Best Bang For The Buck - Overheads

[jomo1234]

At that price point, I would look into trying a pair of Oktava MC 012's...the caveat being that their quality control leaves a lot to be desired. However, if you can find a good pair that's well matched, they really are a great bargain.

[jslevin]

Originally Posted by Robearto4

I'd prefer a pair under $100 since I'm only using these to learn on, and eventually I'll get a banging pair that sounds really good. But for now, a cheap pair would do.

It's a nice idea, but below a certain threshold of quality, you will not actually be learning how to do anything well. There's some remarkably decent stuff out there that can be had for not much more than $200, and you really are wasting your time with anything worse in my opinion. Studio Projects C4, Audio-Technica AT3031. Hell, for $250 you could get two of those 2041SP packs -- two large-diaphragm and two small-diaphragm, and I bet they all sound better than any of the mics you listed.

JSL

[Robearto4]

Originally Posted by jomo1234

At that price point, I would look into trying a pair of Oktava MC 012's...the caveat being that their quality control leaves a lot to be desired. However, if you can find a good pair that's well matched, they really are a great bargain.

I'll definitly look into that. I've been thinking about getting the 219 modded as a good LDC for vocals and such, I've heard many good things.

[jslevin]

An even better idea -- these go for less than $400 new.

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=107973

JSL

[yhomas]

In my opinion, the Naiant mics (at least the MSH1 omni) should be considered when you are looking for a "best bang for the buck" microphone.

[ozraves]

I assume you mean MXL 991 when you type MXL 990. The MXL 990 seems better suited as a tom mic than anything. The 991 does not suck as an overhead.

It might be worthwhile to see how the 990/991 combo (streets for $89) fair as a pair on overheads. I'd probably put the 991 over the drummer's left shoulder and put the 990 peeking over the floor tom with both equidistant from the snare.

That's the route I'd go if you want cheap.

[Acoustic Cloud]

The 012 pairs arent that cheap anymore, but the QC has stabilized enough to trust them. The pairs with all the caps are way out of your price, but you shouldnt need them anyway. They are very nice mics, not "just for the money", they sound great.

400 bones could get you 2 CAD M-179's also, Warren says they are great for the OH thing. I love mine for other stuff, dont do drums though so I havent heard them in that respect.

[Acoustic Cloud]

oops, you are looking at under a hundred bux for a pair, missed that.

Dunno what to tell you, save some money?

I suspect most of those companies you mention are having them made at 737, or somewhere comparable....they may not even sound much different.

[digibird]

Originally Posted by jslevin

Hell, for $250 you could get two of those 2041SP packs -- two large-diaphragm and two small-diaphragm, and I bet they all sound better than any of the mics you listed.
JSL

That is an excellent suggestion, and I would trust AT quality control a lot more than most other manufacturers, especially at that price point.

The small Ds as overheads and the large Ds as room or close ambient mics could make for a really full drum sound for next to no money.

[Robearto4]

My whole thing is, I'm not making any money. I have a little bit of spare money. I just want something to record, I'm not expecting anything great, or even good, out of these mics for this price. I just want something to start out with, and the next pair I buy will be full-on top grade.

I figure if I start out learning on crap and learning how to make crap sound good, in the future when I buy much better mics, I'll know exactly when and why something sounds like crap and how to fix it.

Nah mean?

[Kiwiburger]

Well in that case, get some really cheap mic's from Radioshack. You will waste too much money buying low to mid end stuff.

[Disjointed]

Originally Posted by yhomas

In my opinion, the Naiant mics (at least the MSH1 omni) should be considered when you are looking for a "best bang for the buck" microphone.

the naiants are good, but they are OMNI's .... if you dont have a good room sound they might not be a good idea...

[ambo]

Naiant makes a cardiod mic now. Built into an xlr housing, like their well respected omni's. Very cheap.

[Disjointed]

Originally Posted by yhomas

In my opinion, the Naiant mics (at least the MSH1 omni) should be considered when you are looking for a "best bang for the buck" microphone.

the naiants are good, but they are OMNI's .... if you dont have a good room sound they might not be a good idea...

i would say a pair of cheap ldc's with multiple pickup patterns would be a good learning tool.... youd at least learn the differences between cardiod, omni, and figure 8.--????

[bigbone]

Get a pair of these, at least for 50$ a pair, they are inexpensive, and not
worst than another mic that that you will pay 150-200.........

