low end but rocking: modest home studio mic choices

[djbrough]

Tha avant electronics CV-12. I heard it, and I love it. I'm not sure you can beat it under $500.

[Carbon Leaf]

Heil PR40 rocks on just about anything

[bachconnelly]

Originally Posted by ThrillHo

What is up with 421's and toms? They're expensive, huge-ass mics that have the worst designed clips in the world. Yes, they sound pretty good, but considering the overheads capture a majority of the sound, seems to me like money allocated in the wrong place, especially if the drummer has 3-4 toms; that's like $900-$1200 (used) for tom mics.

I just sold my 421's because I couldn't justify owning them. I didn't like them for electric guitars either, I have a nice ribbon and SM7B which I prefer for my setup.

I disagree, the 421 has always given me the rock tom sound everytime I use them. On electric DISTORTED guitars, there is nothing better IMHO (except the royer.... which I can't afford! )

[nDmusic]

I'm a drummer and I've always been satisfied with a D112 on the kick and an SM57 on the snare. I've got a very old pair of Oktava mk012s that I love for overheads. I've also used these for room mics and acoustic guitar with nice results. Not sure you can get them anymore though.

I used to have a pair of the AKG C 418 condensors for the toms but sold them since I really didn't need them. I play hip-hop/reggae/funk so I'm not bashing on toms a lot though. If you must have tom mics, those were fine. Roll off the lows, easy on the verb, pan to taste, and bring them up very gently to add a touch of definition to what you already have in the overheads. But IMO, kick, snare, overheads is where it's at for drums. SM57 is good enough honestly on a snare. If you can't make a snare pop with a 57, it's not the mics fault.

I would focus on vocals more than anything else and building a collection that can accomodate lots of voices. Mics I use:

adk hamburg (awesome on alto females/tenor males - tricky to place though)
Rode nt1000 (very awesome male hip hop mic - edgy and aggressive to my ears, but clean)
SP C1 (u already have one)
kel hm-1 (use mostly for instruments, esp horns, but decent on vocals too)

I would seriously consider adding one of the AT40's mics. That will be my next purchase.

my 2 cents...good luck man!

nD

[ThrillHo]

Originally Posted by bachconnelly

I disagree, the 421 has always given me the rock tom sound everytime I use them. On electric DISTORTED guitars, there is nothing better IMHO (except the royer.... which I can't afford! )

There's no doubt that 421s sound good on toms, but it's just the other things that bug me: the price, the inconvenience of its size (especially since they're front-address) and those weak little clips.

Since this is low end, I just wanted to let people know who're considering spending $1k on tom mics, IMHO, there are more affordable and effective solutions. Of course, to each his own...

[Unclenny]

KSM 32.

Clean and clear, unforgivingly honest. Cheaper than the 44.

Use it for:

A room mic, vox, in front of an amp (give it some room), various and sundry percussion instruments....anything that you want to record just as it sounds.

[stanmart]

Originally Posted by robskane

Scratch the Neumann off the list. Look at The Audio Technica 40...series, they're a good bang for the buck.

You guys really shouldnt scratch the TLM 103. we A/Bd 4 different vocal mics at the studio I work at.

Mics

U87 Modded with 67 Capsule, Studio Projects C3 <--My mic, TLM 103, and a Blue Blueberry

no compression thru a 1074 neve. A real 1073.

Results in my opinion was the modded U87 was probably the worst out of the bunch, Studio Projects was second worse. Neither was a bad sound by any means. The blue had a little more bite on top then the 103 but was slightly more harsh. Sounded good. TLM 103 was the richest mic of the 4. I was suprised how good it was. I will be getting a couple of them for rooms and vocals.

Trust me. I wanted my C3 to spank the pants off of all the mics. But it didnt.

[hw2nw]

the TLM is a long gone suggestion, I could probably just edit the original post but after tracking with one I've grown tired of having to EQ so much to get the sound I need. I'm going to pick up a Peluso P12 for vocals and more airy instruments, in addition to a budget ribbon or two to try on random things.

[A LaMere]

Originally Posted by ThrillHo

What is up with 421's and toms? They're expensive, huge-ass mics that have the worst designed clips in the world.

I agree... the 421's sound GREAT on tom's.. but.. that being said... I'd definitely buy some of the cheap ribbon choices for rooms or overheads before I bought 421's for the toms... How many times do you listen to a record and think to yourself... "damn, those tom's sound good".

The "essentials" (for me) to drums are kick, snare, and then overheads/rooms (I tend to prefer room mics more than overheads).... after that... toms.

Then again.. I'm not a drummer and continue to have a belief that 90% of people listen only to the vocal at first... later on, they disover the other parts of the song.

[hw2nw]

Originally Posted by A LaMere

I agree... the 421's sound GREAT on tom's.. but.. that being said... I'd definitely buy some of the cheap ribbon choices for rooms or overheads before I bought 421's for the toms... How many times do you listen to a record and think to yourself... "damn, those tom's sound good".

The "essentials" (for me) to drums are kick, snare, and then overheads/rooms (I tend to prefer room mics more than overheads).... after that... toms.

Then again.. I'm not a drummer and continue to have a belief that 90% of people listen only to the vocal at first... later on, they disover the other parts of the song.

Makes a lot of sense. What are some of your room/OH recommendations?

[A LaMere]

Originally Posted by hw2nw

I was just going for the most possibilities, thought you could never have too many 57's

HAHA !!
Even though... I've already written what I've written...
I reserve the right to agree with that statement.
"You can never have too many 57's" :)

I'm still a believer! ...the sm57 is among the great mics in the history of rock.

[A LaMere]

Originally Posted by hw2nw

Makes a lot of sense. What are some of your room/OH recommendations?

I tend to prefer ribbons for rooms and condensers for OH... right now.
Have you heard those Cascade "Fat Head" ribbon mics??

They sound great on guitars and as room mics and I think they go for about $400/pair.
They also sound pretty good on acoustic guitars and vocals sometimes....

There are probably a small number of companies making cheap ribbons that would be appropriate I guess... the only ones I've heard to this point are the Cascade mics mentioned... Some people on this board have said that the "Shinybox" ribbons sound pretty good also... Royers work nicely too. :) (((snicker)))

[hw2nw]

those all sound like good options. I think good OH mics are a priority for me, lately I've been building the kit mix from the overheads with great results. However there are so many options, I have no idea judging from the threads here and my experience. The ones I've had experience with (and not liked) are the Audio Technica ones.

I was looking at the Shure SM81 set, the Peluso pencil mic pair, or possibly getting another Peluso P12 so I'd have a stereo pair? I also looked at the HM1 and Cascades but I'd like to make sure I get a really fantastic overhead sound so I don't have to do a ton of tweaking and scrambling to compensate in the long run

Any ideas?

[Daniel Antix]

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

Screw the TLM 103.

i use one every day at work, all day every day recording voice overs. it's a great mic i'll definatly grab one when i get the cash. (like you said it's better the borrowing it like i do atm)

[Daniel Antix]

i'd go an AKG112 on the kick.

we have some sennheiser MKH60 shotgun mics at work, they sound great on vocals and acoustic guitar... i'm going to be trying them out as overheads in a few weeks too when i track a kit. i don't think they are much more expensive then the TLM103

[johnwayne]

I like the 4050's as overheads. D112 kick, Sm7 or 57 on snare, then a room or a FOK is a must for me. Lately I've been using an Oktava MK012 either cardiod or omni. I like the omni as the FOK.