Topic: what is the next step up?

[su6oxone]

the Audex came up as a pretty good mic however when looking for the best price there seemed to be some confusion as to whether the mics are still being manufactured. Can anybody confirm or deny this?

B&H still sells the m1280:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/522767-REG/Audix_M1280_M1280_Miniature_Condenser_Microphone.html

And per the audix website, the m1280 (replacement for the m1290) is still a production mic.

http://www.audixusa.com/docs/products/M1280.shtml

[nicegrin]

thanks for all replies!

A little sum up from what people have been suggesting.

Nevaton MCE 400
DPA 4061
Aevox classic M MK II
Audix 1280 (as the 1290 model is out of production, right?)
Schoeps CCM4/41/21
Schoeps MK 4

Anyone more we can add to this list?

Which of these mics are possible to get with a miniplug? i.e. terminating in a 3.5 mm plug.

Are all these options really stealthable/small enough to be worn on your collars, shirt etc.?

Thanks!

 

[John Willett]

I would add the MKH 8000 to your list.

But none of these mics terminate with a mini-jack plug - they are all professional mics.

Why do you need such a horrible plug?

If it's for a laptop, you need a proper soundcard with XLRs and 48V phantom power to run all these mics.

[Q-W-Y]

Why do you need such a horrible plug?

Why do u think that it is so horrible?

[Q-W-Y]

Which of these mics are possible to get with a miniplug? i.e. terminating in a 3.5 mm plug.

Aevox
If u need stealthable... look for IE MkII  (in ear)

[TNJazz]

Which of these mics are possible to get with a miniplug? i.e. terminating in a 3.5 mm plug.

DPA and Aevox.

Are all these options really stealthable/small enough to be worn on your collars, shirt etc.?

DPA, Aevox and Nevaton.  Possibly the Audix, although they are a bit larger.  Not as big as the Schoeps though.  Those would not be as low profile, for sure.

[John Willett]

Why do you need such a horrible plug?

Why do u think that it is so horrible?

The 3.5mm mini-jack is nasty - awkward to solder, no proper cable grip (except for the Neutrik), only takes thin and nasty cable, poor connection, shorts out when inserted, subject to crackles and interrupts if you pull on the plug,, etc., etc........

Never used on professional equipment (except for headphones, and then only on cameras).

[nicegrin]

concidering price and stealthability I guess the most interesting ones seem to be

Nevaton MCE 400 and the Aevox MK II.

Q1: Will the Aevox MK II really be an upgrade to my sennheiser MK2e or the sp cmc-8s?

Q2: What power supply would you guys reccomend to the Newaton MCE 400 if I want to run them with an edirol r09?
       The Denecke PS-2 mini (terminating in a 3.5") seems to be an option. Is there other phantom powers to concider aswell?
       Size is imortant so a suggestion for a small 48v phantompower with double 3-pin in and a 3.5" out is important!

Q3: What about the countryman b3? A good option to the Aevox or the Nevaton?

Thanks!

[Q-W-Y]

The 3.5mm mini-jack is nasty - awkward to solder, no proper cable grip (except for the Neutrik), only takes thin and nasty cable, poor connection, shorts out when inserted, subject to crackles and interrupts if you pull on the plug,, etc., etc........

Never used on professional equipment (except for headphones, and then only on cameras).

Yes, but looking on this http://www.russian-mics.com/ebay/mke400_63_1.jpg  makes me think whether the XLR is always the right choice ....    maybe XLR Mini, but I haven't seen any mic with it yet.

[Sunday Driver]

Why do you need such a horrible plug?

Why do u think that it is so horrible?

Because it is noisy and the power is unbalanced. Also, the connector does not interlock.

[Sunday Driver]

The only thing that would argueably be better than any of those other mics would be Schoeps.

I have to disagree with you there as I have heard some excellent DPA 402x, Neumann "actives", and AKG blue line "actives" tapes that sound a lot better than the mics named in the first post of this thread.

[nicegrin]

hm... I think we are getting a bit off topic now... anyone who has a good answer to these questions?

Q1: Will the Aevox MK II really be an upgrade to my sennheiser MK2e or the sp cmc-8s?

Q2: What power supply would you guys reccomend to the Newaton MCE 400 if I want to run them with an edirol r09?
       The Denecke PS-2 mini (terminating in a 3.5") seems to be an option. Is there other phantom powers to concider aswell?
       Size is imortant so a suggestion for a small 48v phantompower with double 3-pin in and a 3.5" out is important!

Q3: What about the countryman b3? A good option to the Aevox or the Nevaton?

Thanks!

[nameloc01]

I meant in general overall. There will always be exceptions,but the mics he stated he had already used typically pull great recordings if used correctly. DPAs..they are great mics,..but substantially better overall..nah. They are about equal-except sizewise. (generally speaking)

[setboy]

what about the countryman b3/b6?

[indietaperwloo]

what about the countryman b3/b6?

Yes! Definitely!  While the Nevatons are definitely better sounding, the quality control and matching is somewhat sketchy.  Go to illconditioned's website and listen to some samples with the B3's.  The B3's are better for high SPL environments as the B6's tend to overload at higher SPL.
Right now, I personally use the Sennheiser KE4-211-2s on semi-permanent loan from illconditioned.  Only problem is I'm without a reliable recorder right now but that may change in the next little while.