Topic: Help me pick my Schoeps caps

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Could use some help here.. I know this basic question has been asked before but perhaps not in the context of my rig.

Haven't found many caps on the used market so I'm buying one or two pair of caps this week.  If anyone has any pointers to used schoeps gear, I'd appreciate it.

Current rig: DPA 4061 or SP C4 or [ MkX + nbox ] > MiniMe > jb3 or laptop (soon micro tracker).

I love the smoothness of the 4061 omnis and will often accept the additional room noise over the sound of inexpensive cards or hypers. I'm expecting that won't be such a trade-off when running Mk4's or Mk41's.  I expect to sell the C4's.

I tape in small rooms and big rooms. Bad rooms and great rooms.  Noisy and quiet. Sometimes outdoors but not so much right now.  Like to do on stage or stage lip.  Mostly amplified rock/jazz/blues but I want to start doing more non-amp (strings & horns).

I've poured over the response graphs and polar plots of the Mk4, Mk21 and Mk41.  I've read the raves about the Mk21. Though it looks a little 'sloppy' on the polar response plot compared to the Mk4 & Mk41 (but people love it, so I'm not putting much into that).

[jnorman34]

i had a pair of the cmc6 bodies and the mk4 caps.  they are a stellar main stereo pair for mid-distance work.  the mk4s tended to be a bit boomy for my taste when used in close-micing situations in the studio.  i think for more distant work which is common in live band taping, the mk41s are a better choice than the mk4.  the mk21 (wide cards) would not give you the kind of stereo separation you will want from more distant mic locations.  the 21s can be very effective on stage, however - but as you said, if you can get on stage, the 4061s are likely to give you excellent results.  i love my little 4061s, and many times can hardly tell them from the DPA4006s. 

[creekfreak]

you can us the mk41's anywhere, anytime IMO. I have used mine in almost every situation I can think of and have always made good tapes. They excell in doors, especially in crappy sounding venues...but I had the 41's and 4's and used the 41's way more. 21's are nice, but aren't anywhere near as versitle.

[Brian Skalinder]

If you're happy with your 4061s on-stage and up close, I say go with the 41s to give yourself versatility in crappy sounding rooms or from a distance.  The 4s will suffice for those scenarios, too, but the 41s will shine more in less than ideal situations.

[F.O.Bean]

mk41's are very nice caps, one of my fav hyper caps for sure theyre just sooo damn expensive!

[Nick Graham]

In a stealth situation, I'd be much less inclined to run 41s (or any hyper cap) than omnis or cards.

You likely won't be able to control the config as much as you'd like, and as directional as hypers are, that could be a problem. In other words, if the configuration of a pair of omnis gets a bit screwed up in your hat it won't effect the recording that much - with hypers it could be unlistenable.

[Brian Skalinder]

You likely won't be able to control the config as much as you'd like

FWIW, I have no troubles getting my MKx caps set to DIN inside my hat.  It's stable and easy to do, IMO.

[Tim]

the mk21 (wide cards) would not give you the kind of stereo separation you will want from more distant mic locations.

depends on how you run them.... NOS really makes subcards shines imo.

[creekfreak]

21's and 41's....nice score and have fun