Topic: Noob, but I know what I like.

[ScoobieKW]

After being friends with tapers and enjoying the pulls that they got over the past 20 years, I've pulled the trigger and started building a live taping kit. Recorder Sony M10, in the process of building Panasonic Omnis with the Linkwitz mod, and am looking to buy a set of cardioid mics for open taping of Electric music. Jazz, rock, jam. Mostly theater/club  gigs with the odd festival, bands that haven't started selling boards.

My favorite pulls for open taping have come from the classic Nak 300 with cp3 and cp4 capsules. Am looking to get a set or something similar.

Other mics under consideration are the Rode NT5, and I've read alot about the Studio Projects C4.

My budget is around 500 for the mics.

What do y'all think?

[OOK]

Bussman.....your set for anything....4 sets of caps....omni, wide card, card, hypers.

http://www.busmanaudio.com/bsc1.html

[jbell]

Even better get the Busman actives!!  He will sell them with one set of caps to cheapen the price then you can grab other caps later.

[newplanet7]

Good suggestions above as well as your own with the c4's.
Just wanted to pop in and say I like the thread title.

[newplanet7]

Budget for mics is $500. That reads mics only to me. He could get a used set in the YS for under $500.
I'd go for c4's too.

[page]

My favorite pulls for open taping have come from the classic Nak 300 with cp3 and cp4 capsules. Am looking to get a set or something similar.

Other mics under consideration are the Rode NT5, and I've read alot about the Studio Projects C4.

My budget is around 500 for the mics.

What do y'all think?

I'd go for c4's too.

Part of me look at this and says the SP C4s over the busmans just because of the house Nak sound that the guy professes to like. The CP4s are bass shy, actually, shy anything under 400hz and the busmans bsc1s have a bloom around 300-400hz (again, in my experience). Neither are bad, but they just don't sound the same IMHO. The C4s are the brightest in the budget range without going to the AKG Blueline series unless I'm forgetting something.

Call me a contrarian, but I'd look for the C4s, or even an older set of Nak 300s if thats what you like.

[crazifyngers]

I love my naks!  Although I don't have the cp4 caps.  I have mine modded into actives.  into a midbox (I believe the first midbox).   I have seen the cp4s go for $200 on the yardsale and bodies for 25-75 a pair or if you are looking for the actives they go for 300-350.  Welcome and have fun with it

[achalsey]

If we're talking opinions I'll throw mine in...I recently bought a pair of SP C4s and have been totally underwhelmed by them.  It might be the particular UA5 I've paired them with, but I've been reaching back to my Church mics and been much happier overall.

For the budget, I'd third (or fourth whatever) the busman option.  Almost everything I've heard sounds very nice and the cap options are awesome.

[OFOTD]

Just to throw another 2 cents in.

If you dig the sound of the Nak's then go for then.  They sound great, are affordable and have a proven track record of bringing the heat for many years.   

With the influx of so many lesser and lower expensive mics to hit the market in the last 10 years like many already mentioned in this thread there are still a few veteran standouts that people forget about or do not consider.   The Nak's as well as the AKG 390's are two sets of mics that DO sound great.  DO have multiple cap options.  DO have a track record.   They just are new mics.  They don't have the cache with newer (<10 years) tapers and they aren't produced by a member here.

I am constantly amazed at the devotion to mics like the C4's or others by members here again turning a blind eye to the Naks or 390's.

[rowjimmytour]

Save a little $$ and buy some Beyer mc930's so you will not get the upgrade bug as fast

[cashandkerouac]

Bussman.....your set for anything....4 sets of caps....omni, wide card, card, hypers.

http://www.busmanaudio.com/bsc1.html

another vote here for the busmans.  i purchased a stereo pair of BA-L2 large diaphragm mics from Chris and i absolutely love them.  you get three switchable polar patterns (onmi, card and figure of eight), they can be used successfully for different applications (concert recording, stage mics, vocal mics)... and you can't beat the price.     

[newplanet7]

All great suggestions in the thread!
When I said the spc4's I started considering what aj's comments were.
They would be cheaper but proven. I was rather shocked with the cp4
I forgot about the akg 300's which can easily be had from $300-350 used.
Also as David pointed out, if you want the NAKS. An important thing is to not regret your purchase.
My first purchase, I wanted AKG, so I got AKG's. I soon upgraded and had no regrets.

Another point which some disagree with that RJ brought up was to avoid the "upgrade Bug" and just
go big or go home. I sometimes agree with this sometimes not.
If you are new to taping there are things to consider, such as what if it's not the hobby you thought.
This is where I disagree with the go big or go home.
Where I do agree wit it is if you are into taping and have some time in the hobby, if you dig some mics, don't settle on something less.
YMMV.

[page]

If you are new to taping there are things to consider, such as what if it's not the hobby you thought.
This is where I disagree with the go big or go home.
Where I do agree wit it is if you are into taping and have some time in the hobby, if you dig some mics, don't settle on something less.
YMMV.