20th March 2007
|
#1 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 15
Thread Starter  | ATM 450's or Rode NT5's????
Im looking at buying a pair of overheaads for drums that will also sound pretty good as an acoustic application. I've narrowed it down to either the ATM 450's or the Rode NT5's. Ive heard great things about the ATM 450's and that they sound very natural and they pick up a lot of sounds coming from the kit and acoustic instrument. I've also heard good things about the Rode's in the same respect although not as natural sounding. I know the Rode's are a matched pair which is very nice but at the price for a pair of ATM's would it really matter that much? Another thing is the Side-Address on the ATM's....The XY pattern for recording drums makes things very convenient with the Rodes but XY wouldnt really work for the ATM's. Is there an easier and possibly an even better way to record drums with the Side Addressed ATM's???? Im not worried about the side address vs. top address issue with acoustics because it doesnt really matter that much. Ive heard that side address can be a little bit inconvenient when recording drums. Any suggestions would be very helpful thanks.
| 
|  | |
20th March 2007
|
#2 | | Jai guru deva om
Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 12,902
 | Quote:
Originally Posted by FunkyProduction  Another thing is the Side-Address on the ATM's....The XY pattern for recording drums makes things very convenient with the Rodes but XY wouldnt really work for the ATM's. Is there an easier and possibly an even better way to record drums with the Side Addressed ATM's???? | XY works fine with the ATM450's. You can literally touch their tops together and splay the capsules out 90 degrees...done.
War
| |
| | |
20th March 2007
|
#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Hamburg
Posts: 1,244
|
does ortf work with the audio technicas as well?
| |
| | |
20th March 2007
|
#4 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 923
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexi does ortf work with the audio technicas as well? | Why wouldn't it.
The NT5s were the first SD condensers I ever owned. Still have them but almost never use them anymore.
I'd go with the ATs.
| |
| | |
20th March 2007
|
#5 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 15
Thread Starter |
War,
Will that method work on a single stand or is that using two separate stands?
| |
| | |
20th March 2007
|
#6 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 163
|
For what it's worth, (and I got this straight from an Audio Technica rep), Audio Technica's manufacturing tolerances are so tight that any two mics can be pulled off the line and used as a matched pair.
| |
| | |
20th March 2007
|
#7 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 15
Thread Starter |
Yea thats what i figured since Audio Technica knows their stuff pretty well haha
| |
| | |
20th March 2007
|
#8 | | Gear Guru
Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun
Posts: 11,105
| Quote:
Originally Posted by warhead XY works fine with the ATM450's. You can literally touch their tops together and splay the capsules out 90 degrees...done.
War |
...or 120 degrees - if they really are cardioids....
-tINY
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#9 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Sep 2006 Location: sallaD, TX
Posts: 155
|
After using both, I would definitely go with the ATM450s. Every sounds really......ummm.......like *pow*! *bang*! *boom*!
Or maybe more like real drums.
....sorry.
__________________  | |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#10 | | Jai guru deva om
Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 12,902
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexi does ortf work with the audio technicas as well? | Yes, of course. It's not like the side address is limiting with them, you just have to think slightly differently when approaching is all. It's different when you have them in your hands, don't worry about placement...you can do anything with these. Pic posted below (EDIT: pic too big...sorry) Quote:
Originally Posted by FunkyProduction War,
Will that method work on a single stand or is that using two separate stands? | I use separate stands. You would need to use an extended mount, which is fine but would likely cost a lot more than just buying another boom stand if needed. Quote:
Originally Posted by madhermit For what it's worth, (and I got this straight from an Audio Technica rep), Audio Technica's manufacturing tolerances are so tight that any two mics can be pulled off the line and used as a matched pair. | Yeah they don't match them, but I've not heard any large variations between their mics. Quote:
Originally Posted by tINY
...or 120 degrees - if they really are cardioids....
-tINY
| Well, that's a variation of XY but sure, nice wide image. Quote:
Originally Posted by whoriental After using both, I would definitely go with the ATM450s. Every sounds really......ummm.......like *pow*! *bang*! *boom*!
Or maybe more like real drums.
....sorry. | I totally agree, punchy drum mic for sure.
War
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#11 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 195
|
I hate my NT5's. X/Y seems like zero stereo separation in all my recordings. I get ear fatigue listening to my overhead tracks, and I am always thinking about what pair is next.
I stopped using them altogether and just use one 414 on the overhead in mono. It sounds much better.
There has to be better overheads at a similar price.
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#12 | | Jai guru deva om
Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 12,902
|
Agreed on XY, ORTF sounds so much more realistic and bigger.
War
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#13 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Dublin
Posts: 44
|
no ones mentioned the Studio Electronics SE3's - are they in the same league as the ATM450's? better or worse?
__________________
Every tool is special
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#14 | | Jai guru deva om
Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 12,902
|
Clips attached. Not level matched...
War
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#15 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Dublin
Posts: 44
|
Cheers for that war,
They seem very similar to my un-experienced ears. The se3's being a tiny bit more in-your-face maybe, but that could be down to the level difference.
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#16 | | Jai guru deva om
Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 12,902
|
For sure you'd be better off loading them into a DAW and level matching, lining up side by side to switch quickly between them. Same kit, same player (me!), same session, same distance, preamp etc.