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHC2

[warhead]

Get the Behringer ECM omnis. I can't think of anything else under $100 a pair...the Behringer will do OK nothing great of course.

War

[analogtodd]

I'd get ONE MC-012
Whats the point of running TWO crappy mics???

[Stitch333]

Originally Posted by warhead

Get the Behringer ECM omnis. I can't think of anything else under $100 a pair...the Behringer will do OK nothing great of course.

War

Howsabout the Karma K10s?
or the KMicro is $20 fer a matched pair...I really dont think any mics can compete with that price and Ive had good results with their gear

[Robearto4]

Originally Posted by bigbone

Get a pair of these, at least for 50$ a pair, they are inexpensive, and not
worst than another mic that that you will pay 150-200.........

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHC2

I think I will go with the Behringer C2's, they have the low freguency roll-off as well as 10 db pad, and they will be great to learn with. Thanks for all your opinions and feedback!

[svart]

mxl990 and 991 are the same exact mic in two different enclosures.

I would go for a pair of old used mxl603. the older ones had MUCH better capsules than the new ones do, almost exact copies of km84s. the electronics need some work but with about 10$ worth of parts you can have very nice mics..

[yhomas]

Originally Posted by Robearto4

My whole thing is, I'm not making any money. I have a little bit of spare money. I just want something to record, I'm not expecting anything great, or even good, out of these mics for this price. I just want something to start out with, and the next pair I buy will be full-on top grade.

I figure if I start out learning on crap and learning how to make crap sound good, in the future when I buy much better mics, I'll know exactly when and why something sounds like crap and how to fix it.

Nah mean?

If you aren't expecting anything "great", you are going to be extremely impressed with the Naiant mics. I don't know if the newer series of mics is better (and I would doubt that the cardioid mics are as good as the omnis), but the $20 MSH-1 omnis are definitely going to put a smile on your face.

[IzovAge]

What about the MXL V57M, two can be had for $120.

[yhomas]

Originally Posted by warhead

Get the Behringer ECM omnis. I can't think of anything else under $100 a pair...the Behringer will do OK nothing great of course.

War

Here are a couple examples of what $50 a pair of Naiant mics can do:
http://www.naiant.com/images/Violin_-_MSH-1.mp3
http://www.naiant.com/images/drum_ov...le_-_MSH-1.mp3

[Chris]

Does nobody like the mxl 603s anymore? I have a pair and they're pretty nice. I'd say a pair of those or a pair of the Octavas, but I guess people are saying the price went up on those recently?

I guess ebay it and find something in your price range.

Here's a review:
http://www.mojopie.com/603.html

There's a stereo pair on ebay right now for like $109 bin.

[Subsonic808]

+1 on the Naiants.

In a bunch of sessions I did they performed better than mics costing about 50 times as much!!!
They definitely have a sound of their own, but lets be real, they are so chaep that you can afford another pair of OHs that work where the Naiants don't.
Jon has a new line of Mics available, which probably sounds even better than the old ones.
I can also recommend the Oktava MK12s...
Don't even think about getting "Oktava MC12s" though! These are crappy Chinese fakes.

[Stevil]

I have a pair of mxl991's @ a 603.
i was using the 991's as overheads til one of em decided to start squealing. sounds like the hearing test when you plug it in. i swapped it out for the 603 last weekend for a recording but i'm looking to replace em with something more substantial. they are a little too brite & thin for me. but they are functional & cheap. i'm currently looking @ picking up a pair of Rode NT5's.

any way to remove a squeal from a cheap condensor mic?

[Robearto4]

I already purchased the Behringer's for $50, but I think I'll get a pair of the Naiant one's as well, so I can learn to use the different pick-up patterns to my advantage. Plus the samples sound pretty dang good. I just wish I had a good room to record in.

[Spectacle]

Originally Posted by bigbone

Get a pair of these, at least for 50$ a pair, they are inexpensive, and not
worst than another mic that that you will pay 150-200.........

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHC2

+1 on this for you. They are nothing special, but they are $50 for a pair. I bought a pair a while back (for $35) just to see what they sounded like. Fits your description of need to a "T".

[Spectacle]

Originally Posted by Robearto4

I already purchased the Behringer's for $50, but I think I'll get a pair of the Naiant one's as well, so I can learn to use the different pick-up patterns to my advantage. Plus the samples sound pretty dang good. I just wish I had a good room to record in.

Whoa! Missed you by one minute.