Topic: Your favorite Mics? Why?

[91HondaCRX]

I'm interested in seeing what other peoples favorite mics are and why.  I am slowly building my tool kit of recording gear and the more I can have that can be best for certain situations, I'm sure will help me out a bunch.  Let me know what you guys think,  I'm just curious

[jlykos]

Microtech Gefells because they sound the best.

[JasonSobel]

Microtech Gefells because they sound the best.

I concur.

[Wiggler]

In the past I've had Schoeps, Gefells, Neumann Tlm-170's and a Soundfield St250.
I am currently using Schoeps because they work great in venues with poor acoustics and consistently deliver a enjoyable tape in almost any situation. I also like the low profile of the active cable setup.
I also like the way they reject unwanted off axis frequencies.

[Gutbucket]

Favorite mics I own:
ADK TL for the switchable pattern choices, the Blumlien-ability with the fig-8 pattern, their clean sound and bomb proof build.
Gefell cards because they sound so sweet.
DPA 4060 omnis for an amazingly versatile, transparent, rain defying and an incredibly small rig (my surround setup with 4 of them + external preamps and recorder(s) fit in a shaving kit bag. They are my most used, go-to mics.

Favorite mics I don't own but would like to:
Milab DC-196- I'd drop the large, heavy TLs for these tiny switchable pattern gems (even though I'd loose the hypercard setting, but I mostly record in good sounding venues).
DPA 4027 compact wide cardioid- because they sound so sweet and I love omnis (these are sort of like slightly directional omnis).
DPA 4099 miniature hypercardioid- best sounding miniature directional I've heard and possibly my next mics for use in combination with the 4060s, yet I'd still prefer a less rolled off bottom end so I'm holding off to see if a rumored variation appears.

Favorite un-available:
Gefell>Nbox 

[illconditioned]

Beyerdynamic MC930 stereo pair.

Value priced mics with great smooth sound, no "harshness" whatsoever..  Excellent for PA recording.

  Richard

[datbrad]

My favorite mics are the ones that always work when called upon.

[rowjimmytour]

Microtech Gefells because they sound the best.

I concur.

I third the Gefells and the sound but also would like to add all the DPA 40xx mics and how sweet it would be to have such a good sounding compact mics. My favorite mics I owned were the TL's and all the patterns (my poor back). For card pattern I liked 930's so far and the price, sound, and size.

[ilduclo]

My favorite mics are the ones that always work when called upon.

that's one of the reasons I like the dpa 4061's, the standard ones, not "heb's", just fucking bullet proof.

[run_run_run]

AT 853s, nice balance and cheap

AKG 414s
AKG c480b/ck63s Best Hypers
Peluso Sub Card Smoooooooth
Nak 300 guns in the right spot

[boojum]

Depends.  Consider the venue, placement options and what is to be recorded.  Current fave for guerrilla recording on the stage lip:  Schoeps CMC64's ORTF with DPA 4061's `40cm apart in AB.  This has worked well in one room I hit.  I have a session coming up in a large sanctuary where I will use that plus a Busman ribbon in Blumlein array for a bluegrass group.  It really does depend on the app.  It is like saying what is your favorite car?  Porsches are fun, but for pulling a truck out of a ditch while being in the mud I'll take a diesel 4x4 any day.   

[acidjack]

I'm interested in seeing what other peoples favorite mics are and why.  I am slowly building my tool kit of recording gear and the more I can have that can be best for certain situations, I'm sure will help me out a bunch.  Let me know what you guys think,  I'm just curious

I haven't owned Schoeps, Neumanns or the higher-end AKGs, but for price, reliability and quality I certainly do love my DPA 4061.  Not the ideal mic in every situation, but their sound is pretty incredible when the conditions (really, mostly, the audience and distance from stage) are right, and other than those two factors, I think they are pretty forgiving.

[Javier Cinakowski]

The AT4050 is very versitle and sounds very sweet!  I also like the Rode NT6 Omni. 

[itook2much]

DPA 4060 omnis for an amazingly versatile, transparent, rain defying and an incredibly small rig. They are my most used, go-to mics.

Agreed.

[Gutbucket]

..its ability as an electret to run on really low phantom voltage is helpful.

How low can it go?