the at822. Its a stereo mic and is battery powered so it is pretty much idiot proof.
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: Ryan Sims on February 14, 2006, 11:27:05 PM
http://www.superlux.us/smalldiaphragm.html

SMK-H8K are the Chinese Schoeps CMC64 knockoffs....145 a pair!

I'm pondering grabbing these as part of my first rig.  Are these really the same things as the Samsons?  If so, can one buy the different caps for these separately and use them on the C02s?
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: Bdifr78 on February 15, 2006, 12:57:29 PM
C4s!

I own a pair and even though I have much much better mics now, I can't bring myself to get rid of them cause for the price I don't really think they can be beat.  I have heard some great things about the superlux though.
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: halleyscomet8 on February 15, 2006, 01:06:25 PM
c4's for 220 is a great deal. i love the sound of mine.
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: Ryan Sims on February 16, 2006, 09:01:12 AM
Where do you get C4s for $220, other than hoping for an Ebay deal?
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: Bdifr78 on February 17, 2006, 07:04:55 PM
Where do you get C4s for $220, other than hoping for an Ebay deal?

They pop up on the Yard Sale all the time recently.  Infact I have thought about selling mine but it's just so hard to part with them even if I will probably never use em again.  It looks as if Chaner's pair just sold for $220.   If you wanna up the ante a little bit...

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=57791.0
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: Ryan Sims on February 18, 2006, 08:08:35 AM
Where do you get C4s for $220, other than hoping for an Ebay deal?

They pop up on the Yard Sale all the time recently.  Infact I have thought about selling mine but it's just so hard to part with them even if I will probably never use em again.  It looks as if Chaner's pair just sold for $220.   If you wanna up the ante a little bit...

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=57791.0

I really need to make up my damn mind and figure out what it is I want and how much I need to save for it.  Too bad I just dropped a bunch of what was my fund on crappy car repair because of a pothole.
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: momule on June 05, 2006, 09:22:36 PM
just seen this.

heres the inside of my samson Co2's


 

Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: SparkE! on June 05, 2006, 09:46:37 PM
just seen this.

heres the inside of my samson Co2's


That's exactly the same as the insides of my Superlux SMK-H8K's, except that you have a different brand of electrolytic caps.  I'm betting that they are both made at the same place.  Where do you get Samson Co2's?  Are they kitted the same as the Superlux pairs?
Title: Re: Need a Cheap Open Mic Solution
Post by: momule on June 05, 2006, 10:14:02 PM
Basically. They come with the HM-30 shockmount and the same screens the superlux's come with.

I've pulled a few nice shows with them.