Mic choices. . . ???

[BLT]

Hi everyone. Rarely do crawl out of my stealthy "forum lurker" mode to actually post something, but I feel it's about time that I once again ask the advice of perfect strangers who I trust with thousands of dollars of my money. Here's the deal: My girlfriend will be moving in with me in August, and I fear that she'll want me to spend my money on useless things like a couch, un-torn sheets, non-beer related glassware, etc. I'd like to make one last purchase before she moves in and I have to tell her that the shiney new $xxxx microphone that I bring home is something that I just picked up at Radio Shack for $30 (is this the definition of a "Gear Slut"???). So. . . .

My "good" mics that I have are:
U87Ai
Schoeps CMC6 pair with MK4 (cardiod capsules)

My "everyday" mics are:
Whole bunch of 57s and 58s
Shure B52
Senn E609

My "cheapo" mics are:
Studio Projects C1
Studio Projects C4 pair
AKG C2000B

I feel like I'm lacking about 2 or 3 other "need to have" mics before I could even START to brag about my collection, so I'm wondering what you all think I should start to look towards to round out my mic locker? I would love to improve my snare, kick, and vocal sound. I usually do acoustic surf-rock type music and I try to get the most natural, smooth sound I can. The drum sounds I get with the 57 on snare and B52 on kick are great for rock, but not so much for mellower music. I love the U87 on most vocals, but on some people it's just too harsh (I used to have a TLM103, and that was quite a bit smoother in the ~6.5kHz range but the extreme highs and lows weren't quite as nice as the U87). In the context of what I already have, what would complement my current selection and improve my vocal and/or kick and/or snare sound? I know there are people reading my list and saying "how does he survive without a _____???", so have at it!!! Thanks!

-Brett

[lvktv5382]

Try the Perlman, or U99.

Man, I feel like im the lucky guy. ahaha
My girlfriend bought me an Rosetta AD 96, a U87 , a digirack, LA610,...zzz. And we gonna buy the pcm91 next week .

[BLT]

Wow! What a girl!!!

I really like the description of the U99 on the Soundelux site. I'm going to look into it more. . . I've used the U95 a bit before.

I've never heard of the Perlman, what's that???

Thanks for the reply!!!

[Kiwiburger]

I love the U87 on most vocals, but on some people it's just too harsh ...f what I already have, what would complement my current selection and improve my vocal and/or kick and/or snare sound?

maybe an SM7 or RE20? An LDD can be very useful on all of these.

[jdjustice]

Originally Posted by BLT

I've never heard of the Perlman, what's that???

Pearlman TM-1 Tube Microphone.

Also if you haven't yet, check out the Lawson L47MP MKII.

J.D.

[jdjustice]

Originally Posted by BLT

In the context of what I already have, what would complement my current selection and improve my vocal and/or kick and/or snare sound?
-Brett

Lots of people like the Soundelux U195 on Kick, and I happen to think it's also a good vocal mic. But the U99 is really special. It's a U69 "clone" but it has its own character with a really nice but not over-extended top end, and it doesn't have the problem that the U195 can have with bringing out sibilance in the singer....

J.D.

[Steven Bell]

I don't see any ribbon mics in your list.

Fat Head (very affordable and very warm) http://www.bayviewproaudio.com

AEA

Royer

Steven

[Pohaku]

Really good dynamic mics -- SM7, RE-20, MD-421, MD-441, Beyer M-88

and a ribbon mic or two -- AEA R84, Beyer M-160, Beyer M-500, Royer 121

I find that these get selected more often than my condensors for vocals, guitars and drums (although granted I don't have a U87, but the SM7 beat out my Gefell M582h, AT-4050 and GT MD3 for female vocals on my last project).

For kick, the RE-20 or M-88 would be useful too, though you might consider something like an Audio Technica ATM-25 or Audix D6 to go with.

Beyer M201 is really nice on snare and cabs (better than SM-57 IMHO).

