Topic: AT853's - Cardioid vs. Binaural

[reigntaper]

Okay I just snagged a Refurbished JB3 for $150...

So I'm in the process of upgrading my rig (if you can ever call it that) for the summer season, and now I'm looking at a new set of mics....

Currently I'm running SP-BMC-12 (AT350's) > SP battery Box > Sony MZ-N505

But with the new  JB3 it'll be: SP-BMC-12 (AT350's) > SP battery Box > Nomad JB3

I was looking at the AT853's on Soundpros, but now I'm reading all kinds of stuff about them being modified and I'm not really sold yet on them.

So here's my question(s): Right now I'm taping with Binaurals.  Should I change to Cardioid mics?  Is one better than the other?

The mics I'm using right sound great to me.  Everything I've taped sounds a lot better then I expected.


So are AT853's the way to go?  Or are there better alternatives for the $169 price tag...  if so, what mics?  And if I buy the AT853's... should i get'em from SP?  I run a battery box, so do i need phantom power?

Thanks for the help.

[Sean Gallemore]

the only question I can answer is no, you will not need a BB

[Brian Skalinder]

Okay I just snagged a Refurbished JB3 for $150...

Great little box, the NJB3 - good choice.  

Should I change to Cardioid mics?  Is one better than the other?

Not necessarily better, just different.  Omnis will pick up sound from all directions, cardioids will pick up sound mostly from in front of the mics.  Father back, cardioids will provide a more up-frpnt sound and reduce crowd and venue noise/boom.  But omnis are generally more natural sounding.    (see next comment)  There's an Archival Info thread with a visual representation of how the different polar patterns pick up sound.

The mics I'm using right sound great to me.  Everything I've taped sounds a lot better then I expected.

If your brain and ears are happy with what's working for you right now, why not stick with it - you can always change later.

So are AT853's the way to go?  Or are there better alternatives for the $169 price tag...  if so, what mics?  And if I buy the AT853's... should i get'em from SP?  I run a battery box, so do i need phantom power?

Better alternatives for $169 - not that I'm aware of, but maybe someone else will chime in.  Whether to buy from SP or AT directly, not entirely sure - I think the SP prices are probably better, though they sell a different product than the stock ATs.

[AsYd]

personally, i prefer cards for their clarity and crispness.  But if you can swing it, have pairs of both just so you can experiment and fuck around.

[drumminj]

The good thing about the 853's is you can switch caps.  So, I'd vote to get the cards, and if you don't like the sound, you can always buy omni caps later on.  It's all about experimenting and finding what you like the most (check out all the gear sluts around here).

As for direct from AT vs SP...depends on your financial situation.  With the SP mics, you can get setup with mics that will run on phantom or a batt box.  You can rig this up with the AT versions as well, I suppose.  Ignoring the SP phantom upgrade, I'd get the AT over the standard SP version...I ran both, the AT version is much better-sounding, but requires phantom power.

HTH.

J

[zhianosatch]

OOOMNIII, not "binaural"!

[AT853rxwh]

 

OOOMNIII, not "binaural"!

+T!  Binaural is a METHOD not a microphone pattern!

Then again, lots of folks are "Taping" with NJB3's...  

 :twocents:

[Sean Gallemore]

Discing?

[PG]

Recording. Change to recorderssection.com?

[Sean Gallemore]

archivesection.com