Topic: Stealth (cardioid) mics recommendations anyone?

[rappard]

Requirements and environment:
- They should be easy to use with a Sharp MD (either IM-DR420H or MD-MT190H).
- I mostly tape indie and avantgarde shows in small(er) clubs.
- They should be small / stealth.
- Preferably cardioid, as audience noise/chatter is one of my pet peeves.
- Should be solid, as I'm a bit of a klutz.
- Price: I'm willing to splurge.

So far (after reading a lot of the posts on this forum) I'm still undecided on any of the following:
- AT 822/831/853/943
- Church Audio STC-11 cardioids
- DPA 4060/4061
- Sennheiser MKE2/40
- Sony ECM-719 or ECM-MS907
- SP-CMC-2

Also, pointers as to which store (preferably European) I should get these from would also be appreciated - US stores often charge an arm and a leg for S&H.

Thanks in advance,

Martin

[loul69]

You can forget
DPA 4060 and 4061...omni mics
ECM-719 or 907...poor result with them...
I think u have to try stc-11 or u853 or 943 or MM-HLSC-1...
but it really depends on ur budget...
W

[ilduclo]

Martin----
dpa's are great, if you're willing to spend a lot, go with the 4021's

Mike

[Shawn]

the at822 is a full bodies stereo mic. it isn't really appropriate for stealthing.

schoeps ccm series and DPA 402x series are top of the line IMO.

[Belexes]

MM-HLSC-1 or the Church Cards.

[ArchivalAudio]

I would say the AT 853's
though I believe that Church makes some based on these caps
can't remember which model
But I have always likeed the 853's
have some sub card caps for them too, for really close up front stealth

sound great!

[nameloc01]

Stay away from the sony ecm mics..no good.  The dpas are nice but you are gonna drop some change on those. I run the atu853 and love'em..no complaints at all. They are somewhat bigger than the dpas but still stealthable and they def can compete soundwise. I can tell u phantom power will be the way to go with some of the better at mics.

[moooose]

I would say 853: great sound, reliable, stealthable, with interchangeable caps, easy to resell...

[Tim]

- Price: I'm willing to splurge.

willing to splurge means different things....$500? $1000? $2400?

fwiw, I know you want to stay away from omni's but the dpa 406x are really hard to beat.

[ilduclo]

- Price: I'm willing to splurge.

willing to splurge means different things....$500? $1000? $2400?

fwiw, I know you want to stay away from omni's but the dpa 406x are really hard to beat.

He said, willing to splurge, that's why I recco'd those dpa 4021's to him, only $2400 each, pretty splurge-worthy IMO. By the way, the NYC taper who posts here uses them and his recs are marvelous, at least the ones where he's not in the BIG auditoriums.

 Also, Martin, the dpa's are bulletproof.

[Tim]

yeah I can read, thanks.

but again, "splurging" is subjective and means different things to different people. Giving us a ballpark can help us make recommendations.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

I've had no problems with my 4060's and chatter. If you're stealthing you can easily move to the sweet spot. If there are chatty people there...move.

Only once did I have issues with that, where I was packed in so tight that I couldn't move, and the kid behind me thought it was the most amazing thing that Morrissey sang Smiths songs (which I actually think added a little bit of humor to the recording).

The nice thing about OMNI's is that you can move your head a little bit and it doesn't really effect the recording (just as long as you're not twirling around you should be okay).

[Tim]

the kid behind me thought it was the most amazing thing that Morrissey sang Smiths songs

niiiiice

if you have the morrisey recording from the fillmore this past spring I know someone who would love that

[ilduclo]

yeah I can read, thanks.

" He can shout, don't hear you!"

[rappard]

Thank you all for your input! I'll probably go with the AT 853's - the DPA line looks bloody nice but are above budget (new anyway, I'll keep an eye out for eBay listings).