War
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#17 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Dublin
Posts: 44
|
ah come on now... which ones do you prefer?
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#18 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 15
Thread Starter |
Those SE3's sound very nice and they are tempting me. At this point i think its safe to say that most people prefer the ATM's over the Rode's...on this thread anyways...However the next question would be the SE3's or the ATM's???? I do agree that the SE3's have a little bit more punch to them and seem to pick up a little bit more low end on the toms and slightly more high end on the cymbals...
Last edited by FunkyProduction; 21st March 2007 at 04:04 PM..
Reason: confusing sentence
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#19 | | Gear Head
Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Upper Beltbuckle
Posts: 70
|
I originally got my NT-5s for overheads but now use them mostly as instrument mics for acoustics - I really like what they do to guitars and fiddles.
Unfortunately I agree with the others here regarding their performance as overheads. I've not replaced them with anything yet as I haven't miced a drum kit in a while...
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#20 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 223
|
I liked the ATM´s better..
I´m tempted to try a pair! if it was only for the way they look  ehe.. awesome looking mics!
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#21 | | Jai guru deva om
Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 12,902
| Quote:
Originally Posted by llatsni ah come on now... which ones do you prefer? | Why make the clips?  (kidding, they are never the whole story)
Overall the ATM450 on overheads.
I LOVE the SE3 on snare...! I also prefer it on acoustic guitar vs the ATM450.
War
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#22 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 15
Thread Starter |
Whats the cost for a pair of SE3's? I can't seem to find a consistent price.
| |
| | |
21st March 2007
|
#23 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: London
Posts: 2,056
|
OK War,
I'll put the cat among the pigeons...
How would you rate (in a general order) the AT's, The SE's and Beyer's I've seen you mention?
I've always thought about trying a pair of the SE3's but the Neumann/Beyer comparisons you made (I'm a pretty staunch KM84 user) pricked my ears up a bit.
I'm just shootin' the shit as I don't really see a purchase on the horizon but would like to hear your humble opinion.
Cheers,
R.
__________________
The Speaker Snuggy is specifically designed to compensate for the additive effect of using plugins which literally remove the blanket from your speakers. These plugins can sound good when solo'd, but when used across dozens of tracks they can leave your speakers sounding cold and insecure. (Casey / Bricasti)
When I haven't any blue I use red. (Pablo Picasso)
Ol' Betsey Satan - The Original Flower
Shop 8 track - "She fought long and
she fought hard..."
| |
| | |
22nd March 2007
|
#24 | | Jai guru deva om
Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 12,902
| Quote:
Originally Posted by FunkyProduction Whats the cost for a pair of SE3's? I can't seem to find a consistent price. | Around $600. Quote:
Originally Posted by Ol' Betsey How would you rate (in a general order) the AT's, The SE's and Beyer's I've seen you mention?. | ATM450: Honest midrange delivers punch and depth along with a decent low end response, slight rise in the top end is subtle but present. Side address design opens up big doors for drum placement etc. Small and lightweight.
SE SE3A: More extended and present bottom, smoother midrange response, delivers a lot of body, top end is a bit peakier. Surprisingly hefty mic with very solid switches, etc.
Beyerdynamic MC930: Full bottom, somewhat of a scooped midrange but a nice richness in the upper mids, open top with tons of detail and capable of crisp sounds (on crisp sources). Small and lightweight. Quote: |
Originally Posted by Ol' Betsey I've always thought about trying a pair of the SE3's but the Neumann/Beyer comparisons you made (I'm a pretty staunch KM84 user) pricked my ears up a bit. | Actually I posted up some SE3 vs KM84 Clips.
Somebody else started a thread at some point calling the MC930 a "poor man's" KM84. I agree to a point, they do possess a richness in the mids while being very forgiving on lots of sources. They don't sound the same, just as the SE3A don't sound the same. The more I think about it, maybe they fall pretty much between KM84's and AKG C451 in sound in that they certainly have a more detailed top (ala 451) but possess a richness in the midrange (ala KM84).
The MC930 is very much a "go to" type of mic and will tackle 99% of anything you need a high quality SDC to do.
You wanted opinions...you got 'em. 
War
| |
| | |
22nd March 2007
|
#25 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Lost Angeles |
I think the atm450 shine on overheads... Are these still your go to mics for overheads?
| |
| | |
22nd March 2007
|
#26 | | Jai guru deva om
Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 12,902
|
Nothing has changed there! Love them overhead.
War
| |
| | |
23rd March 2007
|
#27 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 15
Thread Starter |
I would really like to know how the ATM's vs. the SE3's sound on acoustic application cuz that will probably be the deciding factor for me. The ATM's and SE's dont sound to significant in difference on overheads so i guess for me it really comes down to the acoustic sound. If the atms are significantly better or worse than the se's then I might as well drop the 600 on the SE's if it's worth it. If anyone has any clips it would be extra helpful.
Funky
| |
| | |
23rd March 2007
|
#29 | | Gear addict
Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Australia
Posts: 343
|
Thanks Wesley... I mean War.
I still think I'm liking the m260 best out of those guitar samples.
| |
| | |
24th March 2007
|
#30 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jan 2006 Location: UK
Posts: 229
|
the atm450's sound tempting, the SE sounds quite bright in comparison
| |
| | | |
New Reply 
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