Most of these aren't particularly expensive (compared to the Neumann and Schoeps) and are really usefu mics. Lots to choose from

[hawaii82]

+1 for the pearlman

[recky]

I'd get the U87 modded (FET amp replacement etc.) so that it gets more headroom and loses its harshness. Did that on mine - great vocal mic now, a bit like a U67 without the valve.

Then I'd get a Neumann KM84 (NOT KM184!) for snare (and acoustic guitar, of course), which will make your snare much less compressed and one-dimensional sounding.

For kick I'd buy a vintage Sennheiser MD421, a Shure SM7 or a EV RE 20.

For the money you've thus saved, you could either get yourself a nice compressor, or perhaps a few cases of nice Cab Sav. I'm sure your girlfriend will appreciated THAT :-)

Recky

[GYang]

Korby 67, if budget allows, better with both 67 and 251 heads.
AEA mics

[BLT]

Wow, thanks so much everyone for the great suggestions! I've definitely been looking into the RE-20 and M201 already, and there are a lot of other great ones to think about, too. What I'm also curious about is modifying my U87 as per recky and RawBeanZen's suggestions. I know NOTHING about this, and want to learn more about cost, reason, what is done, etc to see if it's something I'd want to look into. Any good resources for me to check out on that? Thanks again!!!

[recky]

I had my U87Ai modded by "my mic guru" Andreas Grosser in Berlin, an incredibly knowledgable Neumann and Gefell specialist who has been recommended by Klaus Heyne in the past. For anyone living in Europe, he's the way to go. If you're in the States, there'll be other competent modders, not least Klaus Heyne himself.

What impressed me most was that the entire job of replacing the FET amp, some tuning, e.g. of the built-in low pass filter, and a general check-up cost no more than € 130!

I have no way of comparing, but, apparently, this modded U87 now sounds like U67 minus the contribution of the valve (which in vintage mics tends to be much less important than one may think).
I have since become a huge fan of the U87 again. It may not be the most exciting of mics, but a vocal really shines through in a mix. The magic is in the transformer and the capsule!

Cheers,

Recky

[RawBeanZen]

Originally Posted by BLT

Wow, thanks so much everyone for the great suggestions! I've definitely been looking into the RE-20 and M201 already, and there are a lot of other great ones to think about, too. What I'm also curious about is modifying my U87 as per recky and RawBeanZen's suggestions. I know NOTHING about this, and want to learn more about cost, reason, what is done, etc to see if it's something I'd want to look into. Any good resources for me to check out on that? Thanks again!!!

Here you go. You might give this guy a shout. My stock U87 went from functional-but-nothing-that-special to a thing of beauty.

Yum!

http://www.innertubeaudio.com/

[RawBeanZen]

A modified version of a mic you already own will be MUCH easier to sneak past your old lady!

[kingofswing]

Or the New baby Neumann TLM 49, which looks promising. Its supposed to have sound characteristics of the U47 fet (i think), and it costs alot less.

[Jim vanBergen]

I'd get another pair of nice condenser mics (like DPA 4007 or 4011s, Earthworks SR30s, Neumann KM184s) and think about whether you want omnis for room or close capture, or cardioid for the same reasons.

Now: since you're doing live, think carefully and consider a Beyer M160 pair. Great for drum OHs and strings. I also love the AEA, Royer and Coles but I find 'em tough being used for live recording, whereas the hypercardioid 160 is just flippin' stellar.

Definitely need some high end dynamic mics like Sennheiser original 421s or any version Senn 441, the EV Re20 or 27, and a couple of Beyer M88s, old or new. These can do drums, horns, vocals, bass & electric cabinets- all of them quite well.

Last, do look into another LDC like a Soundeluxe, Perlman, etc. I'd buy that first, then buy the innertube mod for the '87 and claim it is "maintainance" in front of the girlfriend, explaining that its important, like an oil change & lube. To be a slut you have to slut RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER NOSE. Gotta do it, bro.

Hope these thoughts help.

Cheers,

JvB