Mic recommendations needed

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I have only $1k to spend on a vocal mic AND two drum overheads for my
home studio. What, in your opinion, would be the bang-for-the-buck
combination? At the present moment I'm borrowing 2 MK-12's and an
MK-219 from a friend (who might have something of an Oktava fetish...)
but he's moving away, so I'll have to buy some of my own. I realize
$1K is scarcely enough for the vocal mic alone, nevertheless, its what
I have. I was thinking maybe an NT4 and TLM-103. What do the pros
have to say?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

jeffontheleft wrote:
> I have only $1k to spend on a vocal mic AND two drum overheads for my
> home studio. What, in your opinion, would be the bang-for-the-buck
> combination? At the present moment I'm borrowing 2 MK-12's and an
> MK-219 from a friend (who might have something of an Oktava fetish...)
> but he's moving away, so I'll have to buy some of my own. I realize
> $1K is scarcely enough for the vocal mic alone, nevertheless, its what
> I have. I was thinking maybe an NT4 and TLM-103. What do the pros
> have to say?
>

Bang for the buck:

Audio Technica AT4050 (LDC 3 pattern: Omni, Cardioid, Figure of 8) $500.00 USD
Rode NT-5 Stereo Pair (SDC) pencil mics $400 USD

Very nice and versatile set can be used for almost anything.

--fletch

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

If these are the new "reissue" 451's, I don't think that they are
modular the way the originals were, and therefore might not support the
very nice Blue lollipop capsule.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I had some good results with SE2000A's by studio electronics as
overheads, I'm told their Gemini is nice too. It certainly looks the
part. Made in China don't ya know, should be able to swing them for the
Grand.
DS

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Agent 86 wrote:

> On Tue, 14 Jun 2005 10:40:36 -0700, jeffontheleft wrote:
> > I have only $1k to spend on a vocal mic AND two drum overheads for my home
> > studio. What, in your opinion, would be the bang-for-the-buck
> > combination? At the present moment I'm borrowing 2 MK-12's and an MK-219
> > from a friend (who might have something of an Oktava fetish...) but he's
> > moving away, so I'll have to buy some of my own. I realize $1K is
> > scarcely enough for the vocal mic alone, nevertheless, its what I have. I
> > was thinking maybe an NT4 and TLM-103. What do the pros have to say?

> Can you get that for $100? How many different voices are you planning on
> recording, The 103 is a really cool mic, but it doesn't work on every
> voice.

If you want the Neumann for name recognition (who doesn't?)
the TLM193 might be a better first choice. Less bright
and possibly more versatile.

> I'd probably go for the NT5 pair over the NT4 for versatility's sake. Then
> look at an AT4050 or an RE20. You'll have a little left over for stands &
> cables.

Given the choice I would go for a pair rather than a stereo
mic as well and the NT's work well on drums. The 4050 is a
good cost effective alternative to the TLM's, but I also
think everyone needs an RE20 ;-]

These are great starting points,
good luck
rd

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Both an AT4050 and a pair of MC012's ( with the extra caps) have come
up for sale on this group in the last two days. I'd say there is
everything you need with money left over for stands and cords.
By the way I have 2 4050's and a 3 cap MC012 myself and they have seen
a lot of service over the several years I've had them even with many
other mics to choose from.
Paul
www.glitchless.net

On 14 Jun 2005 10:40:36 -0700, "jeffontheleft"
<marcel.graf@gmail.com> wrote:

>I have only $1k to spend on a vocal mic AND two drum overheads for my
>home studio. What, in your opinion, would be the bang-for-the-buck
>combination? At the present moment I'm borrowing 2 MK-12's and an
>MK-219 from a friend (who might have something of an Oktava fetish...)
>but he's moving away, so I'll have to buy some of my own. I realize
>$1K is scarcely enough for the vocal mic alone, nevertheless, its what
>I have. I was thinking maybe an NT4 and TLM-103. What do the pros
>have to say?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Cool, there seems to be a consensus on the Rode NT5's. Does everyone
agree that the AT-4050 is , if not the best, one of the better
proletariat vocal condenser mics? I wish there were a way to test mics
without spending money. It seems like the cheapest way to do that
would be to booking time at a well-equipped, expensive-ass studio. I
could also buy these new and return them after trying them out, but
that doesn't seem right. So, trial and error I guess.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 21:32:38 -0400, jeffontheleft wrote
(in article <1118971958.018799.59790@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> ):

> Cool, there seems to be a consensus on the Rode NT5's. Does everyone
> agree that the AT-4050 is , if not the best, one of the better
> proletariat vocal condenser mics? I wish there were a way to test mics
> without spending money. It seems like the cheapest way to do that
> would be to booking time at a well-equipped, expensive-ass studio. I
> could also buy these new and return them after trying them out, but
> that doesn't seem right. So, trial and error I guess.
>

THE best is almost impossible to answer. It'll do very nicely and you'll hear
a lot of squabbling from others about their favorites. You'll make no mistake
in getting one. Yes, a prole's tool and then some.

Ty Ford



-- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
stuff are at www.tyford.com